Disclosed are a method and system for propagating data changes in a hierarchy of dataset models in which each dataset model comprises an analytic and one or more parent datasets, including a primordial dataset. The analytic is executed to instantiate a first instance of the data model. After a change in a primordial dataset, each instance of a dataset model that descends from the primordial dataset is invalidated, and the analytic is re-executed to create a second instance of the data model. Analytical results may be displayed. The first dataset model may include a metric in which the definition of the metric comprises metadata of the dataset model. Metric values may be stored in a first cache, re-computed on a new instance of the dataset model, and stored in a second cache.