In this episode of The Data Journey, Roland Brown revisits the foundation of data contracts and evolves it into the next stage of architectural maturity — semantic accountability.
He explains how data contracts establish trust through structure, while semantic layers extend that trust through shared understanding. Together, they define what data is, what it means, and who is responsible for keeping it reliable.
Using relatable retail examples — from product catalogues to sales feeds and customer segments — Roland shows how modern organisations can formalise the relationship between data producers and consumers through code, contracts, and context.
The episode highlights that accountability in data isn’t achieved by more tools, but by clearer promises — promises that are defined, automated, and understood.
1️⃣ Data contracts define structure — the “what” and “how” of reliable data delivery.
2️⃣ Semantic layers define meaning — the “why” that connects data to business context.
3️⃣ Accountability scales through clarity — ownership and purpose are visible, measurable, and enforceable.
4️⃣ Contracts and semantics form a feedback loop — structure prevents breakage; meaning prevents misinterpretation.
5️⃣ The future of data architecture is promise-driven — where trust and understanding are designed, not assumed.
📬 Subscribe to The Data Journey newsletter for insights, frameworks, and updates:
👉 https://thedatajourney.com/sign-up/