Transparency and accountability are foundational elements in creating a cost-conscious culture within data teams. By ensuring that all team members understand how their actions affect the overall budget and holding them accountable for their decisions teams foster an environment where every member feels responsible for managing costs effectively. Transparency involves openly discussing financial goals, challenges, budgets, and expenditures with the team so everyone has a clear understanding of fiscal constraints and objectives. Accountability means setting clear expectations regarding spending decisions and resource usage while providing mechanisms for feedback and improvement when those expectations are not met.