One of the hardest parts of managing an ongoing insights stream is prioritising the most valuable insights, especially when several appear equally important. We have plenty of experience in this, and can provide an objective viewpoint around each insight's comparative value. We take the time to understand your objectives, align these with the insights, then deliver a list of data-driven recommendations ranked by their likely impact on each objective. We also help you weave a compelling story by refining your messaging by audience and providing visual aids to illustrate your main points. By taking this approach, we make it easy for you to make informed decisions that help you reach your goals and persuade others to support you.
Data insights are like gold nuggets hiding in the expansive mine of raw data. Revealed by your data analytics processes, they're valuable pieces of information that can significantly impact your decision-making process and ultimately lead to success.1 However, not all gold nuggets are created equal. Resources like time, money and people are limited, so it's important to prioritise which nuggets to pick up and act on. Think of it like choosing between a nugget of pure 24-carat gold or a less valuable, lower-grade piece. The nuggets that align most closely with your strategy and can drive the biggest impact should be your primary focus.2
Working out which insights are most valuable is only part of your journey toward success. Communicating those insights effectively is vital to get buy-in from those around you, and it's all about telling a compelling story. Start by setting the stage with the background data and the questions that the insights are able to answer. Follow this up by revealing the highest-priority insights you discovered and providing a clear demonstration of their value to support their prioritisation.3 Link your insights directly to your goals and objectives, and quantify their impact wherever possible. For example, if your insights can help increase sales, provide estimates of the potential revenue increase.
The format of your story matters here. For many people, a visual presentation might be the best way to convey the key insights.4 Attractive and well-organised charts, graphs, and infographics can help make particularly complex data more digestible and compelling. In other situations, such as when you're seeking approval from a senior leadership team or Board of Directors, a formal written report might be more appropriate. Consider your audience's preferences and tailor your approach accordingly.
Once your insights have been agreed upon as the highest priority, finish your story by communicating the actions you propose taking to achieve the goals and objectives mentioned. If approved, it's time to put together an action plan and allocate resources to make it happen. This could involve changing your marketing strategy, investing in new technologies, or restructuring your organisation. It's important to continuously monitor and evaluate the impact of these changes, and adjust your approach as needed.
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1 Sharda, R., Delen, D., & Turban, E. (2014). Business Intelligence: A Managerial Perspective on Analytics. Pearson.
2 Popovič, A., Hackney, R., Coelho, P. S., & Jaklič, J. (2012). Towards business intelligence systems success: Effects of maturity and culture on analytical decision making. Decision Support Systems, 54(1), 729-739
3 Cialdini, R. (2006). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. HarperCollins.
4 Few, S. (2009). Now you see it: simple visualization techniques for quantitative analysis. Analytics Press.