The Mystery, the Myth and the Magic of Big Data with Chas Fields and Teresa Smith
Laurie Ruettimann
Trailblazing Workplace Expert | Bestselling Author & Speaker | Top LinkedIn Learning Leadership & HR Instructor | Still trying to fix work.
My guests today are Chas Fields and Teresa Smith. They're part of the HCM Advisory Group at the Workforce Institute at UKG, where they offer insights and advice to corporate HR leaders and business leaders just like you. Today's conversation focuses on understanding big data. We talk about where it is, what it feels like, what it means and how to utilize big data to really fix work.?
If you're on an HR journey and you're asking yourself how big data can be used as a tool for better corporate storytelling or to improve the employee experience, sit back and enjoy this conversation with Chas Fields and Teresa Smith.?
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What Do We Mean By “Big Data” Anyway?
Everybody has a definition of big data, and most of them aren't great. I wanted to know what big data actually is, so I asked two people I trust on the topic.
Starting with a straightforward definition, Theresa explains big data basics. "It's really a way for organizations to take data from different systems and processes that they're doing to look at it in a holistic view to really drive the organization forward."
The explanation makes sense, but where do I find big data? Can I find it on a computer or system? Where does it sit, and where does it reside?
Chas' answer is both clear and startling. "It's everywhere. It really boils down to how you're tracking and its data at high speed and velocity. I mean, at the core, that's what we're talking about, is a lot of it at a high speed. So it could be across multiple systems. It could be data that's in your mind.
“Now, when you start to talk about big data, immediately, you think about the technology piece,” Chas continues. “So for a lot of companies that Teresa and I work with, it's in Microsoft Excel. It could be in your ERP. It could be in your HCM. It could be in your time clocks. It could be all of these different places, even in your logistics software or your service and distribution software. All of it plays a factor into your people and how you, as an organization, make decisions."
Understanding Big Data as a Storytelling Device
The idea of storytelling with data is exciting. When we talk about big data, it’s often focused on a weird, robotic way of thinking that only IT folks understand. I want to be able to tell a more remarkable story about employees. I want some emotional resonance. What is the emotional impact of big data? What’s the potential? What can be realized with it?
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Teresa has a way of spelling it out that makes perfect sense. “We see a lot of organizations where they’re touting their data, but they’re still not really understanding what it’s saying. And as a result, we often get paralyzed by what actions we need to take to make corrections if the data hints at the slightest little problem. So many times, this is a result of not having a fully, good understanding of their data and how that data can really be brought to life.”
Teresa expands that thought. “It’s a lot to comprehend. And it can be frustrating when they’re told that these areas really should be their focus, without having a sense of how that will happen or where all these activities will fit in our day-to-day.”
Chas uses his knowledge to point out that “in every decision you make, there’s going to be a positive reaction or a negative reaction. And I think it boils down to, one, is your data trusted? If it’s garbage in, it’s going to be garbage out. And if it’s garbage out, that does impact the employees because you’re making decisions on something that is literally trash, for lack of a better term. Right? So we have to take a look at that, right?
?“If we sit here and we say, ‘We care about the business,’ we have to make sure that we care about our people first because they’re the ones that make the business thrive.” Chas understands every side of big data. “There’s a lot of positive that can really, really come out of [big data]. But again, it goes back to understanding and teaching these components first.”
Using Big Data to Improve the Employee Experience
Client and customer stories make concepts easier to understand. What happens when people rethink their relationship with big data? How does it look in the real world, and how does it make work better? We are here to fix work and improve employee experiences, after all.
Teresa was happy to oblige. “I was working with a customer who was having high turnover, and they were really having a hard time retaining their talent. So, they pulled the traditional reports of turnover in headcount, and they were able to identify that. But once they started looking at big data, really peeling back the layers and looking to identify the trends and what was happening in the organization overall, what they found was, they didn’t just only have a turnover and a headcount issue. They had a deeper issue with a particular department, and it was the manager that had a lack of training.
“So it all boiled down to the point that their manager needed more effective training to help lead their people and guide them in a positive direction for the organization,” Teresa continues. “That’s a simple story, but by peeling back that data and really diving into it, they were able to uncover a deeper problem than just their turnover in headcount.”