Tag: Analytics

Why I Know I Can Help

All my life I have enjoyed helping people.

I tutored a lot throughout my education.

In college I set out to be a teacher. To not just help, but to educate.

Being in a classroom was not enough, as I learned the whole world can be a classroom.

As my skills in analytics increased, my ability to help more people make data-driven decisions increased as well.

Now I am at a point where I know a lot about a lot.

Now I have gotten pretty good at sharing what I know in ways that empowers and inspires others.

I have been doing this for several years now.

Talking about analytics, blogging about data-driven decision-making and writing books about how to use analytics.

This is why I know I can help you too.

Everyone needs help finding the right data.

Everyone can use new perspectives on how to conduct analysis.

Everyone benefits from sharing data and analysis to drive a strategy forward or to solve problems.

14285276_10154554275492425_804549674_oBig or small. Old or new. No matter what industry. All companies need to unlock the insights in their data to be successful.

Some do it a lot better than others. A few may actually be so good at what they do that it may seem they don’t need help. But odds are you are not one of them.

Data is everywhere. We all do some sort of analytics. But we never have enough.

Being an analytics champion, striving to help people be better at what they do is what I am all about.

That is why I know I can help you.

Small Business Analytics – The field of small business analytics is just starting to blossom as companies are looking for more data-driven decision-making to prosper in the age of Big Data. DMAIPH is at the fore front of providing analytics training, consulting and outsourcing options to small businesses. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation on how to get more analytics in your small business.

 

Writing About Analytics

Writing about analytics is a great way for me to both share my passion and empower people to use more analytics.

It is amazing to me that it is mostly just the big companies investing in data-driven decision-making. The perceived difficulty and cost scare away a lot of small businesses. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are so many cheap or even free analytics applications and software packages out there.

I love to write about the various technologies available to people new to using analytics. I can take some pretty complicated stuff and make it seem much more palatable.

It is also common for older, more established companies that are run in a rather old school way feel that analytics is just too complicated and is probably just a fad that will pass. But harnessing big data (and small data) in and around the business can make the world a easier place to do business in.

I really enjoy sharing some simple techniques and methodologies that even the most old school business owners and leaders can understand. Sometimes they need to see it in a book to really get their heads around it.

Not having people in positions of influence who get analytics is a big problem for a lot of companies. As is not having the right level to talent needed to assure a successful use of analytics. The talent part of analytics is often the hardest part.

So I focus much of my energy on empowering students and young professionals to embrace the various analytics technologies and techniques out there to learn. The need for analytics talent continues to boom. So that is what I write about most.

Being an author, a blogger, a public speaker and a subject matter expert on analytics is simply what I was born to do.

So I keep writing. Everyday I write and blog and speak and share about taking data, analyzing it and presenting it in a way to can positively impact decision-making.

 

 

Know How to Make a Profit

I have been self-employed for 4.5 years now.

Some tell me that’s remarkable, but I am just doing what I do best. Sharing my passion for analytics.

Depending on how you measure success, I have had some pretty good successes. But also some pretty amazing failures too.

I get why so many small business fail. It take a lot of perseverance to rely just on yourself and a small circle of supporters for your livelihood.

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So at this point in my career, almost 5 years of being the man after 20 years of working for the man, I know how to make a profit.

First off I have to stick to my plan. Allow for it to evolve and be flexible, but year in and year out I stick to the plan on being the name brand in analytics in the Philippines.

Second, I create a lot of content. If content is good and in my case, I can humbly say it is. People will pay for it. Books, Blogs, Conferences, Public Seminars and In House Trainings all help to generate revenue. Its all from me brain, its all based on content in my head. As long as I can create engaging content, I can make money.

Third, I have to live within my means. Always keep one eye on the future. Trust the right people. Business acumen like that which balances success with failure enough that I can keep going.

The next key is that you have to be connected. Know what’s hot now and what will be hot. I read a lot. I follow a lot of things via social media. I keep myself informed on what’s going on with my customers, my future customers, my competitors and those who can influence my business. In short I am constantly networking.

And finally you have to love what you do. I can’t imagine any small business owner who can survive long without the passion that comes from deep inside. Its near impossible to make a profit without any passion behind it.

So how do I know how to make a profit?

I have lived it.

Let me show you how!

#IamDMAI

Small Business Analytics – The field of small business analytics is just starting to blossom as companies are looking for more data-driven decision-making to prosper in the age of Big Data. DMAIPH is at the fore front of providing analytics training, consulting and outsourcing options to small businesses. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation on how to get more analytics in your small business.

Get In Front of People

The single biggest asset to my business is me.

Knowing this helps guide my strategic plan.

The more I am in front of people talking about analytics the more the business will prosper.

The more people who here me talk about analytics will get excited and start believing they can master analytics too.

The more attendees, trainees and audiences who learn something from me, the more referrals to follow.

Branding for any company is all about building something that sticks in the minds of its customers as it also attracts new customers. Great brands don’t have to market themselves as much as they do just continue to do what they do best.

That has always been the goal of DMAI. To market me to the point where we are the name brand in analytics in the Philippines.

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Analytics is something every business needs, but most businesses struggle with. It not easy to use data to empower better decision-making. The boom in big data makes it more challenging. The dearth of analytics talent available makes it seem impossible to many business leaders.

So that is why we need to get me in front of them. To show them how they can unlock their data to tap new prospects and discover new opportunities.

Once they have a sense its not as daunting as they thought, once they feel they can do what I do too, then our brand gains power. With each interaction between me and those who need me, we level up.

That is how we execute our master strategic plan. That’s why #IamDMAI

Small Business Analytics – The field of small business analytics is just starting to blossom as companies are looking for more data-driven decision-making to prosper in the age of Big Data. DMAIPH is at the fore front of providing analytics training, consulting and outsourcing options to small businesses. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation on how to get more analytics in your small business.

Quick Analytics Survey: Reasons Why Analytics Projects Fail

I am in the process of sending out a quick analytics survey to my LinkedIn connections asking what is the most common reason analytics projects fail.

The survey will be extremely helpful as I am preparing a new book that focuses on why analytics projects fail. I want to list out the most common reasons and then add what can be done by analysts to prevent these causes of failure.

Here are the reasons I have come across in my career as an analyst and consultant.

Reasons Why Analytics Projects Fail:
#1 – Lack of Focus, no one makes the project a priority.
#2 – Lack of Vision, no clear idea of what the end product looks like.
#3 – Lack of Management Support, no support from above.
#4 – Lack of a Champion, no one to cheer team on to completion.
#5– Organizational Politics, gets killed by someone else.
#6 – Lack of Funding, not enough money to complete the project.
#7 – Lack of Talent, don’t have the experts need to be successful.
#8– Lack of Resources, not given all the tools you need to finish.
#9– Bad Data, you complete the project, but end up with bad data.
#10 – Key People Leave, someone leaves that can’t be replaced.
#11 – No End User Participation, not useful to those its built for.
#12 – New Technology, it becomes obsolete before it can be used.
#13– Over Reliance on External Help, slowed by waiting for others.

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If you have a reason, not covered by this list, please feel free to reply with that’s as well.

This future book will be a companion book to my recently completed Analytics Guidebook and my current book in process entitled Data-Driven Cultures.

If you are having problems in your organization with analytics projects faltering or failing to be the success you had hoped for, let me know. I can help you identify the cause, come up with a solution and help you ensure your analytics projects becomes a huge success to the organization.

Key Analytics Essentials For HR Success

A few months back, I had the pleasure to be one of the resources speakers at the HR Congress. Put on my good friends at Ariva Events Management, the event was at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines.

This HR Congress aimed to provide Industry Updates, Expert Insights, Good Practices and Experiences, and Practical Knowledge; generate thought-provoking and challenging discussions; and encourage professional networking and strategic partnership among stakeholders, if only to further the HR Agenda supportive of the organizational targets.

A primary goal was to cross-examine the major HR Trends quickly moving forward and impinging on the business in developing an effective ‘Employer of Choice’ branding. The Congress also shared how to develop employees to optimize their potentials; and build an emotionally-committed multi-generational team.

The Two-Day Event covered Six Essential Cores in People Management, each one with a tie into my favorite topic… analytics.

1. Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Overview of the business environment vis-à-vis the changing roles and functions of Human Resources in general. With so much data now available, its much easier for HR times to decide where to spend their time and focus. Without good HR analytics you might as well be fumbling around in the dark

2. Human Resources Information System (HRIS)
Overview of tools and appropriate support structures for administering HR-related information. This aims to impart knowledge and skills in managing information resources to support basic records management and people administration. A reality is that most of us are still using MS Excel to manage talent pipelines and HR data. So learning how to use more cutting edge technology is key to being successful in the Information Age.

3. Employee Selection
Methods of employee selection and concepts in forecasting and identifying competencies; an Interview Guide may be developed that will assist in spotting competencies to match people needs. There is so much competition out there right now. The supply is far outweighed when it comes to top talent. You need to turn lose your business data to help you attract, hire and retain while others deal with massive turnover and low employee engagement.

4. Performance and Rewards Management
Case studies and exercises, concepts in managing employee performance; pay and benefits Learners will be able to hone skills in performance planning, performance assessment, coaching and giving performance feedback. All this generates massive amounts of data that can be turned into valuable insights.

5. Employee Development
Skills in determining employee development needs; different training and development interventions; participants are expected to come up with an employee development plan. It is getting harder and harder to keep good people around. SO, you need to use your data and a good HR analytics solution to make sure you are giving your employees the exact opportunities they demand, before they jump ship.

6. Employee Relations and Well-Being
Equipping participants with the know-how in employee relations including basic labor laws and managing employee organizations. Employee well-being issues such as employee stress and burnout, smoking, and work-life balance will also be covered. This area is often very manual and rarely included in a good analytics solution. That doesn’t have to be the case.

SO, as you can see their in an analytics solution to just about any issue facing HR. In fact, the recruitment and retention of top talent is the biggest challenge facing just about every organization. DMAIPH is a leading expert in empowering HR & Recruitment teams with analytics techniques to optimize their talent acquisition and management processes. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to learn how to get more analytics in your HR & Recruitment process so you can rise to the top in the ever quickening demand for top talent.

You can also reach out to my key business partner, Ariva Events Management to request an in-house training featuring me as your resource speaker.

What ever you do, make sure you optimize your use of data and analytics in your HR decision-making processes. If you don’t your organization will face a much more challenging path then ones who do.

 

Why Analytics Projects Fail – #13: Over Reliance on External Help

The final reason I will articulate in this series of why analytics projects fail is an over reliance on external help. Historically the over reliance would happen when a team is “too busy” to learn the ins and outs of the analytics software they using.

An example would no one internally has the training to maintain or update the software themselves. Any fixes, patches or enhancements have to be done with the help of someone not on the company payroll. This has obvious limitations like not being top priority or made to wait longer the necessary, as well the potential slowdown caused be internal review and QA processes. Not having someone on the insides trained to handle external products is a major risk to an analytics project.

Another examples is when internal analyst don’t have the initiative to own the software. Meaning they just do the minimums, never really learn all the things the software can do and do not offer any new idea of solutions. Being totally dependent on a vendor to keep you up to date on all the new possibilities for use of the software is extremely short sighted. This often causes going the long way on a project instead of knowing about short cuts.

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A third example is that your team is not empowered to work independently and their schedule is dictated by the availability of the vendor. Important deadlines might be missed or extended because the vendor resource is not available when you need them.

Regardless of the impact, relying too heavily on your analytics software vendor leaves open the risk of what if the external expert leaves. I have seen this happen a number of times, where analytics projects were halted or even cancelled because the expert was outside the company and left the project. The most common outcome of losing your expert is that things stop working and you have to either use workarounds or start over.

The key lesson here, if you are an analyst working with externally supported software, it behooves you to become the expert on it. This will mitigate any the risk of being over reliant on the vendor. It will also assure you of having more control of maintaining, fixing and upgrading your own analytics process yourself, which makes you more valuable to the organization you work for.

Analysts who know why things fail, are proactive, find solutions and become analytics champions are the ones you want to measured by. In the end, the best way to make sure your analytics projects don’t fail is to be awesome at what you do.

Analytics Culture – The key to using analytics in a business is like a secret sauce. It is a unique combination of analytics talent, technology and technique that are brought together to enrich and empower an organization. A successful analytics culture is not easy to create, but DMAIPH can show you how. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly so we can build a strategic plan to turn your company into analytics driven success story.

Why Analytics Projects Fail – #10: Key People Leave

One of the toughest analytics challenges to fix is when key people leave. This reason is another people problem, but with a technology bent. Depending on the importance of the person(s) who leaves, you can experience anything from a minor hiccup to a total meltdown of your project.

One example of this is when the one who built the database leaves. Often they take their unique knowledge of the data structure with them.  Another example is when the systems architect who knows the ins and outs of where the data flows departs. This can make it difficult to track down errors and bugs. Lastly,  the database admin who wrote the code might be the one who quits, taking with them all their coding work. I can even be worse if they leave on bad terms and take a key piece of your development work with them or even destroy it.

In general, the best outcome you can hope for is to is build workarounds that allow you to keep the project going, however sometimes you are better off just starting over or worst case you just live with what you have. So step one is seeing where you are in the process and then determining what it would take to replace that person.

If you are able to continue, then you need to start doing a better job of documenting and making sure information is shared so this won’t happen again. I learned this lesson early in my career. Learn all you can about all aspects of the data environment and document them. A lot of times a clear understanding and documentation will be required by management to assure funding and resources.

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If you have to stop the project until you can find a replacement, then you should also learn, document and share everything so that the new person can pick things up as soon as possible.

In this case, the new person will likely be dependent on you to learn the ropes so use that opportunity to change your culture to be more open.

A final point to add, make sure you understand why the person left.

If there are things you can do to make sure the same thing does not happen again then it is on you to do just that. If it is a cultural thing, then you can be a catalyst for change. If its a compensation thing, then you can help define the expected scope of work and help in the compensation planning. If they left because of a personality conflict, then you can help find someone who will fit in better. Analysts have so much power to shape conversations. Use it.

Analytics Culture – The key to using analytics in a business is like a secret sauce that fuels Data-Driven Decison-Making. It is a unique combination of analytics talent, technology and technique that are brought together to enrich and empower an organization.

A successful analytics culture is not easy to create, but DMAIPH can show you how. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly so we can build a strategic plan to turn your company into analytics driven success story.

Why Analytics Projects Fail – #9: Bad Data

In my experience, most of the time analytics projects fail its generally traceable back to a purely human problem. However, sometimes you see things fall apart because of technology, the misuse of technology and/or just bad technology. This is the case when projects fail because of bad data.

There are a lot of ways bad data can happen.

One common way you end up with bad data, is the data was not captured correctly. Perhaps the data was manually input with lots of error. Or maybe your data is not consistently collected so it has gaps. Knowing what exactly goes into capturing your data and being able to understand how it is collected is extremely important.

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Another cause of bad data is that you are not getting all the data or you are getting data that has been altered. A lot of times when data passes from the collection point to you, it might be being truncated, or blended, filtered or converted. Lots of databases are structured for optimal data storage, not usage. A lot of database admins who don’t really know the data will add data flow shortcuts. Or maybe the fall under the datakeepers category and partition or cut out some of the data you need.

Bad data also comes in the form of old and out of date data. When you are making decision on data that just not recent enough, it can lead to a lot of problems. Keeping data fresh is something some companies just don’t value. If that’s the case, you will likely see your analytics initiatives come up with analysis that points you in the wrong direction.

In all three of these examples, one solution I suggest to mitigate the chance you have bad data is to build a data map. Learn about every point in a data flow that touches your data. Talk to the ones in charge of each touch point to make sure your data is not being impacted in any way that can result in bad data. Even if you cannot fix the problem, understanding it can help you set more realistic expectations of what your analytics project can achieve.

I have found using Visio to build data flow visuals is the best way to explore, document, and report how the data being used in my projects is being impacted by the environment it lives in. Knowing Visio is a valuable skill for an analyst. If you don’t use it, I promise you that once you do you’ll be sending me a thank you.

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Analytics Culture – The key to using analytics in a business is like a secret sauce that fuels Data-Driven Decison-Making. It is a unique combination of analytics talent, technology and technique that are brought together to enrich and empower an organization.

A successful analytics culture is not easy to create, but DMAIPH can show you how. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly so we can build a strategic plan to turn your company into analytics driven success story.

The “DMAI” in Risk & Compliance

When it comes to risk and compliance, the most successful teams are the ones who empower data-driven decision-making through the use of analytics and business intelligence. By bringing together the best talent, cutting edge technology and tried and true methodologies risk can be optimally mitigated and compliance best achieved.

The three primary skill sets I bring to the table are data-driven decision-making, analytics and business intelligence have served me well in both my risk and compliance work with Wells Fargo and in running my own business. Finding the right data at the right time is key to seeing potential issues before they arise, quickly solving them once they do, and putting the monitoring in place to make sure they don’t happen again.

Some of the risk and compliance successes I have achieved during my career include:

  • Managed project teams on a variety of analytics and compliance initiatives while providing guidance to less experienced consultants. This includes extensive anti-money laundering research and investigation data projects for bank remittances.
  • Identified compliance training opportunities and designed compliance training materials while with Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage on various investment products.
  • Delivered extensive training on using big data and analytics to mitigate risk and follow compliance requirements across various financial services companies in the Philippines.
  • Have worked with a variety of internal and external resources during my 15 years with Wells Fargo to provide my expertise in analytics, risk management and compliance adherence.
  • Applied my process improvement knowledge (Lean Six Sigma) and data analysis expertise to develop corrective action plans and facilitate change with several departments of Wells Fargo and with dozens on clients in the Philippines.
  • Developed comprehensive reports and business dashboards using MS Excel, Tableau and Qlikview to deliver analysis to senior business leaders to influence the establishment of risk detection and mitigation controls. Relevant reporting topics from my time in Wells Fargo Card Services include anti-money laundering, remittance limit hits, high risk customer behavior, card services usage, competitor intelligence, household cross sell, and market penetration.
  • Worked closely with IT teams at various points in my career to develop security controls, risk monitoring tools, and QA reports to determine effectiveness of payment solutions with both Wells Fargo and within my own outsourcing business. I know how to code, I know how data is structured, and I know how data should be reported when it comes to risk & compliance.

10406025_10152524531307425_1404103117_nOverall, I have 20 plus years working in positions where managing risk and meeting compliance standards are part of the daily routine.

This has gifted me with an extensive knowledge and understanding of payment products like credit cards and remittances, fraud detection and prevention, and practical experience with risk monitoring and controls.

So from my perspective, Risk Management & Compliance needs to be neck deep in data-driven Decision-Making, Analytics and business Intelligence to be able to stay ahead of the game.

Analytics Consulting – DMAIPH specializes in a variety of analytics consulting solutions designed to empower analysts, managers and leaders with the tools needed for more data-driven decision-making. We have helped dozens of companies get more analytics in their business. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly so we can tailor an analytics solution made just for your unique requirements.