# Missouri Loves Company By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-03-05 Missouri is known as the “Show-Me” state. In this regard, Missouri might be considered the analytic state. Analysis is about showing people what the data suggest about things of interest. It can confirm or refute what people think and assume about a topic. It isn’t about being right; it is about improving understanding. The only “right” answer in analysis is the one that was generated using a reasonable technique, correctly applied, and interpreted. Being consistent with thoughts, expectations, and assumptions has no bearing on its correctness. Consistency does play a role in its acceptance. In this respect, analysts are called to go a step further than simply showing the analytic answer. To be effective as an analyst, one can convince those in power that the analytic answer is better than their assumption. Often, they won’t want to accept it. Having people engaged in analysis is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for an organization to make data-driven decisions. There is an essential gap between data-driven and data-informed. When CEOs claim their organizations are data-driven, an analyst might retort, “show me.” #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Management]] [[Decision-making]] [[Answers]] [[Thinking]]