Resources > Articles

Data Maturity Assessment: How Data Mature is Your Organization?

What is Captive Product Pricing (4)

Data maturity refers to the degree to which an organization uses and makes the most of its data. This article introduces our new Data Maturity Assessment and outlines the benefits of being a data-driven company. 

The reality is an organization doesn’t pull a lever and becomes “data-driven.” It’s not one month they aren’t data-driven and the next month they are. 

Instead, it’s a process. 

 

This is why “data maturity” is such an important concept. It recognizes that there is a spectrum where some companies are using advanced data collection and analysis methods consistently at all levels of the organization and some have a few departments investing in more simple data projects periodically.  

 

So, while there are many debates about appropriate data regulations and privacy, there is one simple fact: data is valuable and its importance in business decisions is expanding exponentially

 

The Benefits of Being a Data-Driven Company  

 

Why does improving your company’s data maturity matter? 

Companies that don’t utilize data lean heavily on intuition, rank and industry experience when making decisions. 

None of those qualities are bad, but they can have significant blindspots. For example, just because something worked in the past it doesn’t mean it will work in the future. Or, just because it feels like the right choice doesn’t mean it is the right choice. And, just because a person is a director, president or owner doesn’t mean they know all the right answers. 

In contrast, a data-driven company will use market insights, trends and patterns found through analyzing data in their decision-making process. 

 

As a result, they often experience several benefits including: 

  • Improved performance 
  • Increased efficiency 
  • Better products and services 
  • Faster speed to market 
  • Improved brand image 
  • Quicker/better identification of opportunities and risks  

 

Pragmatic Institute’s Data Maturity Model 

 

Data Naive 

Organizations at this level do not use much or any data. Instead, they might depend on processor outputs to measure progress and make decisions. This organization might say things like, “this is just how we’ve always done things,” when pressed to explain the reason behind certain business activities. 

 

Data Conscious 

Organizations at this level understand the value of data. However, they use data on an ad hoc basis and only by some people or in some departments. Mainly, it’s used descriptively to explain what’s happened in the past.  

 

Data Informed 

In organizations at this level, data is leveraged in the organization by most if not all departments and all stakeholders. However, consistency is lacking. Additionally, data is typically limited to describing the current state of a project.

 

Data Decisive 

Organizations at this level use data descriptively to understand the past and present. But, most importantly, they lean heavily on data to make decisions about the future. It is fully integrated into the organization. Meaning all departments and stakeholders look to data to optimize their workflow and uncover risks and opportunities. 

 

Back to the Original Question:
How Data Mature is Your Organization? 

 

Pragmatic launched an assessment to help you uncover your company’s data maturity. Ideally, many people in the organization should complete the assessment. 

Afterward, you can compare results to see if there are different perceptions about how your company is currently leveraging data. Additionally, you can uncover if there are departments or people who are already on the path to using data in transformational ways. 

 

>> Take the Assessment 

 

The Journey to Data Maturity

 

It can take five or more years to reach full data maturity. This means you should give your organization enough time to make incremental steps forward. 

Everyone in the company should understand the end goal, but also have realistic expectations for how much time it’ll take to get there. Utilizing micro-goals to document and celebrate progress can help prevent frustration during the journey. 

 

In other words, it’s like planting a tree. If you know it’s not going to grow to full maturity in one day, quarter or even year, then you’ll have the patience in knowing that every step forward will come with added benefits. 

 

Keep in mind that data is a byproduct of business activities. When someone visits your website, there is data about their session like the buttons they clicked and the visited pages. When someone makes a purchase, you capture data in the POS system. There is data generated from current and past users of your products or services. 

So, while businesses can “find” data (as in purchasing it or establishing new ways of collecting it), more often than not, companies would benefit from learning to first manage the data that already exists. 

 

What’s Next? 

 

You’ve completed the assessment and know where your organization falls in the data maturity continuum; that’s the first step. 

The next step is to identify gaps. It might be areas of the organization that needs to start collecting and analyzing data or improving data processes. 

Monitor progress with appropriate metrics, which isn’t always financial in the beginning. Instead, look for growth in areas like increased innovation, improved customer experiences or better efficiencies in workflows. 

 

Pragmatic Courses that Support the Journey to Becoming More Data-Driven 

 

Data Science for Business Leaders 

This 7-hour live-online course shows you how to partner with data professionals to uncover business value, make informed decisions and solve problems.

Understand how business leaders and data practitioners contribute at each stage of data projects to drive results that have real impact on your organization. 

>>Enroll Today

 

Business-Driven Data Analysis 

This 8-week live-online course teaches a proven, repeatable approach that you can leverage across data projects and toolsets to deliver timely data analysis with actionable insights. 

You’ll leave the course able to figure out what a stakeholder truly wants, refine the project based on available data, produce results and provide strategic insights.

>> Enroll Today

 

Author
  • Pragmatic Institute

    Pragmatic Institute is the transformational partner for today’s businesses, providing immediate impact through actionable and practical training for product, design and data teams. Our courses are taught by industry experts with decades of hands-on experience, and include a complete ecosystem of training, resources and community. This focus on dynamic instruction and continued learning has delivered impactful education to over 200,000 alumni worldwide over the last 30 years.

Author:

Other Resources in this Series

Most Recent

Real-World Data Challenges for Business Leaders
Article

Real-World Data Challenges for Business Leaders

Advancements in data collection and analysis are constantly reshaping the business landscape. This transformation has shifted the role of data management and utilization from a mere support function to a fundamental cornerstone of most business...
Category: Data Science
Article

The Pragmatic Data Insights Model: A Blueprint for Data Success

In the fast-paced world of data analytics and business intelligence, achieving actionable insights from data can be a challenging endeavor. Many data projects face disconnects between data teams and business leaders, leading to unclear goals...
Category: Data Science
Crafting Data Stories: The Intersection of Art and Data Science
Article

Crafting Data Stories: The Intersection of Art and Data Science

Editor’s note: This conversation has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. “Data visualization is about adding a visual channel to make the data more memorable and comprehensible. We remember things in images and stories;...
Category: Data Science
Demographic Bias in Data
Article

Demographic Bias in Data

Demographic bias in data occurs when datasets don’t include information from a broad, diverse group of subjects. For example, a company might collect information from 100 people, 90 of whom identify as male and 10...
Category: Data Science
3 Emerging Roles at the Intersection of Data and Business
Article

3 Emerging Roles at the Intersection of Data and Business

The rise of AI doesn’t have to spell doom for data careers.  In our latest Data Chats podcast episode, Favio Vazquez, senior data scientist at H2O.ai, not only provides reassurance to data professionals but also...
Category: Data Science

OTHER ArticleS

Real-World Data Challenges for Business Leaders
Article

Real-World Data Challenges for Business Leaders

Advancements in data collection and analysis are constantly reshaping the business landscape. This transformation has shifted the role of data management and utilization from a mere support function to a fundamental cornerstone of most business...
Category: Data Science
Article

The Pragmatic Data Insights Model: A Blueprint for Data Success

In the fast-paced world of data analytics and business intelligence, achieving actionable insights from data can be a challenging endeavor. Many data projects face disconnects between data teams and business leaders, leading to unclear goals...
Category: Data Science

Sign up to stay up to date on the latest industry best practices.

Sign up to received invites to upcoming webinars, updates on our recent podcast episodes and the latest on industry best practices.

Subscribe

Subscribe

Training on Your Schedule

Fill out the form today and our sales team will help you schedule your private Pragmatic training today.