The CPTD Detailed Content Outline specifies that when gathering organizational data, defining the purpose of the data collection is fundamental: "Clear definition of the objective of a data collection effort ensures actionable results that drive talent development strategies aligned with organizational goals".
If the purpose is unclear, all other decisions - such as sampling, methods, analysis - could lead to invalid or irrelevant results.
Reference: CPTD Detailed Content Outline, Domain 3: Impacting Organizational Capability, Data & Analytics section.