In many organizations, data is the product. In most other enterprises, data is an essential component of operations and decision-making. Historically, the access to data has been in the hands of selected experts, such as analysts or the decision-makers. With the explosion of data access to practically anyone, the management of data (for ensuring properly defined and high quality data), and the literate use of that data has become a crucial concept that should be supported by every organizations.
There are many definitions of “Data literacy,” and this is viewed as a reason that the concept is not well-understood or implemented effectively in most organizations. One good definition comes from an InfoWorld article“In the context of a business, it’s the ability for employees to derive meaningful insights from data and apply those insights in a way that benefits the organization.” Another definition has been crafted by EWSolutions, a premier data management consultancy, that has resonated with clients and some external experts. “Data literacy is the ability to read, work with, analyze, understand, and debate while using data effectively. Data literacy focuses on establishing and socializing the competencies involved in managing and working with data to achieve stated goals.”
Stated simply, data literacy means that a person is able to identify a question or situation clearly, know what data is needed for that issue and where to get the right data, how to read / interpret that data objectively, and how to use the results to solve that problem or address that situation.
The variety of definitions demonstrates that there is limited consensus around the meaning of the term “data literacy” but this variety shows that the concept has value and should be promoted by organizations and through education.
The development of data literacy includes several important aspects, including the understanding and appropriate use of the right tools and technologies for the intended purpose. However, people need to learn to think critically and analyze data to choose the correct data and the suitable analytical and presentation methods for the situation.
Data literacy requires a culture where accurate data is valued and managed as a critical component for operations and decision-making. Traditionally, organizations restricted data access by role, and through the use of various technical frameworks and barriers, including the requirement that all data acquisition must be sent to the Information Technology unit. With the advent of widespread data availability, these restrictions no longer apply or provide value. It is important to allow data access without the need for an intermediary; this will be a change for many organizations. A team (data governance) should identify the appropriate sources of data for each department / role and have the proper access rights granted accordingly.
Once people have access to the right data, expect decisions to be made based on “facts and data” rather than intuition. Again, this will be a change for many people in most organizations. Use accurate data, from the right sources, to support decisions and other actions. Encourage others to do the same, by asking, “Do you have data to support this position?” and by sharing appropriate data that reinforces statements regularly.
Socialize the adoption of a data-literate culture through the development of an enterprise approach to data management, including data governance and data stewardship, effective metadata management, and the expectation of high data quality in all applications across the organization. Establish best practices and processes for data management and data usage throughout the organization, and expect their consistent implementation.
