8.29.2008

Step 5: analysing the data

We're making progress... It's time for some self gratification.

Data analysis is where the information is transformed into knowledge of the events that are affecting your organization. It takes more skills and experience to perform data analysis than data gathering. It's not only a matter a reporting and producing graphs but also to document observations and conclusions.

Questions that will drive this analysis exercise:
  • Are we operating according to plan?
  • Are we meeting targets?
  • Are corrective actions required?
  • What is the cost of the service gap?
  • Are operations running according to plan?
  • Are targets defined in SLAs or the Service Catalogue being met?
  • Are there underlying structural problems that can be identified?
  • Are corrective actions required?
  • Are there any trends? If so then what are the trends showing? Are they positive trends or negative trends?
  • What is leading to or causing the trends?
Proper analysis on the data places the business in a position to make strategic, tactical and operational decisions.