# Analytics and the Poetic By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2022-10-11 Longstanding tensions exist between the arts and sciences. Analytics is often conceptualized in terms of its scientific attributes. Objective, rigorous, technical, and replicable are terms frequently used in conjunction with analytics. These aspects are certainly worthy of attention. However, there is also value in examining aspects of the art of analysis. Whereas there are several artistic aspects of analytics upon which one could focus, the poetic is selected here. This selection is based on the fact that many might find the poetic incomprehensible in terms of analysis. As such it is the element that benefits from scrutiny. What does it mean for something to be poetic? One might initially say something like the poetic is relating to, or characteristic of poetry. While true, such a construction provides almost zero insight. Perhaps more informatively, one might say that the poetic expresses something effectively through aesthetic or emotional impact. It is at this point that analytics contains space for the poetic. The scientific aspects of analytics are essential for them to be credible. The poetic aspects of analytics are frequently useful for them to be implemented. Analysts often find rigor and complexity to be esthetically pleasing. There is certainly potential beauty there. But simplicity can be equally attractive. There is a common admonishment that one should know one’s audience. This includes the audience’s aesthetic preferences. Additionally, the poetic holds the potential emotional impact which leads to action. Being moved to care and act is ultimately how analytic results affect change. Too much focus on the science of analysis produces results that are potentially accurate but inconsequential. As long as aesthetics and [[emotions]] play a role in human decision-making, the poetic is marginalized to the detriment of analysis. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Poetry]] [[Decision-making]]