Writing a book is a lot like getting a tattoo. It’s permanent. It marks a life transition. It's also 95% pain, 2.5% novelty, and 2.5% talking that novelty to others. It's proof I was able to push past the anxiety and deal with the pain to do something creative. Finishing is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment, proof that I made it past all the barriers.
Driving Data Projects is, first and foremost, a love letter to my students. The book highlights two main stumbling blocks they hit: understanding the data supply chain and their role in it and integrating key change management activities like working with executive sponsorship. I also observed these issues outside of the classroom--in almost every organization I've served. Everyone skins their knees on these issues--because they are hard.
Read MoreWhen defining needs is ignored, it can stifle progress faster than the stickiest government red tape. For example, when we cannot translate our business requirements into data or more technical requirements, we lose the ability to make informed decisions. Or, when we lack the courage to confront the poor content of a colleague, we lose the collective ability to influence as a team and move the group, initiative, or business forward. Guess what? That was in our control, too.
Read MoreData analytics is filled with complexity. Anyone saying otherwise is selling products. Knowing the data sources, data sets, general lineage, and behavior of the numbers are table stakes for the average data consumer. We must know where our data comes from. Much like we need to know where our food comes from and how it's processed. Is it safe to consume?
Lately, I’ve heard many stories about early career folks with data analyst titles turning to ChatGBT for help because they don't know where to go with questions. ChatGBT should only be used when the output can be rigorously challenged, which can only happen if you have the foundational knowledge of how the output was generated. Here are some handy Do’s and Don’ts to remember before turning to ChatGBT.
Read MoreAfter teaching informatics for seven years, I’ve got a new book coming out! Driving Data Projects.
It’s a love letter to my students and a guide to my fellow colleagues. Many employees seek out or are thrust into a series of responsibilities in data management for which there is little formal training. How they engage with data in those roles impacts the privacy and security of consumer data and overall risk to the company's bottom line. The problem?
They aren’t quite sure how data works or how to drive data projects, not really. Today, almost all projects involve data to some degree, yet the data aspect is not adequately addressed.
Read MoreChange management wouldn’t be so hard if it weren’t for…the people. Open issues or objections left unresolved today cost time down the road. Suppose work starts before these concerns are mitigated. Stakeholders might get frustrated or begin to hold back their participation. Work produced might have difficulty getting implemented. Buy-in realizes impact.
There are three angles to consider. Addressing stakeholder resistance, achieving consensus on how deliverables are revised, and ensuring bi-directional feedback is balanced and actionable.
Read MoreThe synergy between analytics and Information Technology (IT) is more crucial than ever. As organizations strive for digital transformation, understanding the complex dynamic between these domains is critical to achieving strategic objectives. However, this relationship is not static; it's evolving in response to new tools and methodologies, governance requirements, and ethical considerations.
Understanding the tools facilitating this translation is critical to driving successful digital transformations and achieving strategic objectives. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports are often a misunderstood yet critical bridge between analytics vision and IT execution.
Read MoreIn his provocative 2003 Harvard Business Review article “IT Doesn't Matter,” Nicholas Carr argued that information technology (IT) had become a commodity, stripped of strategic advantage [1]. As a data translator working at the intersection of business, data, and IT teams, I find Carr's assertion not just misguided but potentially dangerous for organizations navigating today’s data-driven landscape. While Carr’s cautionary notes about overinvestment have merit, his core argument fundamentally misunderstands the evolving role of IT in modern enterprises.
Read MoreAMBIDEXTERITY 101
To grow and innovate, we must successfully manage in between short- and long-term planning, fast and slow thinking, and certainty and uncertainty. We must learn to manage the tension between two poles.
Read MoreADAPTABILITY 101
We must pivot between two modes in any situation (when it is needed). To hold our certainty or experience lightly to learn is the ultimate expression of adaptability.
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