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
Be careful not to overbuy
Be careful not to overbuy I recently spoke with an association of ten staff that was […]
When is the best time to clean your data?
When is the best time to clean your data? One of the most common questions […]
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Do the benefits outweigh the risks? As the economist Thomas Sowell points out, there are […]
Painting the Bridge
Painting the Bridge According to this article, the Golden Gate Bridge is painted continuously year-round. […]
Maintenance isn’t sexy
Maintenance isn’t sexy I remember reading once long ago that one of the reasons our […]
“Will I still have a job when this is done?”
“Will I still have a job when this is done? While working with a client […]
Evolution, not revolution
Evolution, not revolution I don’t recall where I first heard it many decades ago, but […]
The power of the users’ group
The power of the users’ group Recently in an online users group forum for an […]
Who is your data evangelist?
Who is your data evangelist? I was recently talking with a client of mine about […]
Who is your data evangelist?
Who is your data evangelist? I was recently talking with a client of mine about […]