A mock cycle is only useful if it is measured. Here is what a well-run mock should produce - beyond "the load finished".
Mock cycles are the rehearsal for go-live. Too often they are judged by a single question - did the loads complete? - and the most useful information is thrown away.
Define the purpose of each mock
Mock 1 validates the technical chain end to end. Mock 2 measures data quality and business validation effort. Mock 3 tests the timeline under realistic conditions. The dress rehearsal proves the cutover runbook. Each mock needs its own entry and exit criteria.
Measure what the cutover will need
- Duration per object and per step - extraction, transformation, validation, load, reconciliation.
- Error rate at first load and the number of reload iterations.
- Business validation lead time - how long owners really need to sign off.
- Open defects by severity and whether they block downstream objects.
Close the loop
A mock is finished when its findings are in the plan: updated durations, adjusted dependencies, new cleansing rules and a revised cutover timeline. Without this loop, each mock repeats the previous one's surprises.
Make results visible
Steering committees should see planned versus actual per object, the evolving critical path and the list of approved-with-restrictions items - in one view. This is the level of visibility we build into every migration we lead.