---
title: Data Collection Plan
description: "Data is only as good as the plan behind it. The Data Collection Plan makes sure everyone measures the same thing, in the same way. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows…"
url: "https://skillagility.com/en/resources/data-collection-plan/"
updated: "2026-10-07"
category: 02 MEASURE
---

# Data Collection Plan

Data is only as good as the plan behind it. The Data Collection Plan makes sure everyone measures the same thing, in the same way. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.

Tool video

The short tool video will appear here.

[Data-Collection-Plan_Toolkit_EN](https://skillagility.com/wp-content/plugins/embedpress/assets/pdf/web/viewer.html?&file=https%3A%2F%2Fskillagility.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F10%2FData-Collection-Plan_Toolkit_EN.pdf#key=dGhlbWVNb2RlPWN1c3RvbSZ0b29sYmFyPXRydWUmcG9zaXRpb249dG9wJnByZXNlbnRhdGlvbj10cnVlJmxhenlMb2FkPWZhbHNlJmRvd25sb2FkPXRydWUmY29weV90ZXh0PWZhbHNlJmFkZF90ZXh0PWZhbHNlJmRyYXc9ZmFsc2UmZG9jX3JvdGF0aW9uPWZhbHNlJmFkZF9pbWFnZT1mYWxzZSZkb2NfZGV0YWlscz1mYWxzZSZ6b29tX2luPXRydWUmem9vbV9vdXQ9dHJ1ZSZmaXRfdmlldz10cnVlJmJvb2ttYXJrPWZhbHNlJmZsaXBib29rX3Rvb2xiYXJfcG9zaXRpb249Ym90dG9tJmZsaXBib29rX3J0bD1mYWxzZSZmbGlwYm9va19oaWdobGlnaHRfbGlua3M9ZmFsc2UmZmxpcGJvb2tfaGlnaGxpZ2h0X2NvbG9yPSZzZWxlY3Rpb25fdG9vbD0wJnNjcm9sbGluZz0tMSZzcHJlYWRzPS0xJndhdGVybWFya190ZXh0PSZ3YXRlcm1hcmtfZm9udF9zaXplPTQ4JndhdGVybWFya19jb2xvcj0lMjMwMDAwMDAmd2F0ZXJtYXJrX29wYWNpdHk9MTUmd2F0ZXJtYXJrX3N0eWxlPWNlbnRlciZleHQ9JmN1c3RvbUNvbG9yPSUyMzAwMDAzMw==)

## Data Collection Plan in short

1. **Start with your Y.** Take the metric from your project goal.
2. **Add 3 to 5 critical Xs.** Pick them from your Y=f(X) Cascade.
3. **Write operational definitions.** Define each metric so precisely that two people get the same number.
4. **Set source, sample and owner.** Where does the data come from, how much, how often, and who collects it?
5. **Test it on a few cases.** Collect a handful of data points and fix unclear definitions before you start.

Key points

- One row for the Y and each critical X.
- The operational definition is the heart of the plan.
- Fix source, sample and owner up front.
- Collect Xs together with the Y.

**Related tools:** [Y=f(X) Cascade](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/y-f-x-cascade/) · [Sample Size](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/sample-size/) · [Measurement System Analysis](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/measurement-system-analysis/)