How a Data Analyst Course Impacted My Thinking

How a Data Analyst Course Impacted My Thinking

I have always been interested in analysis, and I have done a lot of it. But it was predominately in self-development. After all, self-development and self-discovery are not possible without self-reflection and analysis.

A few years ago, I entered the world of IT Project Management and Change Management, fascinating fields where one can learn so much. In the implementation of a new ERP system, the business change management manages the transition from AS-IS to TO-BE, and that is not an easy task. You engage with the business and must ensure that the change impacts are accurately assessed and mitigated. So, collaboration between the implementation team and the business is essential.

However, what is also necessary is the ability to make data-driven decisions. And for that, you need data. So, I became increasingly interested in data analysis. And a few months ago, I enrolled in a comprehensive data analysis course. I was very excited and had high expectations. And now, after five months, I finished the course and must say that it met my expectations. I have learned so much, and I am still learning. I have not stopped. It just made me even more interested.

One of the most surprising benefits of going deeper into data analysis is the impact it had on the way I think about things in both my work and my personal life.

Yes, you need to learn how to use tools such as Excel, Python, SQL, Mapbox, Tableau, Power BI, etc. But you also need to learn how to think about data, which requires a different mode of thinking than you might be used to. It is a skill you need to develop: to analyze data and process it in your mind. And that is the most exciting benefit I enjoy from the course.

Now in my job, I strive to see data wherever I can, and this is important for several reasons. First, to understand what you are doing in terms of time, cost, resources, and business engagement, you need to collect data. Without it, you may rely solely on your feelings and impressions, which should not be the basis of your decisions. Second, even in change management, where the focus is on people, you need to report on issues, concerns, and progress. For that, you also need correct numbers to be able to explain, justify, and support. Third, continual improvement relies heavily on data, whether it be numerical or informational. So, I am focusing now on what data should be collected and how it could help us to improve our ways of working and work more effectively.

In my personal life, I continue with my self-development, but now I collect more data. Well, I have always done it in my athletic activities with the help of a Garmin Fenix watch. But now, I have turned my sharp eye to my behavior and other activities to see how they align with my values. Do I do what I believe is important? What is in the top five of my values? How often do I engage in activities that support them? You know what I mean. We all say “health” is number one, but if we look at our actions and the numbers, is it really how we act? I know what to do to find the answer. I often remember Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory saying, “Everything is measurable if you assign a number to it.”. So, let’s assign some numbers to a few things that may seem difficult to measure and see what happens.

Now is the time to gather data, make more data-driven decisions, and distinguish between decisions based on feelings and those driven by data.

The journey of data analysis continues.