On this week’s episode of Making Better Decisions, host Ryan Sullivan sits down with Jimmy Holmes, Director of Data Management and Business Intelligence. Ryan and Jimmy delve into the critical importance of data quality, with Jimmy highlighting the concept of 'garbage in, garbage out' and the challenges organizations face in prioritizing and managing data effectively. They discuss how to make better decisions using data, emphasizing the importance of aligning data strategies with business strategies and ensuring data reliability. They also touch on the evolution of data tools and the shift towards more efficient and accessible data processes. It’s a great episode you don’t want to miss!

Takeaways:

• Jimmy emphasized the axiom 'garbage in, garbage out', underscoring the imperative need for good data quality. Without quality data, decision-making processes are compromised, leading to potentially flawed business outcomes.
• Jimmy emphasized the importance of integrating data strategies directly with overall business strategies. This approach ensures that data initiatives support core business objectives, maximizing impact and value.
• The conversation touched on the advances in data tools and how they've become more user-friendly and integrated into common platforms like Excel. These tools have democratized data analytics, making it accessible to a broader audience within organizations.
• Jimmy highlighted the necessity of fostering a data culture within organizations, where data is valued as a key asset and its management is seen as everyone's responsibility. This involves training, empowering team members, and encouraging a mindset shift towards data-driven decision making.
• The discussion also covered the balance between having centralized analytics functions and empowering individual team members with the tools and knowledge to perform their analyses. Finding the right balance is crucial for harnessing the full potential of an organization’s data resources.

Quote of the Show:

• “Garbage in is still garbage out.” - Jimmy Holmes

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-holmes-b93030120/  
• Company Website: http://www.valaris.com 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PpvYXoXjAYl8auDpmShYi 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data/id1739178505 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5e2ec300-0c66-4e24-8b01-0586af60235c/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/making-better-decisions-leader-5672586 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakingBetterDecisions/podcasts