# When the Idea is More Beneficial than the Real Thing By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-02-14 Years from now, I suspect studies will show that for modern organizations, the idea of analysis is more beneficial than analysis itself. This is similar to how studies show that the anticipation of a vacation is often more beneficial than the vacation itself. Knowing that a vacation or break from work is forthcoming reduces stress and provides a sense that one can continue for a little longer. Unfortunately, many take action-packed vacations and become more stressed than they are in their daily lives. Thus, the anticipation is often better than the real thing. Many things in life follow this pattern. Many organizations and leaders are seeking analysis to help them solve challenging organizational, economic, and process problems. The belief is that analytics has the answers, and these organizations imagine a day when those answers are presented in ways that remove the stress of making the tough call in the face of an uncertain universe. So, they hire analysts and wait for the day to come. Believing this day will come reduces organizational anxiety as they need to hang on for a few more days. However, when analytics finally starts producing results, the organization will find that the hike they signed up for isn't a stroll to chill out but a grueling climb through rain, sleet, and snow. Analytics is never going to provide the answers. If one allows, it will challenge the organization and management at every turn. This challenge is intended to help the organization discover who they are, what they believe, and where they are weak. Few want this. Instead, they seek a reprieve from doing their job. Thus, many will only benefit from analytics by thinking it will provide the answers rather than by the analysis itself. Many will abandon the quest when the grueling hike begins and say things like "bring me insights" with the hidden subtext of "don't make me work for it." There are no real gains, just temporary stress relief from believing it will get easier. The real opportunity with analytics is to put in the work to be holistically better; this is no easy task that happens by accident. If one books an action-packed vacation, one misses the point of having a vacation to recover. Analytics is no different. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Stress]] [[Organization]] [[Expectations]] [[Insights]] [[Vacation]] [[Effort]]