Demand

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

—Peter Drucker

We begin with the end in mind. The consumers of data have needs. A healthy ecosystem will support those needs through the right data products. Discovering the information that will best serve the organization is the first step.

Understanding data consumer demand is not a one-time endeavor. It requires a process of continually mapping the important decisions made by the organization and evaluating whether and how data can improve those decisions.

Organizations without an understanding or responsiveness to data needs may suffer from gaps in areas in which data could inform decisions. At the same time, these organizations may be prone to extreme analytical fixation on particular areas at the expense of other areas of greater importance.

There are a couple of ways to build a complete awareness of your organizational data demands: a top-down map or listening for grassroots...