Indicators not well defined
Indicator Data Source Traceability
An indicator without an identifiable, reliable data source cannot produce auditable results — the technical indicator description is where reliability is either established or lost.
Why Data Source Traceability Matters
The National Treasury performance framework requires each indicator to have a technical indicator description naming a defined, reliable source of data. Indicators that cannot point to such a source produce numbers auditors cannot verify, leading to findings on the reliability and well-definedness of performance information. AuditPro Core checks each indicator's description for an identifiable data source so traceability gaps are closed during planning.
The Numbers
AuditPro Core renders this view from your tenant's live, tamper-evident records. The figures below are illustrative sample data.
Indicators
298
Source defined
221
74%
Source vague
54
18%
No source
23
8%
Data source definition quality
Indicators lacking a source
| Indicator | Source issue |
|---|---|
| Customer satisfaction index | No survey instrument named |
| Jobs created | Source system unspecified |
| Water quality compliance | Lab/source not stated |
Figures shown are illustrative sample data for demonstration. AuditPro Core renders these views from your own tenant's live, tamper-evident records.
The Technical Indicator Description
The TID specifies the definition, source, method of calculation and assumptions for an indicator. A missing or vague data source means the reported number has no verifiable origin.
Reliability Depends on the Source
An auditor confirms a reported result by tracing it to the named source. If the source is undefined, unavailable or unreliable, the result fails the reliability test regardless of how it was calculated.
Well-Defined Indicators
An indicator is well-defined only when anyone applying the TID would arrive at the same measurement. Ambiguity in the data source is a leading cause of indicators being found not well-defined.
How AuditPro Core Bridges the Gap
- Source verification: each indicator's TID is checked for a named, identifiable data source.
- Exception workflow: indicators lacking a reliable source are flagged for redefinition before adoption.
- Traceability to source: every indicator links to the system or record that supplies its data.
- Audit-ready evidence: the TID review documents that indicators were quality-assured for reliability.
Key Takeaways
- Every indicator needs a defined, reliable data source in its TID.
- Auditors confirm results by tracing them to the named source.
- An undefined source makes the reported number unverifiable.
- Fixing source gaps during planning prevents reliability findings.
See This on Your Own Data
AuditPro Core renders this dashboard from your tenant's live, tamper-evident records — every figure traceable to source.