A new world of information? Pitfalls revealed in view of the crisis

Are you also trying to keep track of the data flow that accompanies the Covid-19 crisis, read any table or graph that is published (in the institutionalized press, social networks, WhatsApp…)? Does it help you to understand what is going on? Of course not. 

The (very limited) human ability to use analyzed and concise information to understand, analyze or simulate the situation is hitting us now - an acute sense of confusion, lack of control, and contradictory conclusions. Decision-makers at the all countries, not just the general public or middle managers organizations, are at the same place vis-à-vis the Coronavirus current and future-looking situation.

Personal Note - I am convinced that globally and in Israel, my homeplace, decision makers and workers that are engaged in the campaign are committed and professional, please be sure to remember this along this article.

First Pitfall - Analog to Digital

Our reality is physical - there is a virus, it circulates between people, causes them symptoms, or not, and sometimes kills us. In many cases, improper care is due to lack of appropriate resources – in the right time and place. 

Today, when making decisions, we are based on digital snapshots of the world - we became addicted, and rightly so. But the first element of the chain is relocating (completely, as much a possible) physical circumstances into an organized and modeled digital snapshots which enables digital analysis and prediction.

To start with, most of the information is not at the digital (cyber) space yet. For example - where are the available ventilators in the States? What are the expiration dates of the emergency medical-related consumables in Israel? The information is distributed and, partly, not digital at all.

Secondly - human errors. The information wellness at any country, that did not make sure to close any possible gaps in the process of transferring physical space (i.e. analog data) into digital information, has been compromised. This is demonstrated in Israel in the process of testing – misidentifications, samples were lost etc. Adhering to human-based protocols is not enough in an age of decision -making-critical information.

Second Pitfall - Transparency of Data as a Political and Interested Parties’ Instrument

US Politics is caught between the federal government and the States’ administration and leaders, New York state had made stubborn claims that the Federal Government hides information on the availability of respiratory support devices reserves and other critical equipment. Trump, at his end, is using it to weaken the Democratic state-level leaders, the Chinese government, especially at the beginning of the epidemic, but presumably also now, has delayed publication of information - probably internally, not only outside of China - the damage is not reversible and has a shocking global grade impact. Russia is probably labeling Coronavirus patients as pneumonia and many more examples.

Third Pitfall - We are Really Poor at Understanding Fast-Changing Data

Any cognitive test that has been ran proves this phenomenon - for example, the leaking water tap test at a soccer field (if you are not familiar with it - ping me). As we add intensively-updated (prediction-based) detailed future information - we lose our intuitive abilities to understand the data. Many politicians have fallen into the pit of our wretched ability, as human beings, to understand data growing exponentially. They calm us when the data is showing very rapid increase, they horrify us when decline is expected to be fast as well (at least for periods).

Fourth Pitfall – Much is Less, the Infodemic Phenomenon

WHO Director General, Tadros Adhnum Grabizos, has stated that one of the goals of launching a large-scale web site is the epidemic of information - “we are not just fighting an epidemic; we also fighting against an Infodemic”. The tsunami of information does not allow people to consume it and, thus, leaves significant room for confusion, this confusion is a fertile ground for deception and manipulations. 

Even after this site was went online - how many of you went directly to it? Just the obsessed ones. Most of us consumes fourth hands information (used with stains under the graph ??).

To summarize, we imagined we were already capable to take information-based decisions. That our efforts and vast investment placed into digitalization and the new economy, has allowed us to cross the road. That it is already a non-issue, the rapidly-unfolding reality in front of our eyes reveals the data perversity - surely, we're not there. We have painted an idyllic snapshot.

Many aspects of possible failures have been illustrated in this article, the good news is that this dire situation is a rare opportunity to grasp the opportunity to re-think and act quickly organizational adaptations and take-outs, in most business, public arenas and organizations.

How to promote effective use of information insights amid the lessons being learned during this Crisis? Increase beneficial use and minimizing harmful use? I’ll elaborate soon In the follow-up article in this series.