Science News published a great article on the use and abuse of statistics this week. "Odds Are, It's Wrong", by Tom Siegfried, highlights some of the problems associated with testing hypotheses using statistical methods. These problems are well known within the statistics community, with "hundreds" of papers having been written on the subject. As Siegfried pithily observes, "if you believe what … [Read more...]
Does my organization exist without an iPhone app?
With industry panels claiming that unless companies have an iPhone app they "don't exist" it's hardly surprising that senior managers are asking the question, "Does my organization need an iPhone app?" Information is increasingly accessed via smartphones. That's in no doubt. But does this mean that you need to rush out and build a smartphone version of your corporate … [Read more...]
Making better decisions by “Getting Things Done”
Important decisions require concentrated attention. One obstacle to effective decision-making is the inability of decision-makers to carve out the time required to give the decision due consideration. It is far too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae of running your organization (and life). If you are constantly distracted by your "to do" list, you will never find the time for … [Read more...]
Decision-making versus decision-aiding
The very idea of using software to assist decision-making often prompts a negative, knee-jerk reaction. Surely decision-making is a creative endeavor requiring judgement and insight? How can we replace experienced leaders with technology? First, it is important to recognize that assisting decision-makers does not equate to replacing them. Have you closed your finance department since you … [Read more...]