Data Is Only As Good As The Questions You Ask

It is to ask the right questions to understand the problem, prior to beginning data analysis.

• What questions will the audience have about our analysis? , look at data across time to identify trends, drill-down into details,
• Who is the audience that will use the results from the analysis? , sales people, customers, employees,
• How will the results be used? , invest in work with a vendor, identify risks,
• How should the questions be prioritized to derive the most value?
• Identify key stakeholders and get their input on interesting questions
• Who should be able to access the information?
• Who will develop and maintain the report?
• What information will be on each report?
• Do I need all the data for more granular analysis, or do I need a subset to ensure faster performance?
• What reports currently exist in another format? What changes might be made to existing reports?
• What ETLs or stored procedures need to be developed, if any?
• What database enhancements are required to meet reporting requirements?
• When will each report be delivered?
• What is the frequency of updates required for the data?
• Which data sources are available to work with?
• Will I need to analyze data from external sources, which resides outside of my organization’s data?
• What is each data set and how much data will I need to get from each one?
• How familiar am I with the underlying tables and schema in each database? Do I need to work with anyone else to understand the data structure
• Will the data need to be standardized due to disparity?
• Do I have the required permissions or credentials to access the data necessary for analysis?
• Which statistical analysis techniques do you want to apply?
• Which scales apply to your different data sets?
• How can you ensure data quality?
• What exactly do you want to find out?
• What standard KPIs will you use that can help?
• How are disparate data sources associated with one another?
• How will I use the captured insights?

With the above points, you can understand that identifying the right questions can help you make the key decision and set up a robust data-driven infrastructure,

These questions will not only help you to cut the cost, it can also help you to launch new products and services, set a path for future strategies and finally make data an integral part of your culture.