First ask: "How will I use this data?"
Whether it's during data conversion, adding a new data field, or reconsidering a given process, one of the first questions you should ask is "How will we use that data?"
Put another way, just because we can manage the data doesn't mean we should!
For example, I was speaking with a client recently about how to manage organization records within their database. They have individual members and want to associate all of the individuals with their appropriate organizations. It's an understandable desire. But when asked the question "How will we use that data?" the answer was "We're not really sure."
We all have lots of data we need to manage. And lots more we might want to manage. But for any data we manage, we need to be able to quickly answer the question "How does this data get used?" If we can't answer that, it's probably not data we need to be managing!
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
DAN – The Data Analytics Network
DAN – The Data Analytics Network I’m a huge fan of users groups (both internal […]
Process before technology
Process before technology In a conversation with a client recently, I was reminded (yet again) […]
Opting out and communication preferences
Opting out and communication preferences Last week’s newsletter discussed the need for associations to collect mobile […]
Are you collecting mobile phone numbers? You should be.
Are you collecting mobile phone numbers? You should be. Are you collecting (and using) the […]
Spend less time on data management and more on higher value activities
Spend less time on data management and more on higher value activities Data management is very […]
Change anything you want, except your name!
Change anything you want, except your name! This is an oldy but a goody, but […]
If you don’t trust your vendor…
If you don’t trust your vendor… When I start an AMS selection project with a […]
Your RFP should go to no more than five vendors!
Your RFP should go to no more than five vendors! As a rule, when I […]
Be concise!
Be concise! I started a monthly newsletter almost 25 years ago (which I recently discontinued). […]
A great example of a data integrity report!
A great example of a data integrity report! A couple months back I discussed the […]