The document discusses traits of data-driven companies. Data-driven companies are more profitable than those that aren't. They make decisions at the lowest level possible, bring diverse data to any situation, and use data to develop a deep understanding. They appreciate variation, deal with uncertainty, and integrate data insights with intuition. They recognize the importance of high-quality data and invest to improve it. They conduct good experiments, recognize varying decision criteria, realize that making a decision is just the first step, and learn from mistakes.

3. Insights from
the article

4. Companies that regard
themselves as “data-driven”
are measurably more
profitable than those that
aren’t.

6. Traits of the Data-Driven
Make decisions at
the lowest possible
level
Bring as much diverse
data to any situation
as they possibly can
Use data to
develop a deeper
understanding of
their worlds

7. Develop an
appreciation
for variation
Deal reasonably
well with
uncertainty
Integrate their ability
to understand data
and its implications
with their intuitions

8. Recognize the importance
of high-quality data and
invest to make
improvements
Conduct good
experiments and
research
Recognize that decision
criteria can vary with
circumstances

9. Realize that making
a decision is only
the first step
Learn new skills and bring new
data and new data
technologies into their
organizations
Learn from their
mistakes

11. “My goal is to make six decisions a year. Of
course that means I have to pick the six most
important things to decide on and that I make
sure those who report to me have the data, and
the confidence, they need to make the others.”
Make decisions at
the lowest possible
level Pushing decision making down
frees up senior time for the most
important decisions
lower-level people spend more
time and take greater care when a
decision falls to them
Builds the right kinds of organizational
capabilities and appears to create a work
environment that is more fun.

12. When I took my first management job, I agonized
over results every week. Some weeks we were up
slightly, others down. I tried to take credit for
small upturns and agonized over downturns. My
boss kept telling me to stop—I was almost
certainly making matters worse. It took a long
time for me to learn that things bounce around.
But finally I did.”
lower-level people spend more
time and take greater care when a
decision falls to them
Builds the right kinds of organizational
capabilities and appears to create a work
environment that is more fun.
Develop an
appreciation for
variation

13. When a time-sensitive issue comes up I am
prepared. Because high-quality data makes it
easier to understand variation and reduces
uncertainty.
Success is measured in execution, and
high-quality data makes it easier for
others to follow the decision-makers
’logic and align to the decision.
Recognize the importance of
high-quality data and invest to
make improvements

14. Marketing Professor,
IIM Lucknow
Created by Dibya Maheswari,
Accenture Solutions Private Limited
during an internship under
Professor Sameer Mathur, IIM
Lucknow Dibya Maheswari,
Accenture Soln. Pvt Ltd.
Sameer Mathur