Company
Date Published
Author
Allie Beazell
Word count
1061
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

There's a pervasive sort of magical thinking that data analysts are "true neutral" scientists, presenting universal truths with no particular agenda. However, everyone has an agenda, and analysts pursue theirs through numbers. The effectiveness of the argument is judged by whether or not people are convinced, rather than just looking for precision in measurements and algorithms. Finding the right answer is not always right, as business outcomes suffer when analysis becomes an end in itself. A good analyst helps make decisions confidently and convinces executives to take action. Embracing being wrong and presenting a clear recommendation can be beneficial, even if it's not the "right" choice, as it shows leadership a cheap option with low downside. Ultimately, data analysis is about driving action, not just finding truth.