What's driving you? Data vs. Decisions
Luciano Cedrone, CPP CPTED
| Thought Leadership | Trainer | Content Creator |Public Speaker
The mantra “Data drives decision making” is a familiar refrain in the professional world, emphasizing the importance of basing decisions on accurate and timely information. While this principle is generally accepted, it’s worth contemplating whether there are instances when decisions should lead, not follow, the data.
Challenging the conventional wisdom that data should dictate decisions, this article explores the concept of?decision-driven data. Despite sounding unconventional, there are merits to this approach.
It might sound odd to some people. Isn’t data supposed to drive “better” decisions based on cold, hard facts? Let’s dive in and see how “sometimes” it may better to go with your gut instead of just following the data.
The Pros of Decision-Driven Data:
Context is King:?Decision-making allows for nuanced understanding by analyzing data within its context. Consider a real-life example involving a bank whose data showed a concerning spike in robberies. Upon closer inspection, the security director discovered a flaw in the reporting system, revealing an actual decline in robberies
Agility and Adaptability:?Decision-driven data enables quick responses unencumbered by rigid datasets. The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC illustrates this. If the Spartans had solely relied on data, they would have retreated instead of fighting a battle they were certain to lose. King Leonidas’ decision to seek out strategic data in a narrow pass demonstrated the value of adaptability. The Persians won the battle, but at great cost, as their previously invincible reputation crumbled, eventually leading to their withdrawal from Greece and setting the stage for Western Europe’s rise to prominence.
Human Touch:?Decision-making incorporates human intuition and expertise, aspects unmatched by algorithms. Trusting instincts and considering human perspectives can enhance decision quality. There are situations where gut feelings prevail over data.
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Cons of Data-Driven Decision Making:
Tips on Leveraging Data Effectively
Conclusion:
While data’s importance cannot be overstated, decisions should ultimately guide the collection and interpretation of data. A balanced approach, merging intuition with analytical insight, unleashes the true potential of data. Placing decision-making at the forefront ensures success in our ever-evolving landscape.
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1 年Great article Luc! Secondary thought I have had about relying on data, which I think dovetails into what you are saying. Yes, we need to rely on data, but we have to make sure we aren't creating a feedback loop wherein we end up skewing the data output. Example: a police agency puts out a "grid warning" to the banks for [Person], then when the banks reply to the notice, investigators use that to justify implication in an offence. The problem is, but for the police putting out a grid warning, the [Person] would not have been reported as conducting a suspicious transaction. It ends up being a self-perpetuating cycle. My only point is, I think we have to make sure we don't feed data into a system that artificially points us in a specific direction. (For the non-police people, replies to grid warnings often don't mean the person has done anything suspicious)