Analytics Training is Not a Scam nor is it One Size Fits All

Recently I have come across a couple of challenges facing many people looking for training in business analytics.

First, there are a lot of options out there listed as analytics training and some are definitely scams. That’s a reality of the corporate training landscape.

In fact, recently a well-known “analytics expert” sent out an email blast with the headline that Analytics Training is a Scam.

It seems odd to me that someone who makes a living conducting trainings would make such a statement. However, I see some truth here. Although I’m not as pessimistic to make the argument that most analytics consulting, and trainings are scamming their clients. From my perspective, I think it’s more a matter of unrealistic expectations on what organizations can achieve as a result of learning from an expert.

Still, to lead with such an attention-grabbing headline, bash the competition and then end up your pitch saying people sign up for her training because you are not like everyone else seems to be poor marketing choice. So which is the real scam?

In addition to that controversial e-mail, I recently found a different business analytics expert who has a business set up around online training business analysts. It seems both quite extensive in level of commitment and is also fairly expensive.

I was curious about taking the training to better understand the approach, but after expressing interest just a week ago I have been overwhelmed with sales e-mails trying to push me to sign up and pay. I’m skeptical of online trainings in general, but now I have a pretty negative opinion of this option just based on the site’s marketing efforts. Forcing your audience into a decision, goes against everything analytics is supposed to be all about.

So, in just a few days, I went from thinking I might have found a couple of experts to invite into my advocacy to looking at both as simply competitors probably best to avoid.

I am sure I am not alone. Both have a lot of followers and I’m going to guess that most of their audiences where kind of turned off by their approaches.

When someone asks me what value they will get by attending one of my trainings, I focus on offering a more holistic approach to business analytics. I look at not just technology, or just on technique, but on understanding how data flows throughout a business.

Being successful with analytics is dependent on how mature the organization’s analytics culture is and how decision-makers are empowered by data and analysis. So that is where I start.

You have to start with a solid foundation of good data governance and a well mapped data environment before you get into deploying a new application for business dashboarding or trying to integrate a new technique like data storytelling.

As you shore up the foundation then you can pick and choose the various aspects of analytics you need in your organization. And since it will be different for everyone, my training approach is agnostic, agile and flexible as opposed to a one size fits all solution.

If you are looking for analytics training, you are probably going to be suspect of anyone saying they are the only legit option out there. Nor do you want to end up getting spammed to death, so focus more on what will help you and your organization level up in a way that makes the most sense for you.

Dan Meyer heads Sonic Analytics, an analytics advocacy with offices in Manila, the San Francisco Bay Area and as of February 2019, Ocala, FL. With over 20 years in Big Data, Dan is one of the most sought-after public speakers in Asia and has recently begun offering public training seminars in the United States.

Sonic Analytics(www.sonicanalytics.com) brings big data analytics solutions like business intelligence, business dashboards and data storytelling to small and medium sized organizations looking to enhance their data-driven decision-making capabilities. We also advocate the use of analytics for civic responsibility through training, consulting and education.

As citizens of this great democracy, we need to look at the data (analytics), plan a course of action (strategy) and share our data-driven viewpoints (presentation). This approach to a data savvy work force starts in school. So, we started an internship program to empower our youth to use Analytics, plan Strategy and Present their insights… ASP!

When not training current and future analysts, you can find Dan championing the use of analytics to empower data-driven citizenship by volunteering his expertise with non-profits dedicated to evidence-based social progress.