Garbage in, gospel out
We've all heard the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out." If the data entered into the system is bad, any reports coming out of it will be bad. Simple.
But what about "Garbage in, gospel out"? (I first heard this from my father.) Translated, this is reflected in the attitude of "If the system says it is so, it must be."
We've probably all encountered this with a consumer goods company when the customer service rep says "Sir, my records show your service is working fine," as I sit on my end with no internet service.
The antidote to Garbage in, Gospel out is "Trust, but verify." It's ok to assume your data reports are good, as long as you've verified they are good! One way to verify your data is through the use of data integrity reports.
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Sometimes it’s the least bad choice
Sometimes it’s the least bad choice Just like in life, sometimes when we’re making technology …
Our Members Aren’t Tech Savvy
Our Members Aren’t Tech Savvy Having worked now in the association space for more than …
Motion vs. Action
Motion vs. Action One key to successful data management is understanding the difference between motion …
There is ALWAYS a trade-off
There is ALWAYS a trade-off I’ve written many times about trade-offs (you can read a …
Newton’s First Law
Newton’s First Law Part of Newton’s First Law states that “…an object in motion stays …
Engagement is measured by the customer
Engagement is Measured by the Customer I’ve written a bunch about measuring engagement in the past. (Click …
A Data Integrity Report…for Reports!
I’ve written elsewhere about the value of data integrity reports. But one of the most …
A change of systems requires a change of mindset
Every AMS vendor will tell you that the toughest part of implementing a new system …
A change of systems requires a change of mindset Read More »
Clean as you go
Clean As You Go A good cook or baker knows that, when working in the …
Baby Steps
One of the keys to developing good data management habits is to be aware of …