A county merges two departments' spreadsheets without a shared definition of 'active client.' What is the most likely data quality cause of the resulting inconsistencies?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
If 'active client' means 'open case' in one shop and 'billed this year' in another, the merge is a blender full of mismatched fruit. Process and definition gaps—not magic—create inconsistent data. Shared definitions have to land before the spreadsheets do.
Full Explanation
Inconsistent merged results often follow from ambiguous business definitions and unmanaged handoffs rather than from storage media alone. Without an agreed meaning for 'active client,' each source contributes incompatible populations. Addressing process and definition causes is essential before treating the symptoms as random entry errors.