Why Data? A rhetorical Q&A

Do you know your why in the data era. Here are some possible answers and inspiration.

Prompt: A man on a soapbox talking about a positive future for data

If data is your thing and you need a boost then this article is for you. After a two-week writing break and a very packed quarter ahead, just writing this article has given me the jolt I needed.

Why data

Some people are motivated to do something just to show that it can be done.

The British climber George Mallory took part in the first three British attempts to climb Everest and, when asked why he was doing it, simply replied “because it is there”.

However, in an era where almost every problem seems solvable with data, we need more reason to act than merely “because we can”. Opportunity cost looms large; dedicating time to one data problem means sidelining another.

So, when embarking on a long, often arduous journey of a data project, it is worth ensuring that you have a good answer to the question “why bother”.

The business answer

The business answer to “why data” is straightforward. Data can be a significant source of ROI and competitive advantage. However, given that the world is not short of high-growth companies this is a business answer to “why data” - not a personal one.

Some people work in organisations with missions and purposes that provide their why. If you are one of those lucky people then “why data” becomes as simple as it helps to achieve the purpose of your organisation.

For the rest of us, we need a deeper exploration of motivation.

To delve deeper let's use the ancient rhetorical concepts of logos, ethos, pathos, and kairos to understand what truly persuades us to engage with data.

Logos

Logos is the drumbeat of logic; for many in data, it provides an irresistible rhythm.

Logic-minded people see organisations as sprawling labyrinths of inefficiency, nonsensical workflows, and error prone manual inefficiency. It is a mess of wasted effort and missed opportunities that needs sorting.

Data, by contrast, offers a beacon of precision and certainty. It's not merely about boosting ROI or cutting costs; it's a quest for order in chaos, a stand against needless complexity.

Why data? To do things right! To make a stand for rationality and reason! To refuse to partake in disorder is an act of intellectual defiance.

Ethos

Ethos is the cornerstone of substance and moral integrity.

We live in a post-truth era of generative hallucinations, invasive social media algorithms and AI-bias. Data isn’t just numbers; it wrestles with the nature of truth and the privacy and rights of people and communities.

Data isn’t just a threat, it is also a force for good. AI and automation become the tools of governance, to safeguard privacy and reduce bias whilst enabling data-driven insights.

Why data? To do whats right! To stand for people over tech! To cultivate a fair digital society where trust is restored and privacy assured.

Pathos

Pathos is the power of passion, the wind beneath the wings of the data explorer.

Previously, businesses have been designed around limitations. Silo’ed because they had to be. It was too complex to wire together every decision. Too expensive to provide information at the point of need.

No more. Seize this moment to redesign how business works. No more replacing spreadsheets with identical dashboards. Reimagine your organisation’s value chains powered by data and AI.

Why data? To do the right things! To challenge the status quo and imagine new possibilities! To see the opportunity of optimisation where others just see constraints.

Kairos

Kairos is the cry of urgency, that gives the answer to “why now”.

We’re not just in the data era. We’re in an era of unprecedented change and challenges, from growing wealth divides to worsening climate change. Some see data as adding to these challenges as AI displaces jobs and data centres thirst for energy grows.

The truth is far more exciting as data is part of the solution. Data isn’t just a tool. It is a catalyst for change. Data literacy programmes quickly turn workers whose roles are at risk of automation into innovators behind new uses of AI. Data-driven organisations are much better at coping with change and will likely lead the move to net zero.

Why data? To do things right now! To use the greatest lever for change and innovation to tackle the greatest problems.

Conclusion

Why data? Data isn’t just a string of zeros and ones, a tech trend or even a route to ROI. It is a powerful tool for shaping the world around us and doing whatever it is that motivates us - whether that is doing the things right, what’s right, the right thing or just doing things right now.

Personally, I have big plans for the last few months of the year with lots of Datent launches and announcements to come.

I’m not doing Datent just because. I have a host of motivations.

When I get stuck, I will turn to a quote from another climber, Edmund Hillary. Whilst he was one of the first two people to climb Everest, he didn’t succeed at the first attempt, and he had this to say about it. “I will come again and conquer you because as a mountain you can’t grow… but as a human I can”