Throughout their careers, senior managers have seen data grow increasingly important — for “running the store,” for making decisions and setting direction, and today as fuel for AI and digital transformation. Yet, they suspect their company’s data and data programs are simply not up-to-task: Too many people complain that they don’t have the data they really need and don’t trust what they have. They’ve personally experienced these problems throughout their careers, but just viewed them as “part of the job.” Increasingly they feel this is just not a good way to run the business. The hype around AI exacerbates those concerns.
Getting Your Company’s Data Program Back on Track
If you’re struggling to extract value from your data, it might be time for a fresh start.
March 28, 2024
Summary.
Many senior managers find themselves wondering: If data is such a game changer, why is it so hard to extract any value from it? For companies struggling to actually see results from their data program, it might be time to make a fresh start. There are three important issues managers need to understand as they restart: 1) Too many companies have made the mistake of viewing data as a technology problem, but data is a management problem, and it cannot be solved with technology alone. 2) Many companies try to tackle issues that are too difficult straight out of the gate. 3) Data is a different sort of asset: intangible, nuanced, both potentially valuable and dangerous. People need to spend time working with it to understand its properties.
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New!
HBR Learning
Digital Intelligence Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Digital Intelligence . Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Excel in a world that's being continually transformed by technology.