# People Make Things Happen By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-03-23 In analytics, there is often a focus on data and rigor. Seldom is there a focus on people. Organizationally, people make things happen. All the data and rigor in the world won’t improve things unless people are informed by it and decide to do something. More specifically, unless they decide to do something different than they would have done otherwise. Applied analytics is about understanding the marginal benefit derived through its organizational application. When thinking about enhancing the role of analysis in an organization it is important to start with an understanding of the people within it and how they operate. Who are they? How do they make sense of what they are doing? What motivates them? How do they coordinate activity? Will having access to more (or better) information (in either its raw or processed form), make their jobs easier, more effective, and more rewarding? Without an understanding of the human dynamics within the organization, increasing the prominence of analytics will likely only make things more complicated. This could reduce performance at an increased cost and frustration. Analytics can be powerful. Making that potential manifest requires an awareness of the centrality of people in making it happen. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Organizational Analytics]] [[People]] [[Decision-making]] [[Thinking]]