How to make your organization ready for the analytical journey
In the era of data-driven decision-making, democratizing data analytics has become a critical goal for businesses. But what does it mean, and what should you focus on to start successful initiatives?
Data enthusiast Frederik Fritz from StatSoft shares some personal insights on how organizations can empower their teams and unlock the potential of data for everyone.
Democratization refers to making data analytics accessible to a broader audience within an organization. Traditionally, data analysis was confined to a select group of experts – data scientists, analysts and IT professionals. However, in the light of data ubiquity, this approach clearly has limitations: Data silos, complex tools and slow processes hinder users to implement data-based processes – and prevent organizations from using the potential of their data.
But establishing analytical democracy within an organization is a journey, not a sprint. While accompanying different companies in doing so in the past, and observing common failures, I have come to identify a set of topics that are relevant for successfully fostering access to data analytics for all.
1 Gaining and inspiring trust among all stakeholders
- Supporting data competencies of employees: Enablement is key
- Data access and transparency: Making disparate sources visible and accessible
- Data quality and governance: Ensure that the data users work with are reliable. Embed them into a data architecture that allows to effectively manage and control data assets.
- Clear goals and metrics: Define what you want to achieve and make goals measurable to demonstrate progress and decide about continuing with measures.
2 Break down barriers by relying on common grounds
- Defined vision and mission: Data and analytics initiatives need to contribute to overall company strategy.
- Clear communication: Everybody needs to be aware of what teams want to achieve, and how this improves performance.
- Collaboration and interdisciplinarity: Departments will benefit from using data sources from other fields.
- Projects with short timeframe: Start small, with a narrow use case. Learn and build up on experiences as you go an.
- Creation of collaborative environment: Enable cooperation between departments through setting shared objectives and by inspiring empathy.
3 Foster cultural change: Humans are at the core of democratization
- Common goals & assumptions: To break down silos you need to work with a shared framework of concepts.
- Participation and integration: Everybody needs to get on board. A small group of retainers can threaten a whole initiative.
- Managers as role models: Not only to kick-off processes but to regularly accompany and monitor projects and act as internal supporter.
- Training and further education: Continuously enabling users will provide them with confidence and
- Feedback and adjustments: Move forward iteratively. Accept and learn from failures and adapt learnings for new use cases.
4 Create protected environment for data
- Sensitise for data protection and security: by training (and regularly refreshing) employees
- Implementation of access controls: Not everyone should have access to all data and perform all activities. Define user roles and corresponding rights for safe usage.
- By design & by default: Follow both principles to ensure maximum security.
- Data protection audits
5 Choose to work with a common analytical platform
- Technological integration: It does make sense to align on analytical tools that are used.
- A common language: Enabling data scientists to talk to business etc. Ensures that all stakeholders can express their requirements and ideas.
- Comprehensibility: Everybody is enabled what is happening in an analytical workspace.
- Get started fast: Intuitive (graphical) user interfaces allow to learn quickly and get started with use cases and prototypes.
- Exchange: Users benefit from each other’s learnings and are able to work on issues together.
Democratizing data analytics isn’t a one-time project; it’s a mindset and cultural base. Organizations that embrace it will thrive in the data-driven landscape.
Remember, democratization isn’t about replacing experts; it’s about enabling everyone to contribute to data-driven success. Whether you’re a marketer, an HR professional, or a salesperson, data is your ally.
Want to learn more? Let us talk about how a platform like Alteryx suits your analytical needs!
