At a strategic level, Product Analytics isn’t just about the “How.” That’s important, but is more tactical. It’s more about the “What” and the “Why.” Basically, are your outcomes driving toward your goals.
We are overwhelmed by information, not because there is too much, but because we haven’t learned how to tame it. Information lies stagnant in rapidly expanding pools as our ability to collect and warehouse it increases, but our ability to make sense of and communicate it remains inert, largely without notice.
Stephen Few, Data Visualization Expert
The What and the Why
What are you trying to do? Probably running and growing your business; within guardrails including internal financial and external regulatory concerns. Most analytics are historical lagging indicators. You may have items you consider leading indicators; a sales pipeline or scheduling system, possibly equipment failure estimations, etc. And you may be using predictive models including AI tools. But mostly, your performance reports will be historical. And why study history? Typically it’s to try to predict or change the future.
So What are you trying to do?
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