When Quantification Loses Its Meaning
Are you measuring just to measure?
Dyson vacuums display analytics now.
My first reaction to seeing this as a data enthusiast was, “Yay, data!” And then immediately after, “but… why?”
What am I supposed to do with this detailed information about the microns of dirt I am sucking up?
When we throw numbers out into the world — to our project stakeholders, to our users, to anyone — we want them to be meaningful. We want our analysis to drive change, empower our business, and create an impact.
So when does quantifying lose its meaning?
When there isn’t a clear message
Giving numbers and metrics to your audience without a message is like putting ingredients on the table when you were supposed to cook dinner.
Aside from the above dashboard not being the prettiest, a lot of information is thrown at the viewers. And what it needs is a message for the audience. While some reds and greens might indicate bad vs. good, it’s unclear what numbers are in the range of what we would expect, what numbers we…
