Yes, data analytics can stimulate your imagination, I am one of these raw people who can look at raw data, create the visualization in 3D in my mind, and then draw my visualization on a white board what the number represent and mean to business. Wow, if the world could see what we see .

Andy

I am sorry to hear that you have worked in finance but in research I am sure there were situations where you were surprised by the outcome. I too have worked in research and was always happy and excited or disappointed for the students when they recieved their results.

Hope this answer’s your question.

I am glad I am not the one who can say “this is what I was born to do” and also a lady, (had been feeling a bit lonely with the comments I have been recieving). Fantastic!

I love being a Data Analyst/Database Developer. I’m blessed to be able to use my imagination across many angles. This is what I was born to do and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world! When I look at other disciplines out there, I know that my line of work ranks number one… “information” makes the world go round!

(Ref: I have been employed as an Analyst a number of times – in research and finance)

I mean to make a small joke, though it was a bad one.

I definitely agree with you Peter. But that is where the Business analyst has to know when to draw the line and undertsand the analysis. Never be reactive but always proactive with the analysis.

Cheers,
Colleen.

Yes, analytics is there to look at numbers and look at answers but also something that allows human curiosity to take the numbers further.

Wouldn’t you agree?

I loved the astronomy video by the way – it was beautiful.

A) correlation does not imply causation – often times we see a trend where two variables appear to directly correlate and we assume one is dependent upon the other without realizing both could be influenced by another independent variable. Outside temperature, crime rate and ice cream sales all correlate but limiting ice cream sales will not lower the temperature or the crime rate! Imagine only looking at crime rate and ice cream sales statistics and not seeing temperature data. The analytics from there are meaningless but have the appearance of significance. Think of how hard in some organizations it is to disregard a result simply because you don’t feel there is enough supporting evidence. When there are seemingly strong trends it is hard to convince some of the need for caution.

B) Confirmation Bias – this is the worst kind of cognition error because it is much easier and less time consuming than doing the actual work! In this error people process data and then look at the results. If the results appear to be good they are then taken as fact. The problem with this is you aren’t starting with any hypothesis or theory. “You’ll know it when you see it” type of thing. The main example of this I like to give is the “prophesies” of Nostradamus. They are always after the fact. No one ever makes an accurate prediction ahead of time. They look backwards and find the answer in the data. Never mind there are thousands of points they can’t match up to reality – they are only interested in the few that seem to point to something useful.

If you can confine your imagination to applying scientific principles to data analytics you will find them useful in making accurate and helpful predictions. Otherwise you may find you can only get useful analysis after-the-fact (which isn’t useful ever!)

Just my $0.02
Pete

Data analytics is not just for numbers and looking at answers, but something that allows human curiosity to take the numbers further and to new discoveries .

Going wild and bringing insight to the numbers is why I enjoy being a business analyst.

Colleen.

Yes, I couldn’t agree more. Once we have a look behind the data and realise that there are people and activities, analysis is far from being boring and truly able to stimulate. Having said that, it needs a broader view to be able to understand and control that imagination. Going wild then means adding to the picture and enabling actionable insight. That’s just my 5 cents.

Stefan

It’s the only way that one can break out of the box of using overused preconceived ideas of the way things work, and get the edge needed to advance to the next level…

-Ralph W