No data scientist? No worries. How to start thinking like a citizen data scientist

Firstly, if you’re wondering what a citizen data scientist is, it’s simply you, or me or anyone else using increasingly simple and accessible tools to understand data, rather than having to rely on, well, a scientist.

Not all of us can afford to put a data scientist on the payroll, but you can still learn how to listen to your business data.

Look for lucrative opportunities and predict outcomes

Understanding your data can help you streamline processes and identify opportunities for improving efficiency in your business, giving you a powerful decision-making tool.

Sandra Hogan, Director Business, Analytics Advisory at SAS, believes that by getting a good grasp on your data, SMEs can see where they’re losing time, whether certain areas are as productive as they could be, or if there are gaps in your product line.

You can also start to see where you should invest in your business, such as better understanding the ROI on your advertising spend, and making calls on where should be investing in when it comes to marketing.

Avoid becoming overwhelmed by the information at your disposal

When starting out, it can be challenging interpreting the statistics and data to sufficiently understand which metrics are the most important. Organising your business around one key metric is a good rule of thumb, and typically, that metric should focus on the sales side of the business.

“Explore something you intuitively know about the business,” Hogan says.

Along with analysing data in search of insight, data visualisation tools are a helpful way of presenting information to stakeholders, Hogan says. But again, focus on identifying the specific areas of business challenge, rather than the general, in order to make good decisions.

There are plenty of data visualisation tools out there that can help you, if you’re up for the learning curve. Just remember that the best tools are the ones that provide self-service analytics built into them, to assist with this learning curve.

Developing a critical eye and seeking advice

A trap for newcomers to this territory is misinterpreting the data. You want to be careful that you don’t assume the data is always 100% exactly right because most data sources are far from perfect, Hogan advises.

While analytical skills will be increasingly significant for SMEs in assessing their competitiveness, learning these skills can be a challenge, and it’s good to have resources, or a mentor, that you can turn to for support while you’re developing your data strategy.

Mentoring aspiring data scientists is something Hogan’s particularly passionate about, which is why she’s a mentor in the SAS/LifeJourney program that provides a portal for students, teachers and parents to engage in the benefits of careers aligned to education in STEM.

Consider reaching out to someone in your industry or business networks who is doing great things with data. It’s a great way to get new ideas and observe trends, as well as fostering a healthy digital culture within your company.

Final tips

For SMEs looking to ramp up their skills and become their own citizen data scientist, Hogan recommends three steps.

1. Think carefully about your business problem in order to become confident about the data you need to look at.
2. Find someone already doing it or in the industry – it’s great to have a mentor who can help guide you during the early stages.
3. Look for tools that are easy to use to help you design and simplify your data management strategy.

Written by: Thea Christie