7 Unspoken Truths About Data Models That Create Real Value.

If behavior does not change, the model did not work.

Author

Glenda Carnate
January 08, 2026

Read time: 2.5 minutes

MData models rarely fail because of tools or talent. They fail because they solve the wrong problems in impressive ways.

Many data models look strong during demos. They load fast, feel flexible, and show complexity that signals intelligence. Then they meet reality. Leaders ask simple questions. Teams struggle to answer quickly and decisions stall while dashboards grow.

Over time, the model becomes something people work around instead of with. More logic gets added. More explanations follow. Value stays flat while effort increases.

7 truths worth facing when building models that matter:

  1. Most models are built to look smart.
    They demo well but explain poorly. If a model cannot answer a real question quickly, it decorates work rather than supports it.

  2. Complexity often hides avoidance.
    Extra tables and logic appear when no one wants to decide what matters. Flexibility replaces clarity.

  3. If you cannot explain it in one minute, it will not last.
    Not to leadership, nor to the next developer. Fragile models rely on constant explanation.

  4. Filters do not equal insight.
    Neither do drill-downs nor KPIs with no decision attached. Insight changes behavior. Everything else is an interface.

  5. Models break when built around data instead of decisions.
    Data first thinking asks what exists. Value first thinking asks what must change. Strong models start with decisions and work backward.

  6. Good models absorb change quietly.
    New metrics and dimensions should not cause chaos. If everything breaks, the model was lucky, not solid.

  7. The best models feel almost boring.
    They feel stable, predictable, and calm. They surface the truth and end debates, rather than creating them.

💡Key Takeaway: 

A data model succeeds when decisions get faster and excuses disappear. Clever design does not create value on its own. If behavior stays the same, insight never shows up.

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