Data And Decisions
Published on: January 12th, 2026
Introduction:
Data Is Only Useful When You Act on It!
You can have clean data, ask the right questions, and have clear visuals, but all of these mean nothing if they don’t change what you do next.
“Data becomes powerful only when it leads to decisions.”
The Simple Data-to-Decision Framework
We will use a 4-step loop that ties previous lessons (links to the previous posts will be strategically placed for better understanding)
Collect → Organize → Ask → Act
Collect: This involves gathering raw data from various sources. Read more here and here
Organize: This process involves making sense of the data by categorizing and structuring the collected information. Read more here and here
Ask: Ask deep questions to uncover the root causes, gain insights, or identify underlying assumptions. Read more here
Act: This moves from understanding the data to getting tangible results. It involves implementing solutions and changes based on the insights generated.
Click on the button below to read earlier posts with more examples
Mini Case Study: Bessie Puts It All Together
After cleaning her data and asking better questions, Bessie reviews one simple dashboard at the end of each week. She observes the following:
Lotion sells the least alone.
Lotion sells best when bundled.
Body cream has the highest profit margin.
Two faithful customers haven’t purchased in the last 4 months.
Decisions She Makes
Bundles lotion + cream.
Pauses restocking slow-moving items.
Sends an irresistible ad discount to inactive customers to make them purchase again.
Increase the body cream promotion budget
The Result: There were fewer guesses, and decision-making became data-driven. This also improved cash flow and made restocking more suited to what was needed.
“This reinforces the idea that consistent data is essential for reliable decision‑making”
Interactive Exercise: From Insight to Action
Look at your data and answer the following questions:
Take note of one thing you are doing well. What will you double down on?
Identify one thing that is underperforming. How will you fix, promote, or stop it?
Look closely to determine one question you still can’t answer. What data do you need?
Your Data Habit
Introduce the idea of a weekly data habit to your business. For at least 15 minutes each week, go over your data and:
Identify missing data
Ask one question
Decide on one action
Wrap-Up
Understanding your data is essential for gaining clarity, making informed decisions, and driving better performance. Dashboards are powerful, but without knowing which signals matter, they become nothing more than visually appealing representations. Identify what is working, what isn’t, and use those insights to guide your next steps.
