Concept | Governance layers#

When you govern an item, you initialize a way to manage, oversee, and monitor it. Let’s investigate what it means to add a governance layer to an item in Dataiku Govern.

Row items#

Each row of a table in Dataiku Govern represents an item.

Type

Description

Dataiku item

  • Is synchronized with and imported from another Dataiku node

  • Name appears gray and italicized in tables

  • Is not tracked or managed

Govern item

  • Is a layer created when you govern a Dataiku item

  • Contains the information you need about descriptions, workflows, reviews, history, and more

Information hierarchy#

Before you govern your first item, it’s useful to understand the hierarchy of Dataiku items and how they’re governed. This tree diagram shows an example of an item hierarchy, including some governance layers.

A tree diagram that shows the hierarchy of Dataiku items and potential governance layers.

As you can see, you can govern:

  • Projects

  • Models

  • Model versions

  • Bundles

When you choose to govern a model, model version, or bundle, you don’t need to govern other items at the same level of the structure. However, each parent item must be governed.

Note

Be aware that business initiatives aren’t Dataiku items that can be governed. However, they remain at the top of the information hierarchy.

Governance settings#

When you govern an item, you must choose the appropriate templates for that item and its related items. Let’s take a look at governing an example project.

The "Govern a Project" window default settings.

Under Govern children, you can see two columns next to bundles, saved models, and model versions.

  • Rules for existing items: Select the templates for child items that currently exist.

  • Rules for upcoming items: Select the templates for new child items that are created.

Note

Instance rules for upcoming items are defined globally. In this case, no rules have been defined, so no new child items will be automatically governed. If you override the instance rules, you can select the checkboxes and define templates to automatically govern child items.

Govern parent items#

The previous example demonstrates when you need to govern child items. Yet, what happens when you try to govern an item whose parent isn’t governed?

The governance window of a model whose parent project isn't governed.

In this example, you are trying to govern a model whose parent project isn’t governed.

As you can see, it’s recommended to initiate governance from the parent project. However, you still have the option to create a new govern project from the Govern a Saved model window.

Note

There is no option to govern upcoming parent items automatically because child items can only have one parent item (many-to-one relationship).

Next steps#

Try to govern items yourself in Tutorial | Dataiku Govern framework!