Demystifying Data Analytics

A picture of me in 2020 at the end of my first Data Analytics training. I always appreciate the basics of all concepts because really, you can do anything if the foundation is right.

Thank you Africa Skills Hub!!

Now to today's post.............

First of all!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all so much for reading my first post, sharing, tagging people and generally engaging. I did not expect such massive support. And Ivy Barley! THE IVY BARLEY! Thank you for inspiring this blog(she does not know this but I guess she does now LOL) and for your influence. Thank you all and I am really rooting for all your efforts to be appreciated too!

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank YOU!!!

WHAT'S ALL THE NOISE ABOUT?

There is A LOT of buzz around data analytics, data science, machine learning etc. and especially for beginners, it can get overwhelming, pretty fast. In fact after setting my preferences on LinkedIn and Twitter to data-related topics, I sometimes log onto these platforms and still have no idea what on earth is going on LOL.

So before anything , in this post, I’m going to explain basically what all of this is about so that you can grasp a foundational understanding and show you why making data-driven decisions is vital.

I’m going to start with a list - Random list 1. I hate receiving Mobile Money 2. Machine learning 3.I failed my final exam 4. Nana wants to work at Google someday 5. She broke up with her boyfriend Typically, after every item you read, AT LEAST one question will pop up in your mind. If you’re Ghanaian, you’d probably say “Ei” at the first item on the list LOL! but you’d still get the usual mental pop up questions like why don’t I like receiving Mobile Money? What is machine learning? Why did I fail my final exam? Which final exam? How is Nana preparing to work at Google someday? Why does Nana want to work at Google someday? Who wants to break up with her boyfriend? What did he do? and the list goes on and on. These questions my dear friend, are the stepping stones to success in analytics! Welcome expert!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ANALYSE?

In very basic terms, analyzing something simply refers to examining or studying carefully so that you can explain or interpret it.

If you want to know something about anything, ASK QUESTIONS Take note of these trigger words to get you started "Why? Where? Who? When? What? How?" These are very easy ways to start asking questions about anything at all. Try this: Mentally pick any topic at all and use these trigger words to ask questions.

WHAT IS DATA?

Facts, figures, items of information. That's it in English.

Your name, your age, where you live, what time you get to work, how often you use a ride-hailing service or public transport to get to work, are you earlier on the days you charter a taxi or on the days you patronize public buses, how many hospital visits you have made this year, how many customers your business has maintained in the past three years - ALL DATA!

DATA ANALYTICS

So this basically means carefully examining items of information to derive insights, spot trends and/or make general conclusions in order to make data-driven decisions.

Quick Tip

What insight sounds like: "Oh! So this is why....., this is not how....., this was when..."

What spotting trends sounds like : "I always sell 60% more umbrellas in June than I do in January.

IN THE END?

In the end, you want to be able to use these insights to drive a decision, make recommendations, give a call to action.

Always remember: Making a decision based on well-analysed data >>>> making a decision based on intuitions or hearsay.

THAT'S IT! - NO, REALLY THAT'S IT

Too easy to be true?

Well it is what it is. Once you grasp the foundational understanding, you can build a mansion of knowledge and expertise on this.

The opportunities in data are growing and evolving by the minute and there is always something to learn but don't get lost in the buzz.

Start with the basics, practise and grow.