Just like Shakira’s hips…
Data don’t lie
and whether we’re looking at historical, statistical or observational data, we need to be using it to embark on a journey for truth and understanding.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly brought the world as we know it to its knees and presents us with a new way of life that none of us could have ever imagined. As history points out, one of the most important factors in navigating an event like this is to ensure we’re educating ourselves with fact and not being led by biased information. The misrepresentation of knowledge can often be more damaging than the crisis itself, spreading fear, bolstering discrimination and creating #fakenews faster than anything else and entrenching negative effects throughout society long after the virus is gone.
Take the “Spanish flu” for instance. The last pandemic of a similar scale before now, which took the lives of an estimated quarter of the world’s (then) population, got its label from assumptions the virus originated from Spain where most deaths seemed to be recorded.
Fact is, in a bid to keep morale high during WWI, reports of mortality rates were heavily censored throughout the warring countries. Spain, being a neutral party was free to report openly, leading to the assumption of a Spanish orientation.
Unfortunately, as that assumption spread, it also led to racial discrimination that would follow the nation for generations to come. It wasn’t the first time this type of damning vilification was plastered across outbreaks of disease and as our we scroll through our Twitter feeds every morning; we know it unfortunately won’t be the last.
The same can be said of the Cholera outbreak during the 1800s where unsubstantiated theories of it being an airborne virus led to the failure of containing and treating the outbreak, with an estimated three million deaths each year at its peak. It is heavily documented, that the studies of John Snow and the Broad Street outbreak was what led to the discovery of the water supply being the actual cause of infection. John Snow, a physician, used data to determine patterns in cases of patient illness in relation to access of water supply, and therefore was able to prove the correlation between the two. His findings are widely acclaimed as a huge contributing factor in bringing the pandemic under control. Can we say heat mapping?
The fact is, where there is data there is truth, if only we’re prepared to look for it. As we continue to navigate this current pandemic, looking towards a new future, we must ask ourselves, what can data provide us?
UNDERSTANDING |
A lack of true understanding is what leads us to bias and misrepresented knowledge. We use data to provide us insights into patterns and trends to truly dig down to the root cause of a problem. We see too often, decisions made without understanding leading to greater pain for all involved.
CLARITY |
When we understand the root cause and the processes leading to it, we find the clarity to identify the areas needing change, eliminating the negative butterfly effects caused when we enact change blindly. We wouldn’t walk down the garden path blindfolded for fear of scraping our knees, so why should decision making be any different?
UNDERSTANDING |
A lack of true understanding is what leads us to bias and misrepresented knowledge. We use data to provide us insights into patterns and trends to truly dig down to the root cause of a problem. We see too often, decisions made without understanding leading to greater pain for all involved.
Business is no different. Whether its building a new one, maintaining, expanding or trying to stay relevant, making decisions that impact your business can be the difference between success and failure. Can you afford to be guessing?
In building our own company, we’ve learned the importance of data, the significant role it plays and the impact it makes on final outcomes. Even the origin of Cogniom’s name is based upon these theories that knowledge is power and understanding and effectively using data is the key to success.
It’s from seeking truth and understanding that the TANDM Suite was even born, and it now allows us to help others use data to make educated decisions for their future.
In our blog from last August: The Power of the Pivot Pt 2 – we introduced the SEL concept: Solution Effectiveness Levels.
This is now part of our everyday vocabulary as we continue to use the TANDM Suite in assisting businesses across many industries to measure and understand what their real problems are, determine the effectiveness of solutions they are looking to and empower them to make educated decisions and implement the right solutions.
Just as the generations did before us, we will prevail, we will rebuild and we will be stronger for it.
Just as the saying goes, “Out of adversity comes opportunity” and while these are frightening times with so much still unknown, we as individuals have the opportunity to play our part in looking after each other from afar, to find new ways of supporting one another and learn more about how we can effectively use technology and adapt to our ever-changing environments.
From a business perspective, this also sings true. Understanding how your business works today is the best way you can plan for a new look tomorrow.
