# Understanding the Organization By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-12-09 As an analyst, how well does one understand the organization one supports? In the beginning, it is expected that one will not know much. One must take the time to learn. However, how long should it take one to understand the organization fully? Is it six months or six years? It is hard to say when, as organizations vary in complexity. Furthermore, one may take the perspective that one can never know everything and is always learning. Thus, one never fully understands anything. Accepting that one knows very little is the first step towards becoming an enlightened analyst, but the question remains: how well does one know the organization one supports? I suspect few have a coherent answer to this question. This is partly due to no one regularly asking this question, so one is not prepared to think in these terms. Regardless, very few analysts think it's their job to understand the organization. They simply crunch the numbers and generate reports as requested, which is precisely why the analytics profession will face a crisis of value in the coming years. So, it is more critical than ever that analysts can answer how well they understand the organization. If one cannot answer this, one is either new or ineffective. Here are a few different responses ranging from poor to exceptional. 1. (Poor) Incoherent rambling that is just a rehashing of the CEO's last presentation. 2. (Okay) Highlighting the organization's strategic pillars, listing essential functions, metrics, and their leaders, and market competitors. 3. (Good) Everything in the previous item, plus interpersonal and political dynamics and a coherent listing of existential threats. 4. (Excellent) Everything in the previous item in a pre-written narrative, plus the role of analysis in challenging the organization's status quo. 5. (Exceptional) Everything in the previous item is only provided after a lengthy dialogue about the limits of understanding and knowledge over a cup of coffee. #### Related Items [[Understanding]] [[Organization]] [[Analytics]] [[Philosophy]] [[Learning]] [[Writing]] [[Thinking]]