While we live in an era of big data, it's folly to claim that all data is accurate. Just because you read something on the internet doesn't make it true. In this post, I'll look at two organizations that are working to increase data accuracy and transparency.
I'll spare you my entire rant on the subject, but many organizations have a hard time determining who reports to whom. Astonishing. And, if they don't know themselves, it's often hard for the outside world to know, as well. (Note that this may be far from accidental. As I know all too well, certain organizations are opaque by design.)
That aside for the moment, Transparentrees seeks to fix this problem, at least in the corporate world. From its site:
Inaccurate information might just be the single greatest cause of inefficiency. Information can be old, incomplete, embellished, or untruthful. We think we’ve figured out a way to culture accurate information for every organization and business professional in existence. That’s our goal.
It's an interesting idea, although it's still in its infancy. (By no means is the site comprehensive.) Still, it shows promise as a way of making things, well, clearer. Case in point: Want to see Apple's current org chart? Here's a snapshot featuring Apple marketing head honcho Philip Schiller:
Different tools for different types of data
Of course, even at a company as large as Apple, there's a finite number of reporting relationships. Most professionals who work with enterprise data on a regular basis know full well that de-duping data and spotting erroneous records isn't always easy. Sites like Transparentrees don't help much here.
Tools from SAS, free ones like Google Refine, and scores of others can certainly assist people with this type of transactional data. Contemporary applications underscore the fact that often our eyes are our best weapons. As I argue in The Visual Organization, data visualization often facilitates spotting and fixing bad data – not to mention asking better questions. Case in point: The University of Texas allows anyone with an internet connection to view a wide array of data on its productivity dashboard. (Watch a sample of the dashboard in action here. )
Simon says
If you're overwhelmed by big data, you're in luck. For one, you're not alone. What's more, there's no shortage of ways to make sense of the data deluge.
Are you willing to learn new tools and embrace new ways of thinking?
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What say you?
