Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2023 - 56

* Data interpretation and analysis.
* Data presentation and visualization.
Some of the above topics will include an
overview of the capabilities of several
well-known and easily accessible software
applications. These applications include
Excel, Google Sheets, PowerBi, Tableau,
and RefinePro.
The goal of data literacy training is not
to make the recipient of the training
an expert in using any of the above
applications. The goal is to expose the
student to the features and benefits of
these applications when managing data
while performing their jobs.
Assessing Your Current Data
Analytics Maturity
Data literacy skills vary from organization
to organization and even within various
functions of an organization. As a result,
training must be broad and ongoing.
Organizations are usually assessed and
classified into five levels of data analytics
maturity (See Figure 1). These levels are:
* Descriptive analytics
* Diagnostic analytics
* Predictive analytics
* Prescriptive analytics
* Cognitive/self-learning analytics
The first question organizations should
ask is where they stand on the chart. The
best means to make this determination
is to conduct a data audit.
A Data Audit Template
One data audit template was developed
and published by The International
Association for Data Quality, Governance
and Analytics. This guide contains
information and a series of questions
that can assist you in your organizational
data assessment.
This template can also act as an
excellent guide for not only establishing
your first data audit to determine your
organization's maturity level but can
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Most organizations are not prepared
with general organization knowledge
on how to clean, organize, validate,
interpret and use data.
also act as an annual template to
assess the effectiveness of your data
literacy training.
ROI Of Data Literacy Training
Every organization seeks to find a
quantitative means of evaluating both the
efficiency and effectiveness of any training
program. Data literacy training is no
exception. There are several metrics that
can be used to measure your program. It
is critical that you establish a baseline for
each of these metrics prior to the start of
your data literacy training.
Possible metrics can include:
* Efficiency
(process efficiency): How
long does it take to complete a process?
* Efficiency: The number of individuals
requested to complete a process.
* Effectiveness: The quality of the
decision that was based on data.
* Effectiveness: The number of
decisions that are solely based on
data and not gut decisions.
* Effectiveness: The number of bad
decisions.
Units of measure can include:
* Time
* Dollars
* Resources
* Scalability
* Sustainability
Analysis of these metrics can take the
form of:
* Benchmarking
* Time series analysis
Summary
Every organization uses data in one form
or another to manage its operations
and to make strategic decisions. Today,
data is recognized as a competitive
advantage to those organizations that
know how to use the data they have.
Most organizations are not prepared
with general organization knowledge
on how to clean, organize, validate,
interpret and use data.
Organizations are realizing their data
literacy deficiencies and are seeking
training as quickly as possible to
advance their employees' skills. An
organization's success is based on its
employee's ability to use data to perform
their tasks.
Joseph A. Yacura is the founder of
the International Association for Data
Quality, Governance and Analytics. Prior
to this, Mr. Yacura has served in several
senior executive management positions
at IBM, Pacific Bell, American Express,
InterContinental Hotels Group, Bank of
America, Information Services Group
and most recently at Fannie Mae. Email
Mr. Yacura.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ea48ae194c41a2df14fa825/t/6069442ac894556d34e8ee91/1617511467178/IADQGA+-Supply+Chain+Data+Audit+Guidlines+-+Public+Version+-+V1.0-04022021+%283%29+Final+Version.pdf
Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2023

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