Data fluency is increasingly important for today’s organizations. Colin Sloman discusses why and how Cognican can help.

In today's digital age, data is omnipresent. Thanks to advancements in digital technology, data is generated constantly accessible at the click of a button. Previously, gathering and analyzing data was cumbersome, often taking weeks. However, with increasing data availability and analytic tools, organizations can tap into a wealth of potential insights. 

Despite this, a major hurdle remains: many organizations struggle to transform data into actionable insights to aid decision-making. Gartner's Annual Chief Data Officer Survey frequently cites 'data literacy' as a major obstacle to implementing data-driven initiatives. 

In countless meetings, I've encountered endless metrics and dashboards, leaving me wondering, "So what? What does it all mean, and what should I do next?" Data becomes valuable only when it is transformed into insights that drive actions. 

How Do We Help Businesses Turn Data into Insight?

Adapting to a data-centric culture offers both opportunities and challenges for organizations, including Cognician. Our approach to data analysis has evolved to foster greater data fluency. One example is our collaboration with a multinational pharmaceutical company. 

This client aimed to drive an organization-wide shift towards digital fluency while replacing outdated systems. Through a multi-day challenge on our platform, teams were introduced to disruptive technologies such as blockchain, drones, and machine learning. They were encouraged to explore applications for these technologies in their work. 

A feature of our platform is the opportunity for participants to reflect on their learnings, generating a wealth of qualitative observations. Our question was how to extract insights from the approximately 1.5 million words shared by teams—a task too vast for manual analysis but rich with potential innovation. 

Through this program and others, our research team developed a machine learning algorithm based on Natural Language Processing. This enables us to extract, summarize, and classify ideas and themes shared by participants. Our proprietary Insights Analysis approach is just one way we help clients convert platform-collected data into actionable insights. 

Activating Data Fluency in Your Organization 

How can you help your employees become more data literate? 

Cognician's employee activation platform can guide your organization in achieving greater data fluency through two approaches. First, our ready-to-go Data Fluency Foundations Quest introduces essential concepts, demystifying data analysis and laying a strong foundation for data fluency. Employees at all levels can learn to examine everyday data, explore visualizations, craft data stories, and more. 

Secondly, we offer custom learning experiences to deepen data fluency. Recently, a multinational consultancy recognized the rapid advancements in big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence outpaced talent development. In response, we partnered with the client to create a custom learning experience to jumpstart analytics capabilities. This digital coaching program enabled participants to develop the skills and mindset necessary for data-driven decision-making. 

Connect With Us 

A working knowledge of data science is essential across industries such as retail, finance, human resources, healthcare, communications, and manufacturing. Enhanced data fluency empowers businesses to make informed decisions, address key questions, and track success rapidly. 

  

Are you ready to benefit from a better understanding of data analysis? Cognician offers tailored solutions ranging from broad introductions to focused learning experiences.

Contact us today to discover how our employee activation experiences can foster new cultures and mindsets within your organization. Visit info.cognician.com for more information.