4 min read
Data and reporting: turning data into decisions
Why companies collect data but fail to use it, and how to set up reporting that matters.
Every system collects data today. The problem is that it piles up while nobody makes decisions from it. Reporting without a question is just a table nobody looks at.
It only makes sense when it answers specific business questions.
Start from questions, not data
First name the decisions you want to make and the data you need for them. Only then work out where to get it. The reverse leads to cluttered dashboards.
One view instead of ten
Instead of many dashboards, make one people can trust and understand. Fewer metrics, but the right ones, is always better.
Data quality
Reporting stands or falls on data quality. Make sure data has a single owner, clear rules and a traceable path. Bad data leads to confidently wrong decisions.