Data is for action
When deciding whether or not to collect a piece of data, there is a simple question that will help you decide: "What action will I take on this data, either immediately or in the long-term?" If you can't answer that question clearly, then you don't need to collect that data. (Note: An answer of "Well, we might use it in the future" is the same as answering "We will take no action on this data.")
For example, suppose during a given event registration, you ask for the following data:
- dietary restrictions
- accessibility needs (ADA)
- select which sessions you will attend
- tell me your highest level of education (e.g., bachelor's, master's, Ph.D.)
Do you need to collect all of this data? For each one, ask "What action will I take on this data, either immediately or in the long-term?" The answers might look like this:
- dietary restrictions - IMMEDIATE (Tells us if we need to provide alternative meals)
- accessibility needs (ADA) - IMMEDIATE (Tells us if we need to provide alternative access options)
- select which sessions you will attend - IMMEDIATE (Tells us how big we need to make each room for sessions)
- tell me your highest level of education (e.g., bachelor's, master's, Ph.D.) - UNCLEAR (there is no immediate need because we won't change anything for the event based on this response, and there is no specific long-term usage identified for this data)
There is a great temptation to collect lots of data whenever we can, on the assumption that more data is better than less. But if you've got no clear plans for taking action on the data provided, then don't collect it.
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Baby Steps
One of the keys to developing good data management habits is to be aware of […]
Success Requires Discipline
When it comes to data management, most of us know what to do; we just don’t […]
Take a moment to be grateful
Because we’re so focused on always improving what we have now, it’s easy to overlook […]
KPIs and Dashboards
I saw DJ Muller from MemberClicks speak on KPIs (key performance indicators). In his session […]
Documenting Process is Critical
When it comes to managing data successfully, process is critical. For example, a client of […]
Motion vs. Action
In James Clear’s book Atomic Habits (I recommend it!), he discusses the concept of motion vs. action. […]
Are You Answering Your Calls?
I’ve written about this before, but apparently I have to keep repeating it. If you’ve […]
Who do you trust?
Who Do You Trust I was reading an article recently about Warren Buffet’s “rules” for […]
Set benchmarks to measure progress
It’s impossible to measure progress if you don’t know your starting point. This sounds axiomatic, […]
You’ll make incorrect decisions. Acknowledge them and fix it.
A client of mine recently wrote the following to me: “It’s so hard to set […]