How do you assess the data skills and literacy of your team members?

1 Define data skills and literacy

Data skills and literacy are not the same thing, although they are related. Data skills refer to the technical and analytical abilities to collect, process, manipulate, and interpret data using various tools and methods. Data literacy refers to the cognitive and communication abilities to understand, question, and use data effectively and ethically in different contexts and purposes. Both data skills and literacy are multidimensional and can vary depending on the role, domain, and data type.

4 Use a data skills audit

A data skills audit is a tool that helps you collect and analyze data about your team members' data skills and literacy, as well as their learning needs and preferences. For example, you can use a data skills audit template, which is a questionnaire that asks your team members to rate their own data skills and literacy, as well as their interest and confidence in learning new data skills. You can use this tool to gather feedback from your team members and plan your data skills development strategy.

5 Use a data skills portfolio

A data skills portfolio is a tool that helps you showcase and evaluate the data skills and literacy of your team members based on their work samples and projects. For example, you can use a data skills portfolio template, which is a document that asks your team members to provide evidence of their data skills and literacy, such as data sources, tools, methods, outputs, and insights. You can use this tool to review and recognize your team members' data achievements and contributions.

6 Use a data skills matrix

A data skills matrix is a tool that helps you visualize and communicate the data skills and literacy of your team members and the gaps and opportunities for improvement. For example, you can use a data skills matrix template, which is a table that displays the data skills and literacy levels of your team members across different categories and dimensions. You can use this tool to identify and address the data skills and literacy gaps and imbalances in your team and align your data skills development goals with your business objectives.