Business Intelligence: Staying Human

What benefits could interviews with people in business have over quantitative data science when it comes to making an investment decision?

More than you may think.

And that’s for one simple reason; doing business is human. Indeed, despite the advent of the information age—of the Excel spreadsheet, the data analyst—big calls often still come down to the whims of the individual.

A gut call is not just informed by stacks of facts and figures but by a healthy dose of instinct.

The most successful businesspeople see gaps and build on promising concepts heretofore poorly executed.

Some really do reinvent the wheel, while some are merely in the right place at the right time with the right idea.

That isn’t to discount the complex patterns and long-term predictions that can be gleaned from data, pored over by senior analysts and interns alike, compiled into cheat sheets that end up on the desks of decision makers.

But with the advent of AI and endless streams of cold numbers, the power of first-hand insights straight from the minds of business leaders—in the form of the humble interview—cannot be underestimated.

Reading interviews with players in business not only reveals the hidden nuances of doing business in different countries, but also grants you a backstage pass into the minds of influential figures and access to the ideas that drive them. Let’s dive into the importance of these interviews as a source of valuable business intelligence in the 21st?century.

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Avoiding the pitfalls of cultural faux pas

Forget about dry charts and sanitized reports. Sentiment-based information in the form of interviews cuts through to the issues that matter, giving the discerning CEO the real dirt on the ins and outs of doing business in new areas and foreign lands. While data can be informative, it often leaves you hungry for more context and the nitty-gritty details that impact your decisions. These raw and unfiltered interviews deliver just that—unearthing the cultural and economic factors that data can’t quantify.

Want to know how to survive in the fierce market of Country X? Or business lunch etiquette in Country Y?

Interviews can be your backstage pass to unfiltered truths and battle-tested advice.

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Emphasizing the personal touch

The saying may be tired, but the idea that it’s who you know, not what you know, still rings true and represents another reason to put away those boring spreadsheets and focus on building real connections.

Interviews with business leaders offer a glimpse into the human element of the corporate world, giving you a peek into their personalities, beliefs, and dreams.

Armed with this inside knowledge, the savvy investor can learn to better communicate with their peers, especially in unknown areas, and “level up” their networking capabilities.

Because let’s face it; business is personal, and sentimental information can grant the keys to unlock those vital relationships.

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The Holy Grail of exclusive content

In a world overflowing with regurgitated information, finding exclusive content is a rarity.

Data might be readily available, but getting your hands on the words and opinions of an individual is like striking gold.

Think about that last TV you ordered on Amazon—did the spec sheet or the comments section help you make that final decision? The perfect product on paper isn’t getting anywhere with one-star reviews and the scorn of the masses.

That places access to interview-driven research a step above traditional, data-driven business intelligence.

The right archive could be a trove of insights, strategies, and future plans straight from the horse’s mouth!

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Recycling matters—but not when it comes to information

Does every major investment decision start with a Google search? Perhaps. But the role of the internet as a source of information is undeniable. Finding information that hasn’t been through 10 spin cycles is challenging, however.

Sitting comfortably outside of the echo chamber, however, is that sentiment-driven research again. Time stamped, topical, and relevant interviews grant the reader a backstage pass to real business developments.

While we have no way of knowing how AI and the seemingly unstoppable rise of data analysis will transform the world in the future, we can be fairly certain that people wish to hold onto their humanity.

Humans invented the airplane, eradicated smallpox, and landed on the moon—achievements usually driven by a small number of motivated individuals.

With that in mind, we suggest business leaders around the world pursue qualitative information and seek out personal opinions from those on the ground.

Staying human may be the best approach for business success.