What is Data

What is Data?

Data is an information or fact collected because of experience, observation or experiment.

It is stored in or used in Computers. 

It could be measurement, observation of description of things.  It is statistics collected during the operation of business.  Data is everywhere.

Data can be measured, collected, reported and analyzed - into visualization tools graphs / images.

Samples of Data - Employee data, Sales inventory.  

There are two types of Data

Qualitative and Quantitative

Quantitative Data: Can be measured or countable.

Answers - What, who, when, how many and where

Qualitative Data:  Acquired through listening to people - observing situation / recording perception.

On seeing a cup of Coffee - 

  Qualitative details                                                        Quantitative Details

1)      Robust Aroma                                                 12 oz

2)      Strong                                                             120 degree Fahrenheit

3)      Frothy                                                             $3:5

4)      In a White cup

 

How is data Collected – there are two sources of Data, Primary and Secondary.  For eg if I need to run a initiative of hiring junior level associates for the company, I need data to determine the count to be hired

Primary Source: Current demand   open for Jr level

Secondary Source:  Past what was their absorption and how many they hired for Jr level in the last quarters/months.

The sources varies for various set of data.

Data are 4 types -  NOIR

Nominal – Data can be organized into categories, neither a number nor Quantity- Gender / Status / Level

Ordinal – Refer to data that can be put in an order or rank -   In a running race, we can rank people ignoring the speed and time.

Interval – Data comprised of consistent interval, here zero exists. Like temperature, pH value

Ratio – Same as Interval, but if Zero does NOT exist…. Eg Age, Sales .

Why is data important

1)      Educate: It helps you to study and understand the current picture of anything.

2)      Prioritize: Based on this, you  will have insights to  improve  the  process

3)      Evaluate Progress: Which  will reduce Wastage – Money , Time and man power

 

Data is more valuable based on

1)      Source of data 

2)      Clean / Rightness

3)      Size

4)      Age / Timeliness

5)      Understanding

6)      Actionable

 

Due to the existence of data - we have various branches of study diverging

 

Data Analytics – Process of analyzing raw data, in order to make conclusion about the information.

 

Data Mining - Process of discovering Pattern in large set of data.

 

Data Science - process of identifying actionable insights from raw data.

 

Data Visualization - process of converting the data into graphical representation

 

Machine learning / Cognitive Computing Development – focuses on development of computer program that can access data and use it to learn for themselves.  EG. Siri uses Advanced Machine learning technologies to function.

 

Data Governance – ensures that the data is consistent and trustworthy and does not get misused.

           

Data is getting collected constantly through different sensors.  Laptop, smart phone, IPad. 

 

Data is transformed into AI, generating various Apps - resulting in more innovation and better user experience.

Multitasking

What is Multitasking?  Dealing with more than one task at any point in time.

Multitasking is term coined and introduced in 1960, to describe computers performance.  People assume Multitasking is way to get more done in a short span of time, Is it true?

In Multitasking - Actually you are switching from one task to another, making you feel you are multitasking.

It is a myth or fairy tale…. People think  they can also  multitask like computers and  try  to  do  more of it  and they believe ,  there are  special  training/classes  provided to  do  this.

The truth is – Multitasking is Not Efficient and Not Effective too.  

Our brains are designed not to do Multitasking - It is like a spot light where it can be focused in one direction in any given time. 

Like to introduce to three different term with respect to multitasking.

Attention Residue -  Assume you are doing Task A and you are distracted and start doing Task B.  Attention Residue refers to thoughts / perceptions of Task A persist even though one has stopped working on task A, transitioned to Task B and working on task B.  Carryover of thoughts from one task to another is call ‘Attention Residue’

Attentional blindness – It is the failure to notice a fully visible unexpected object, because the attention was fully engaged on another task or object or event.

Liminal Moments - Getting distracted when you are switch between tasks.  For example you  have back to  back  calls,  one of your  calls ends 10 mins earlier  and you  decide to  check  your  emails.  However, you continue to check emails and forget to login into the next call.   Yes, we need to mindful / cognizant of these small intervals of time.

Tips would be

• Do not stop or begin something else, until you are completely done with the task on hand.

•  Focus on single intense task for a long period to reach the peak of productivity.  Your output is cleaner, stronger and far better with no distraction. 

 Lot of Questions on Multitasking

1)    Is it possible to multitask?

Multiple studies have proved doing multiple task at the same time is a myth.  People think that they can split their attention and multitask, but they are not able to achieve more.  Our brains are designed to switch from task to another at extremely fast rate but with a cost of switching time or de-tagging and tagging time. Studies show that multitasking reduces our productivity by 40%. Scientist had proved that our brain struggles to do many thing at the same time. 

2)    What are example of multitasking?

Multitasking is a person can handle more than one task at any point in time.

1)    Chewing gum while walking

2)    Driving and taking a phone call.

3)    Cooking a couple of dishes at the same point of time.

First, is OK.

Second, you are dividing your focused attention on 2 activities.  I do not do this….   If you ask anyone who does this, I bet he/she must missed exits on his/her freeway or turns while driving.

Third cooking is OK, you can get comfortable to do multitasking, on the dishes you already know.  If you want to try some new recipe, you plan to have undivided attention, so you can focus and get a better output….

3)    How do  I  stop  / limit  multitasking @ work ?

 1)    Eliminate Distraction 

   External Trigger

                                          i.    Turn off the notifications on your phone  

                                        ii.    Clean up your work space / desk.

   Internal Triggers

                                                  i.    Feel Lonely – check messages / Facebook -  Social media

                                                ii.    Uncertain  -  We Google

                                               iii.    Bored - Check news / stock prices.

 

2)    Block your time for  certain  activity  in  your calendar -   clearing emails ,  preparing reports , Analyzing data to  take some action -  I  follow this more diligently  and  helps  to  complete my  task, well before  blocked time.  Plan your day, else some else will plan it for you.

 

3)    Make a to  do  List

 

4)    Check social media and personal emails/Text only at a predefined time.

 

5)    Practice Mindfulness -  meditation

 

4)    Effects Multitasking

1)    Increases anxiety - as the brain is juggling too many thing at once.

2)    Increases the stress hormone Cortisol

3)    In turn, increase the heart rate and blood pressure - which cause serious health issues down the line.

Conclusion:  In today’s time crunched world, Multitasking is not a solution for increasing productivity.