Definitions are governance

A metric is not only a number. It is a social agreement about what counts.

When definitions drift across teams, accountability becomes vague. The same dataset can justify different conclusions. Clear definitions are a form of governance: they stabilize meaning across time and across systems.

The practical test is simple. Can two different people reach the same outcome using the same rules? If not, the definition is incomplete.

In practice this shows up as “almost the same” metrics that cannot be reconciled. The fix is usually not a new dashboard; it is a shared definition, a clear owner, and a documented reason for exceptions.