First, you gotta have the data
When I work with clients on a new AMS selection and we're discussing what they want to be able to do with a new system, it's very common to hear something like: "We want to be able to report on a range of demographics about our members." Early on in my consulting career I would typically respond with "Well, that shouldn't be a problem with the right technology."
But what I soon learned is that often the client wasn't saying "We need better technology," they were saying "We don't have that data yet." So now I'm smart enough to respond with "Is the problem that you don't have the data, or that you can't get it out of the system?"
I know it's stating the obvious, but if you want to report on some data or another, the first step is that you have to have the data in order to report on it.
And good technology will allow you to collect and report on that data. But you have to first have processes in place to collect the data.
And before you put those processes in place, you have to know what data you're going to collect, and you have to know how and where you're going to collect it.
And of course, never collect meaningless data.
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Action isn’t the same as progress
Action isn’t the same as progress I’ve written before that not taking action is an …
Start with the end in mind
Start with the end in mind Like so many, I probably first heard the phrase …
It’s quiet in here…maybe TOO quiet…
It’s quiet in here…maybe TOO quiet… One of the truisms of data management is that …
It’s ALWAYS about expectations
It’s ALWAYS about expectations The headline reads: “Tesla sets record for vehicle deliveries, an increase …
It’s hard to get UNangry
It’s hard to get UNangry I often emphasize to my clients the importance of testing …
Some history IS important!
Some history IS important! When I’m advising clients on data conversion (moving data from one …
“Many mickles make a muckle.”
“Many mickles make a muckle.” “Many mickles make a muckle.” – George Washington Apparently, this …
It’s easy to collect; it’s harder to manage
It’s easy to collect; it’s harder to manage The beauty of today’s highly configurable AMS …
Tell them why you want the data
Tell them why you want the data Because data is so easy to collect these …
Don’t get hung up on something minor
Don’t get hung up on something minor I’m a problem solver. I love to solve …