Every company strives to outshine its competitors through various means. They employ a plethora of catchphrases, slogans, and initiatives to convey this message. Whether it's centered around customer-centricity, a focus on people, emphasizing social capital, sustainability, or striving for carbon neutrality, the options seem endless.
However, at the core of all these taglines and endeavors, there is one pivotal element: data. The question to ask is whether your company truly operates as a data-driven organization. While endeavors like digital transformation, AI initiatives, and integrated systems are essential prerequisites, they are just the initial steps on this transformative journey.
- Initiate a Digital Transformation: Kickstart your journey by digitally transforming your company, integrating systems, and establishing a digital core with a single source of truth.
- Embrace System and Process Adoption: Recognize that the adoption phase may be the most time-consuming, as people often resist change. It's essential to delve deep into individuals' habits and work processes, effecting a transformation that encourages the adoption of new systems and practices. As Sigmund Freud said, "The mind is like an iceberg, with one-seventh of its bulk above water."
- Prioritize System Accuracy: To truly become data-driven, system accuracy is non-negotiable. Achieving this goes beyond mere training programs; it involves an intrinsic connection between processes and systems. Data entry is a skill of paramount importance - and i would more or less re-design this role as the "business translator", as Wyatt Earp noted, "Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything."
- Implement and Maintain Operational Processes: The final stage involves running the newly established processes. This occurs when individuals have embraced the new way of working and fully understand the purpose behind their actions. Without a clear understanding of the purpose and end goals of even the smallest tasks, achieving repetitive operational accuracy is challenging. As the saying goes, "Every activity we align should be linked to a purpose, or it may be a waste of time."
After setting up your data framework, the transformation journey begins. Define the essential parameters for gaining insights, fostering a shared understanding across the core aspects as well as the more subjective areas where variables come into play. Embrace data as your invaluable asset to propel your company forward.
