A ‘moment’ happened earlier today, as I was wondering why in the name of heavens is the quality of thinking so poor in the analytics industry in India. Despite the fact that there is a lot of good, great, interesting talent out there. One thing led to another, and I was looking at the etymology of analytics and analysis. Somewhere there (wiktionary and such sites), I re-learnt that analysis is about dismantling and loosening. And analytics is the set of principles governing various forms of analysis. And in there, I felt that analytics, by definition, should be, then, a top down process. One should always start with a problem and keep dismantling it using structured processes and principles and frameworks to get to the insights/solutions that is being sought. However, I reflected on the hundreds of interactions (interviews and otherwise) that I’ve had, and realized that a vast majority of these conversations are bottom up. People look at large volumes of dismantled information and try to aggregate them into meaningful buckets. There is very little structured dismantling and a whole lot of fishing. Over a period of time, it turns most smart analysts into “crunchers”, rather than “thinkers”. And somewhere in there is the bane of the entire analytics industry. There are volumes written about how analytics has not been central to business, but just a support. This, when the truth is that all strategy is nothing but analytics.
Its been a while since I have posted regularly o this blog. Two big reasons – the work schedule was so consuming that I hardly ever felt like thinking and writing about analytics once the day was over. I filled the rest of my day with my other interests, and the movie blogging took over. Second reason, which contributed heavily to the radio silences over the last year or two was the navigation around restrictions imposed by the firm’s social media policy. My previous organisation, being a large audit firm before it became an advisory firm, was a lot fastidious and careful about the personal blogs maintained by employees, especially at more senior levels. And as most of you know, I have a tendency to be frivolous on my personal blog. That’s a strict no-no for the firm’s so-me policy.
To start with an update, I have finally taken the big decision. I am not working anymore. I put in my resignation a few months back, and at the beginning of this month, had moved on completely from my job. Having taken the last three works as cooling off period,and also to do a lot of thinking about what I really want to do going forward, I am happy to announce that I haven’t moved an inch. I am still unsure, still pondering, still evaluating, and thankfully, writing down my options.
Hmph. With that update on the side, one of the things I have promised to do better is to pay attention to my blogging. I have accumulated a volume of experience (presumably, large) over the last 9-10 years, and I believe it’s in an industry where skills are somewhat nascent. We are all learning as we speak. So, there is some merit in me reflecting on those years and organizing what I learnt.
In 2007, I had started an analytics start-up series, which I never got down to completing. Today, probably, some of it would change, and some of it would remain the same. Maybe, it’s time I completed my research paper. 😉
Between 2007 and 2012, Mckinsey has given the term Big Data to the world, and a million people are going crazy defining what it means to the world. And more importantly, creating a serious amount of confusion about it. I intend to put my own cent(s) to this confusion, and hopefully, simplify (for myself) what it means.
And now, every day, there is more that is being spoken, discussed, forecasted. I do have my point of views on those, as well as some original thoughts. I hope to start getting these inked as well.
Wish me luck!
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