Cooking shows are very popular, and many of them show creative, talented chefs whipping up delicious and innovative dishes with confidence and skill. What fewer of the shows explore is the prep work that is done in advance to allow those talented chefs to move through their tasks with ease and without distracting barriers to […]
The Case for Data Democratization: Data Scientists Can’t Keep Up . . . Nor Should They
One ongoing debate in the world of work is whether it is better to be a specialist or a generalist. This is a question that has gotten more and more relevant as technological capabilities have changed workplace functions. Is it better to dive deep into a particular skill set and make yourself invaluable in a single […]
What is a Data Catalog and Why Do You Need One?
Data-driven analysis has been the buzzword in business for years now, and most informed business owners understand that they need to adopt data-driven practices if they want to succeed and compete in today’s market. They have probably even gone so far as to invest in technology that captures data in a variety of ways and […]
How Satya Nadella used Data to Reignite Microsoft
If you were following tech news in 2012 and 2013, you know that it was widely reported that Microsoft was in serious trouble. It announced losses that landed it in hot water with investors, and there were numerous reports about just where the company had gone wrong, many centering on the perceived flaws of Windows […]
How Airbnb used Data Literacy to Leapfrog the Competition
Years ago, reading and writing skills were in the hands of a few specially trained practitioners. Today, literacy is considered essential to progress in the world. The same is true of data literacy. We have evolved past the time when information is narrow enough to be maintained and managed within a specialized group. Instead, data […]
No such thing as a free hunch: how intuition nearly killed Amazon’s recommendation engine
There’s a lot of social influence around trusting intuition and making decisions based on emotional response. The story around trusting a hunch is so strong that even people in powerful business positions can get caught up in the “magic” of it. “Trust your gut.” “I’ll know it when I see it.” “I’ve got to feel […]
