Comments on: Data Doesn’t Kill Ideas – People Do.

By: Kathryn Korostoff

Kathryn Korostoff — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:18:34 +0000

A great topic! I think part of the challenge is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. I have worked with 50+ businesses over the past 20+ years, when I ran a full-service market research agency. And I can tell you that some companies thrive on data and use it appropriately, some can’t deal with a lot of quant data (they need more stories/qual inisghts), and there are many variations. In fact, and pardon the pug, I blogged about this myself in December:
http://www.researchrockstar.com/does-your-audience-hunger-for-data/

By: Tom Asacker

Tom Asacker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:36:43 +0000

Keep ‘em honest, Tom!

By: Tom Webster

Tom Webster — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:35:37 +0000

There can be too much *irrelevant* data, for sure. And certainly too much poor quality data as well. Thanks, Simon!

By: Tom Webster

Tom Webster — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:33:49 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Tom! It is true that “overexposure” to data can have deleterious effects on the system (it certainly has on mine.) And good on you for recognizing that in my critique of Seth’s “straw man” argument, I made him a straw man

I think business fables tend to glorify the “Golden Gut” a bit, since the anecdotes are often so compelling, and the confounding variables disappear due to survivor bias.

By: Tom Asacker

Tom Asacker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:27:03 +0000

I think you’re both right, Tom.

I don’t believe that there’s such thing as too much data. Make it available — and easy to consume and contextually relevant — and let people feast to their brains’ desires.

However, I do believe that “presenting” more and more data, in an attempt to “prove a cause” — or get people to believe — may have the opposite affect. I’m guessing here, but I think that’s the essence of Seth’s post.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:00:18 +0000

Like almost anything, there can be too much data. Volume is only one issue (not enough to make an informed decision vs analysis paralysis) – quality and relevancy are just as important, if not more so.

This just seems like another of Godin’s straw man arguments, where he pretends two things (in this case faith and data) are mutually exclusive