Poisonous positivity? That appears a bit harsh when speaking about knowledge, particularly given that almost all fashionable companies aspire to be data-driven in each technique and execution. Certainly, during the last decade or two, knowledge has grow to be virtually universally thought to be a key company asset and a vital enter to high quality decision-making. 

That mentioned, the rising significance of knowledge as an asset has resulted in vital overheads being required in its safety. Whether or not we’re speaking about safety, regulatory obligations, or just knowledge integrity, it’s clear that there are many dangers and concern related to knowledge.

In latest instances the idea of knowledge as a legal responsibility has additionally raised its head, albeit normally when it comes to its strategic worth, and what would possibly occur if it was compromised indirectly. The prevailing analogy right here modifications from “knowledge is the brand new oil” to “knowledge is like uranium,” each highly effective and harmful. Savvy knowledge practitioners now realise that governance, whereas by no means horny, has taken on a brand new and heightened significance. 

What efficient knowledge practitioners know: context issues. 

But that’s not fairly what we’re speaking about right here. For me, the concept of poisonous positivity being utilized to knowledge takes two varieties: context and presentation. Likewise, the broader idea of poisonous positivity is a social assemble that appeals to in style tradition and the zeitgeist of at this time—why wouldn’t it pertain to knowledge? 

Considering firstly when it comes to context, it’s simple to see what number of knowledge practitioners grow to be enamoured with their analyses and studies, and are blinded to extra mundane concerns like relevance and impression. The sort of poisonous positivity stems from the concept that knowledge is the only (goal) fact and is subsequently unassailable. Overconfidence in your knowledge and algorithms breeds an unwarranted certainty across the insights and might yield fatally flawed selections.

The answer to this drawback is to take care of a wholesome scepticism in the direction of prima facie solutions and to use widespread sense and expertise in equal measure. In a flashback to my administration consulting days, knowledge is used to show or disprove the speculation, not the opposite method round. 

An AI wake-up name: at all times query the trail of least resistance. 

In latest months although, a extra insidious menace to decision-making integrity has emerged, within the type of Generative AI options, and extra particularly their consumer interfaces. The challenges with AI are each many and well-identified, and embrace a scarcity explainability, poor transparency, and variable knowledge high quality to call a couple of. Much less clearly, a “positivity” drawback now presents itself after we contemplate the shape (or presentation) of AI’s responses—they’re delivered in such a prescriptive and authoritative method, as to silence any debate on their worth or correctness.

Right here is the place the foibles of the know-how have a tendency in the direction of constructive toxicity: engaging, simple solutions which are offered as compelling and “proper” solutions are the straightforward possibility for time-poor analysts or passive perception customers. This drawback is far tougher to resolve, primarily as a result of Generative AI has such broad applicability, with no clear signature of its utilization.

Likewise, with none method of figuring out if solutions are proper or incorrect, customers will naturally lean in the direction of the trail of least resistance. Sadly, as soon as headed down this path, it is vitally exhausting for them to show again. 

To get essentially the most worth out of your knowledge, always remember the basics.  

The assertions above aren’t meant to query the worth of knowledge, or data-driven decision-making for that matter. The correct data, thoughtfully utilized, can illuminate a call with new prospects. Moderately, it’s to spotlight one of many fundamentals of analytical observe which has at all times existed: perceive your online business first, and solely then search related and thought of insights.  

Your online business doesn’t exist to “devour insights”; it exists to fulfill buyer wants whereas producing earnings. The duty of stewardship falls to the considerate knowledge practitioner who understands how insights help the creativity, productiveness, and tenacity required for enterprise success.

To paraphrase Pablo Picasso’s well-known quote from 1964, “Computer systems are ineffective, they will solely provide you with solutions.” The enlightened chief (and analyst) spends time asking “why” the analyses matter—they don’t cease at “what” the information says. Most frequently, this behaviour manifests itself in affirmation bias, the place leaders latch onto insights that merely reinforce what they wish to consider. The continued public debate surrounding local weather change is a basic instance of this behaviour. 

Poisonous positivity comes within the type of the engaging soapbox spruiker standing on the nook, telling you they’ve all the attractive solutions (regardless of the query could also be). At Domo, we wish to encourage “knowledge curiosity” inside our clients—and it’s by no means been extra necessary.