Why Leaders Can't Make Data-Driven Decisions

With data becoming an increasingly valuable asset, business leaders need to be able to access the data they need to make informed decisions. The right data can help leaders identify new opportunities and uncover insights that might otherwise go unnoticed. Unfortunately, however, many business leaders struggle to make data-driven decisions because they don't have access to the right data at the right time.

For several reasons, business leaders may lack access to the data they need to make informed decisions. First, some companies may not have invested in the necessary infrastructure to collect, store and analyse their data. Without the right tools and processes in place, it's impossible to access and analyse data effectively.

Another reason business leaders struggle to make data-driven decisions is because they don't know what data they need. Companies might be collecting large amounts of data, but it's not structured in a way that's useful to decision-makers. Without a clear understanding of what data is available and how to analyse it, it's near impossible to make informed decisions based on data.

Finally, business leaders might lack the skills or resources to access and analyse data effectively. Sometimes, this might be because the company lacks data analysts or other data-focused staff. In other cases, it might be because existing staff lack the necessary training or expertise to work with data effectively.

So what can business leaders do to overcome these challenges and become data-driven? 

The first step is to invest in the necessary infrastructure to collect, store, and analyse data effectively. This might involve implementing new tools, solutions and architecture, hiring additional staff or external consultants, or training existing staff.

Second, business leaders should know what data they need to make informed decisions. They should work with data analysts to identify key metrics or data points that are most relevant to their business, as well as clearly understand what questions the data is being used to answer.

Finally, business leaders should ensure they have the necessary skills and resources to access and analyse data effectively. For example, they might hire additional staff, provide training to existing teams or outsource data analysis to external experts such as Spark who can complete the work to a level and timeframe unachievable internally.

It's essential for business leaders to have the necessary skills and resources to access and analyse data effectively. This may involve hiring additional staff, training current teams, or outsourcing data analysis to external experts like Spark, who can deliver high-quality work in a fraction of the time than if completed using internal resources. By investing in these resources, business leaders can ensure they have the expertise and tools to make data-driven decisions that drive growth and success.