People and Data - by Thomas C Redman (Paperback)

About the Book

Understand how to structure your organization to make the best use of business data to drive company performance.

Book Synopsis

People and Data is an innovative exploration of the relationship between non-data professionals and data in an organization's success, and why it is only when they work together that a business can unlock its full potential.

This book explains how most companies are yet to take advantage of the value that data offers. Their structures and processes are unfit for data and their biggest mistake is that regular employees are not included in the data-driven effort. People and Data illustrates how to change this. It shows how and why improving data quality should be an organization's first priority, how to tackle the tough organizational issues, such as departmental silos, that get in the way and how to upskill the whole workforce to get the best out of the organization's data. It is a practical guide written by a global expert which explains how companies can put their data to work by building it into all aspects of the business including their structure, culture and workforce design. By infusing the whole organization with data in this way employees at any level can use insights from the data to improve business performance.

Full of practical tips and advice, People and Data includes a Resource Centre featuring a curriculum for training employees, and eight tools that will help companies to leverage their data to meet their business goals and upskill their employees so that everyone can benefit from the power of data. With important takeaways and real-world examples from organizations including AT&T and Morgan Stanley, this book is essential reading for all those wanting to allow their people and data to reach their full potential but are not sure where to start.

Review Quotes

"People and Data is the provocation that many data managers and executives need to spur them into action. Today's world is driven by data, but as Tom reminds us, if the data is poor (garbage in), then the outcomes are as well (garbage out). Tom's solution for maintaining quality data lies not in technology but in people - how they are organized, what tasks they are given, what culture they create, how they are motivated, promoted and trained. Tom explores all aspects of building a world-class data organization."-- "Theresa Kushner, former Head of Innovation Center, NTT Data, North America"

"Based on my own decades-long experience working with organizations on removing data-related barriers and building data-driven strategies, I could not agree more with Tom's guidance to put people at the center. He's on to something massively important here - if you internalize and act on the people-focused principles he's suggesting, you will no doubt accelerate and amplify your impact on the business."-- "Ted Friedman, Former Gartner Analyst and Industry Thought-Leader"

"For any organisation to succeed in the 21st Century, it needs people and data. Moreover, as Tom Redman explains in People and Data, when these two elements unite and when the benefits of data are extended to everyone in the organisation you can transform your business. Whether you are a leader, manager or worker or whether you work in HR, Finance, Operations or Marketing, I heartily recommend reading People and Data."-- "David Green, Co-author of Excellence in People Analytics, Managing Partner at Insight222, and host of the Digital HR Leaders podcast."

"Nothing of quality happens without quality people, fueled with quality data, making quality decisions. Here Redman establishes the case, roadmap and tools for dramatic business growth through quality data. Lead People, Manage Assets goes the adage. Tom shows us sensible ways to Lead regular people in uniting to successfully manage the unique assets of data, and information technology. Fortune Favors The Brave: so read People and Data - then lead bravely for sustained business growth."-- "Robert Pautke, Founder & Leadership Coach, SOAR with Purpose, LLC"

"People and Data offers great insights and advice on how organizations can unleash "real people", working together, to solve the data quality problem, once and for all. We could all benefit from Tom's optimism and experience."-- "Maria Villar, Head of Enterprise Data Strategy & Transformation, SAP North America"

"The book, People and Data: Uniting to transform your business is an exceptional resource by one of the world's leading thinkers and practitioners on 'data' - Dr. Thomas Redman. Every professional, with "data" in their title or not, should read Tom's book and learn from his experiences developed over 25+ years as the 'Data Doc'."-- "Anne Marie Smith, Ph.D., Alabama Yankee Systems, LLC"

"Tom Redman has a knack for taking the complex world of data and making it simple to understand and improve. What businesses have struggled with for decades is delivered in this next generational approach: data is predominantly a people issue and must be considered a team sport. In this new book, Redman brings solutions that highlight how regular people working together within and across organizations, under the direction of senior leaders, can finally solve this very expensive and seemingly endless enigma and no longer need to stand on the data sidelines."-- "Bob Palermo, former Vice President, Performance Excellence, Shell"

About the Author

Thomas C Redman is known as the 'Data Doc' and is the founder and President of Data Quality Solutions. Through this company he helps people and organizations think about data and data quality in new and exciting ways. Based in Rumson, New Jersey, he previously worked at AT&T where he formed their data quality lab.