Building a “data academy” sounds like a lot of work, so it’s natural to want to delegate or find ways around it.
A common strategy might sound something like this:
I know we need get better at data, but I don’t have the time to set up a “data academy.” Whenever people in our company need help with spreadsheets, they go to Gary in accounting. He’s such a whiz. Why can’t he just show off his tips and tricks at a brown bag?
This seems like a simple fix to a complex problem. And I love Gary in Accounting too. But he’s not the answer to your organization’s data up-skilling strategy. Here’s why.
Data tacticians aren’t necessarily the best data culture strategists
Garry in Accounting may be awesome at Excel, and he may have a lot of tips and tricks to razzle and dazzle the group during a workshop. But don’t confuse this with a wholesale effort to build an organization’s data capacities.
Short cuts make long delays.
J.R.R. Tolkein
This takes knowledge of instructional design, content management, and organizational culture, none of which Gary in Accounting is likely to be an expert in.
A common hurdle in data training is assuming that the best tacticians are the best strategists. However, pure data tacticians won’t know much about editing a video, or choosing images that won’t get you sued, or finding the best dataset. These are not part of the day-to-day work of a data end-user.
So while Gary may be able to delight during a brown-bag, ask him to design an entire six-month apprenticeship-based data analytics program. That may elicit a different reaction from Gary and from the audience, but it’s the offering you need.
You can’t delegate or hire the problem away
Many organizations, when faced with the need to up their data game, start by hiring a team of advanced data scientists. Some identify their brightest in-house talent and task them with providing incremental data training, like Gary in Accounting.
Each response is a variation on the theme of delegating or hiring away the problem of a data talent gap. It takes a ground-up, systematic approach to build data capacities. Hiring data scientists won’t build a data culture, nor will an inadequate up-skilling strategy.
The most effective strategy is to work with a partner who specializes in that challenge. As someone who’s built acclaimed data training programs with the biggest names in the space, I have that knowledge and would love to share it with you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch or schedule a free call. You can also subscribe below for access to my data analytics education resource library.
Give Gary in Accounting a rest, and let’s talk.
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