# What's it All About? By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-04-20 Analysts focus on different things. Some analysts focus on software. Determining what is the most flexible, powerful, rigorous, or dynamic software is of concern to these analysts. Debates will be had regarding the relative merits of various software programs and environments. Another type of analyst is focused on analytic techniques. Various statistical tests or analytic algorithms are debated among those in this group. A final group of analysts is focused on how analysis contributes to (or hinders) decision-making. Analysts in this group tend to be concerned with software and technique only insofar as it assists in informing decisions. If a simpler, less analytic, approach would work better, the analyst is willing to adopt it. It isn’t that one type of analyst is inherently better than another. Each type contributes something to an organization's ability to analyze data and improve performance. It is beneficial to give some thought as to which type of analyst might be beneficial in each context. Attempting to figure out what analysis is all about is daunting for those outside the profession. While not exhaustive, a focus on software, technique, and information is a solid starting point for understanding analytics. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Understanding]] [[Organizational Analytics]] [[Work]]