Post by Leslie on Jul 21, 2021 4:55:50 GMT
What are two thoughts that stood out for you in each of the readings?
A. “Data-informed organizations use data on a regular basis to determine what is helping (or impeding) their efforts to achieve their missions. How Your Organization Can Embrace Data and use What it Can Teach you
“Using data to help your organization succeed in its mission involves achieving consensus on what success looks like, getting good data that helps drive decisions making, and, most importantly, it requires good analysis so you understand what is and is not working to achieve your goals” How Your Organization Can Embrace Data and use What it Can Teach you
B. “Analytics 3.0” by Thomas Davenport
“it was vital to figure out the right few questions on which to focus, because analysis was painstaking and slow, often taking weeks or months to perform. And reporting processes—the great majority of business intelligence activity—addressed only what had happened in the past; they offered no explanations or predictions.” hbr.org/2013/12/analytics-30
“Every device, shipment, and consumer leave a trail. You have the ability to analyze those sets of data for the benefit of customers and markets. You also have the ability to embed analytics and optimization into every business decision made at the front lines of your operations.” hbr.org/2013/12/analytics-30
Post on the Board:
How might you apply these learnings to your everyday work? Please give a specific example.
I avoid data collection and analysis because it brings to mind a terribly difficult college leveled statistics course that I had to re-take during a summer heatwave in NYC. Data has always been the professional entity that troubled me the most, since numbers do not lie unless they are manipulated, they are an excellent indicator of the productivity of your team and project. I think utilizing numbers to inspire and be totally transparent with funders and program participants would help to close some of the existing gaps in information, knowledge and operations. Since we already track attendance and attainment data for participants and case note entries and PTO usage for staff, I could incorporate the use of these numbers during incentive reviews for participants and performance and promotion reviews for staff. Removing the negative stigma attached to knowing and responding to our numbers, to encourage program students and staff to exceed our current standings in the areas where we are challenged.
When have metrics mattered in your professional experience?
Metrics matter at Fedcap, quarterly I report YTN’s metrics on the Metrics that Matter services and performance data collection tool. This document tracks performance as an indicator of contract compliance and opportunities additional funding opportunities. Last year reported student outcomes placed the Youth Training Network as a frontrunner and model for service provision throughout the pandemic. Even with required adjustments due to COVID, our 3rd and 4th quarter outcomes were respectable. Most significantly, metrics help to tell the service provision story and places our youth program as a compliant and well performing entity in the Education Division’s portfolio.
How do you use data in your current role—would you describe your team as data driven?
As stated above, data is currently used to as an assessment of performance. Most of my work is with data in the form of tracking and reporting attainments, attendance and post-program outcomes. We are not using data to drive outcomes or respond to or set trends. Data could and should drive all aspects of the program including in the areas of attendance and recruitment. I would not describe my team as data driven, more like data “sluggish”.
