Of course, data-driven work is part of the business strategy and requires a clear vision. It is a fantastic tool to help organisations save costs, work more efficiently, and improve services or processes. Excellent for setting ambitious goals. But chances are that reality is still far away. We often see that data-driven work does not get off the ground due to these ambitious goals and the desire to get it right in one go. Data-driven work is a capability that you as an organisation only develop by gaining experiences.
Unfortunately there is no template for data-driven work that you can simply apply overnight.
By Max, data scientist at Datalab
1. Start small and don't wait too long to share the first results
To gain experience quickly, it is important to start small, dare to make mistakes and start again. Especially in the beginning there are many things to figure out. It is not realistic to tackle all data sources simultaneously and get this working for all stakeholders in one go. Start for example with unlocking one data source and work this out in minimal iterative steps.
2. Don't stop at making a dashboard
A dashboard is where data-driven work becomes tangible for many people. With a few visualisations your data becomes tangible and perhaps even converted into usable information. But be aware that a dashboard is not a goal in itself, but a means - and use it as such. Ensure for example that your dashboard is used during meetings. If you receive questions and comments about your dashboard, you know you are on the right track.
3. The story behind it is just as important
You cannot expect others to 'just' adopt your dashboard or insight. It is therefore truly important to pay attention to how something comes across to users. Ensure you know what the end user needs and make sure it is visually in order. Develop an ambassador role and avoid 'throwing your data products over the fence'.