Solve Problems w/ Data - Exploring Business Applications
Common Problem Types in Data Analysis
1. Making Predictions
Example: Anywhere Gaming Repair
Problem: Determining the best advertising method for attracting new customers.
Approach: Used data to envision different advertising outcomes.
Outcome: Data-driven decision-making about likely success in advertising strategies.
2. Categorizing Things
Example: Improving Customer Satisfaction
Problem: A business wants to enhance customer satisfaction levels.
Approach: Analysts review recorded customer service calls to assess satisfaction levels.
Process: Identify keywords and categorize them (e.g., politeness, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, empathy).
Outcome: Helps to identify high-performing representatives and those needing coaching, ultimately leading to higher satisfaction scores.
3. Spotting Something Unusual
Example: Health Tracking Apps
Example of a woman with an athletic background receiving a notification on her smartwatch about an abnormal heart rate spike.
Context: Normal resting heart rate around 70, sudden spike to 90 indicated a potential health issue.
Importance: Data from the smartwatch prompted her to seek medical attention, revealing a serious health condition.
4. Identifying Themes
Example: User Experience Design
Problem: A designer wants to improve the interactions customers have with a coffee maker.
Approach: Collected anonymous survey data from users to gather insights about their experiences.
Process: Identify key themes in feedback to determine common issues (e.g., unclear on/off indication).
Outcome: Resulted in design optimizations leading to better user experience and satisfaction.
5. Discovering Connections
Example: Third Party Logistics
Problem: Reducing wait times for shipments during loading.
Approach: Sharing data between partner companies to analyze timelines and identify causes of delays.
Outcome: Companies align their delivery schedules to minimize downtime and enhance efficiency.
6. Finding Patterns
Example: Oil and Gas Companies
Problem: Stopping machines from breaking down.
Approach: Analyze historical data to identify patterns leading to breakdowns.
Insight: Found that machine failures increased when maintenance was neglected beyond a 15-day cycle.
Outcome: Improved monitoring and timely intervention has become key in preventing breakdowns.
Conclusion
Data analysis plays a crucial role in helping individuals and businesses make informed decisions, enhance satisfaction, and drive improvements through various problem-solving techniques.