Once you have the information needed from the client, it is time to start digging into the data. Once you have had a proper look, it is likely that you will have some questions for the client. This is why it is important to start this phase as soon as possible. A catch-up call with the client should be scheduled for the end of the first day or early on the second.
Make sure you understand what one record is showing in the dataset. Think about what you are going to show and ask yourself:
- What fields do I need? Are these included in the dataset already?
- Are there any fields I do not need and can remove?
- Is there any other information I need from the client?
If the data is messy, it can be tempting for everyone to start trying to clean it/analyse it. This can lead to some waisted time. If some of your questions can be answered with the data already available to you, then you can split up the work: some looking at the data and some working on what you can do already.