Having a rich database at your organization is just the first step on the way to becoming a data wise company. Data alone has no value. The value is the insights from that data. And to get to that value, your personnel should be encouraged, motivated and most importantly trained adequately to develop the necessary Data Literacy skills.

According to surveys 80% of the employers think they deliver all the essential training for their team to become more confident to use data. The employees, however, feel the same only 40% of the time.

Only 10% of effort should go to tools.

Currently we see a substantial gap between what is assumed to be deployed in terms of training, and what the employees actually need to become more data focused. In Data Literacy skills generation only 10% of the effort should be focused on the tools, such as Excel, Power BI or Python. The other 90% should be concentrated on the analytics part and deriving the real value out of data. It is a skill that needs to be developed and mastered over time through continuous learning programs.

To achieve optimal outcomes in transitioning to a data-driven company, it’s crucial to establish a comprehensive framework that encompasses the Organization, Operations, and IT aspects.

The very first step is to deploy the correct culture.

With any organizational change comes some form of resistance. Usually, out of fear of the new approach, a lack of understanding or moving out of the comfort zone. Resistance is almost inevitable. However, it can be reduced and managed with specialized help of the Change Managers. They will recommend best practices on how to deal with changing processes and environments as well as work on the mindset change.  All while maintaining focus on setting achievable goals for everyone.

At the start of a big data journey, it is a good idea to launch a communication campaign, followed by frequent message reinforcement on why this is important for the organization and how everyone will benefit from it.

The language of data

One of the greatest benefits of speaking the data language is that it improves the argument.  And, if you want your team to speak data, you have to speak it yourself. Encourage insights search by asking “why?” This will cultivate curiosity and motivate further data exploration. Is it worth mentioning that asking enough and the correct questions is very important.

Additionally, by fostering a culture of data awareness by regularly communicating the importance of data-driven decision-making and the benefits of being data-literate you will encourage employees to actively seek out and use data in their work.

Training & Development

We’ve mentioned that data literacy is a skill that needs to be developed over time. It is therefore helpful to first carry out a general skills assessment to understand your employees’ needs, so you can deliver a suitable training program that will guide them on this journey. Remember that tooling is not everything, and even though a good Excel course always brings benefits, this does not necessarily lead to finding valuable business insights. Workshops focused on gaining skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and analytics will be much more beneficial.

Make sure that learning is a continuous effort. Embracing a commitment to constant learning not only cultivates a more data-literate workforce but also fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and growth.

Promote collaboration among employees to share knowledge, insights, and best practices related to data. Encourage cross-functional teams to work together on data projects and initiatives.

Infrastructure & Quality

Business units (not IT) should drive the IT requirements to create the most optimum infrastructure needed to support operations. This framework should also evaluate the data level. Such as access to it, its structure, visibility, and most important quality.

Especially at the beginning of the data journey, you might encounter resistance due to the lack of trusted data. If the information available is questionable, the employees either will not use it, or spend a vast amount of time validating the information, which reduces the productivity and deviates from the main objective.

Data governance policies and regular data validation checks are a must in the integral framework implementation, to assure the data is accurate, reliable, and consistent across the organization.

Therefore, implementing a data-driven culture at a company involves several key steps.

• Leadership must highlight the importance of data-driven decision-making. This should be supported by offering training programs, workshops, and resources to help employees develop their data literacy skills.

• Organizations should establish clear data governance policies to ensure data accuracy, integrity, and compliance with regulations.

• Companies should foster a collaborative environment where employees are encouraged to be curious.

By promoting a culture of data awareness and accountability, organizations can harness the power of data to drive innovation, efficiency, and therefore business success.

Discover the Power of Data with our Data Literacy Training

Data literacy isn’t just about understanding numbers; it’s about harnessing the power of information to make strategic decisions, optimize team performance, and drive results.

By taking Mission.One’s Data Literacy Training, you’ll gain the confidence to translate insights into action. This program will equip you to lead a data-driven team, fostering a culture of informed decision-making across your department.

Take control of your data journey and propel your team’s success. Contact Mission.One today to learn more!