A presentation by Wired contributing editor Gary Wolf at TED@Cannes showing what is available for tracking and analyzing your body, mood, diet, spending—just about everything measurable in daily life. (Wolf also is also the co founder of the Quantified Self, a blog about “self-knowledge through numbers.”)
Gary talks about the importance of becoming aware of our own personal data by turning inward for self improvement, discovery and knowledge. By knowing ourselves better we can be more effective in the world. The same is true for knowing our data and analysis better. How do we connect with the data that we analyze day to day in our quest to provide meaningful solutions to day-to-day organizational issues?
It takes a team approach
I am talking about collaboration. We don’t live on an island. Data about ourselves comes from information that we get from others. The same is true with business data: experts in your company’s historical data, the veracity of data sources and familiarity with business goals are mandatory for understanding the usefulness of the data.Learn as you go
It is true. When analyzing data, we don’t always come up with the answers that we want. But we do get the answers to something. All analysis is worth something. The key is to take the time to see how your solutions may apply by asking “what if.” And if you don’t know yet, make a mental note. Chances are you will be able to use it later or at least use the techniques in analyzing the data.Tools are meant to be used
Inventions in themselves are pretty remarkable. Technology has given us the ability to advance more quickly, easily and flexibly. Analytical tools are more than the sum of their parts; they educate us about the source data, provide new and better ways to manipulate it, and how that benefits an organization. If we understand the tool and how it works we can better leverage the information, but it takes an analyst who understands this concept to benefit from analytical tools like Business Intelligence.
So who contributes to you Business Intelligence Operations Center? Does it provide the structure the team needs to mine your organization’s vital signs and support self improvement, discovery and knowledge?
