In just a couple weeks, I will be on my way to Italy for a two-week vacation! Che bella! When I was deciding where to go with my husband, I experienced a bit of work-related decision-making déjà vu. Every option we considered was very different from the next, but all were possibilities chosen based on the same exact set of data (number of vacation days available, budget, etc.).
I felt like I was back at the office working with a team, arguing about what decision to make, even though we’re usually reviewing the same data. The difficulty can be that different does not necessarily mean wrong in these situations.
Tag: decision making
New Competencies Needed for Financial Management
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Read MoreIn today’s rapidly changing financial landscape, financial management professionals in federal agencies must possess new competencies and skills to navigate complex financial systems, regulations, and laws. In this blog, we will explore the new competencies needed for financial management in federal agencies and the principles of federal appropriations law.
3 Key Influencers of the Federal Budget Process
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Read MoreIf you’ve ever wondered how Congress and Federal agencies interact to get budgets approved or who the key players are that make the critical decisions about taxpayer dollars and the roles they play in the Federal budget process, then read on.
Same Data, Different Conclusions: It’s a Good Thing
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Read MoreIn just a couple weeks, I will be on my way to Italy for a two-week vacation! Che bella! When I was deciding where to go with my husband, I experienced a bit of work-related decision-making déjà vu. Every option we considered was very different from the next, but all were possibilities chosen based on the same exact set of data (number of vacation days available, budget, etc.).
I felt like I was back at the office working with a team, arguing about what decision to make, even though we’re usually reviewing the same data. The difficulty can be that different does not necessarily mean wrong in these situations.
Defining the Problem – How Savvy Data Pros Get It Right
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Read MoreEver hear the phrase, “The first step is the hardest”?
While it may be a common phrase for motivational posters, it also applies to the first step in making data-driven decisions: defining the problem you’re trying to solve.
Without a clearly or accurately defined problem, time and other resources will be wasted, and you’ll be left unable to make an effective decision. Often, nailing down exactly what you’re trying to solve is more difficult than the analysis itself.
A Perfect Match: Data Analysts Pair Technical Skills with Soft Skills
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Read MoreI hope everyone had a good Memorial Day Weekend – the unofficial kickoff to wedding season! In that spirit, I’m going to discuss a very important relationship in every data analyst’s life: the marriage of technical skills to their soft-skill counterparts.