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 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 […]
3 Surprising Ways Netflix has Innovated with Data
When Netflix unveiled its DVD-by-mail plan back in 1998, it seemed like a quirky aberration in an economic landscape thoroughly dominated by established brick and mortar movie rental shops. Blockbuster was its biggest rival, but it’s unlikely the giant company saw Netflix as much of a threat. In fact Blockbuster still had 9000 stores open in […]
