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Hey - one great initiative I've followed is the 'Making Data Count' - https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/making-data-count/

They provide training and tools to help NHS organisations move from the traditional RAG to a more useful SPC analysis. I also follow Sam Riley on Twitter (https://twitter.com/samriley) who passionately champions this and training people to understand data better.

The lack of data literacy among the healthcare workforce has always been a serious concern for the sector. As this article in Forbes says, more than ever, health organizations must rapidly become more data-driven in order to improve care for patients: https://bit.ly/2LilHcV

Qlik’s Jordan Morrow @chief_nerd_officer says that while data has the ability to unlock massive potential in the NHS, few organizations are actively investing in their employees’ ability to confidently use data. What can healthcare organizations – NHS Trusts and others around the world – do to engage more staff in understanding the value of data? Thoughts welcome.

Hi guys, 

I spotted this new research which has found that companies across EMEA are struggling the unlock the opportunities in their data: https://www.information-age.com/companies-across-emea-lack-tools-to-unlock-data-opportunity-123489497/

Reasons for this included being unable to translate data into actionable insights, despite recognising the potential of data to make their companies more efficient, innovative and customer centric. Furthermore, over a third (36%) of those surveyed said that not having the skills in place to manage the explosion of data was one of their biggest concerns. 

Does this chime true with your own workplace experiences? What tips do you have for others who are trying to combat this issue?

Let us know!

Hi all,

With COVID-19 and the ongoing global pandemic, we are being bombarded with more data than ever before, either in the media or across our social platforms. This week we launched our new webinar series, ‘Know Your Data’, to help people unpack the language used to describe charts, data and tables.

In our first episode, Kevin Hanegan, Learning Advisor to the Data Literacy Project & Chief Learning Officer at Qlik, is joined by Alan Schwarz, member of the Data Literacy Project Advisory Board and Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer, formerly at The New York Times, to discuss the terms ‘Flattening the Curve' and ‘Exponential Growth’. Check it out here:

We would love to hear your thoughts! And stay tuned for further episodes. 

That’s a great point @Data_Dave – that’s why we believe it’s absolutely vital to democratise access to data literacy and ensure it’s accessible to businesses of all sizes, not just those who are focused on hiring Ivy League graduates. 

In fact, recent Qlik research found that many global businesses actually prefer practical data experience over data science degrees. Almost two-thirds (59%) of global enterprises identified prior job experience or a case study interview as the top indicators of a candidate’s data literacy, compared to 18% for a bachelor’s, master’s or even doctorate. https://edtechnology.co.uk/Article/employers-want-practical-data-skills-over-data-science-degrees/

This is a positive step in the right direction, and shows that employers are recognising the value of data literacy skills without restricting this to those with Ivy League or Oxbridge educations. 

Yes, businesses need to nurture and bring in not only learning and education for graduates, but all employees. This is no longer a nice to have but an imperative to success. By bringing in full learning and education, plus having a culture that truly embraces the use of data and analytics, it allows the organization to stay competitive in the 4th industrial revolution.

Hey @Data_Dave, you might find this report on the Human Impact of Data Literacy useful! https://thedataliteracyproject.org/files/downloads/Qlik_Accenture_Human_Impact_of_Data_Literacy.pdf

The report highlights how leaders can boost data literacy in their workforces to increase productivity – including arming employees with the tools they need to use data as required and meet business goals.

We also have lots of free e-learning courses and resources available on the Data Literacy Project site, which could be a great place to start. More than a third of employees think that data literacy training would make them more productive so it’s clear there’s definitely appetite to upskill. 

I came across a new one recently by Mico Yuk Analytics On Fire. It was dormant for a while and has come back!

I wonder if this might be a sort of chicken-and-egg problem. In order to know the need to, and how to, train employees there must be at least some sense of data's value. The two best ways to develop this are to hire or to train employees. Even then, once a business has a small set of data literate people, it may not be enough of the right people to facilitate organizational change.

How do we make this kind of transformation? I'm still trying to learn how.

Until it is clearer and more accessible for employer to do so, I suspect we will continue seeing the bias toward Ivy League graduates.

Do you think this may also be reminiscent of the way that data science has recently boomed in popularity? By which I mean, the pattern of concentrating on scarce, high-perceived-value resources while the market is left to manage for training for candidates.

Hi all,

Having sought an organisational Data Literacy test for individuals across the organisation to do, then resulting in an aggregate view of the organisation - I’m afraid I’m yet to find one.

I’m therefore resulting to a “if you want something done...do it yourself” approach and building my own! I have some ideas in mind with suitable tools which enable this, tailored to individual organisations.

I’d be happy to discuss my approach in more detail and perhaps collaborate with anyone from any other organisations who would be keen to engage on this?

Chris

Head of Data Analysis & Insights, BCA Marketplace.

[email protected]