
How Analytics Planning Drives The Data Mesh

In this article, we are going to review the elements of a good analytics planning framework and how analytics planning is part of data product ownership in the data mesh.
What Is Analytics Planning? Bigstock
As part of any CDO or CDAO role, there is both data and analytics governance and a process for ensuring that analytics and insights are generated from the right data to solve a variety of business problems.
To make sure that data products (i.e., dashboards, insights, commercialized analyses, etc.) in the data mesh are fit for purpose, the business and analytics problem framing must occur to have workable high-impact solutions.
Analytics planning and next-generation analytics are helpful to a variety of stakeholders—chief data analytics officers, chief data scientists, heads of marketing analytics, and heads of digital analytics.
Many times, data analytics is a center of excellence, and therefore is vital for the professionals in the COE to have a seat at the table whether that is with a data product owner, a tribe lead, or a business person. This linkage and relationship are vital, not only from a relationship management standpoint but to enable the right data mesh design by helping to identify the right analytics and data products. The goal is to get the data needed to improve business decision-making and monetization.
What Type Of Meeting Or Committee Does Analytics Planning Require?Bigstock
Analytics liaisons and data stewards from the COE should meet with data product owners and business people in what I call data analytics governance meetings where the types of analytics and data products are discussed. This is a “seat at the table” meeting among business partners to discuss the appropriate types of proactive analytics that would drive problem solutions and business impact.
Data analytics topics to be discussed include:
- Data requirements
- Descriptive analytics
- Predictive and prescriptive analytics
- Data products and monetization tactics
These leadership meetings should occur at least quarterly. Monthly (or more frequent) reviews should occur at the project team level. Typically, data analytics functions can have hundreds or thousands of projects depending on the number of business partners.
What Is The Business Purpose Of These Planning Meetings?For analytics or data products to be fit for purpose, you will want to review the partner's business strategy as well as any P&L drivers where analytics might have an impact:
Data analytics governance creates a prioritization process.
The prioritization process could include business ROIs, GCOs (good customer outcomes), or other metrics to determine what gets worked on first. Are these projects high priority, medium, low, strategic, or even non-negotiable? (Non-negotiable might mean compliance projects which means the data analytics team must carve out bandwidth to create new data pilots/new analytics pilots. Pilots could include identification of new segments or new scoring systems based on transaction data and more.)
Data Analytics Planning — It All Goes Back To Business Problem Framing.What is the number one reason analytics fail? We hopefully all know this, but it is worth mentioning again: the number one reason analytics fail is due to a failure to frame the business problem correctly.
What type of problems may clients mention to the data analytics team during the quarterly check-ins?
Let’s review the categories of analytics that may be part of the discussion during the analytics planning meeting with the business and product owners.
- Metrics and measurement. How does the business person or product owner run their business line? That which is measured is actioned.
- Setting KPIs becomes a focal point for understanding key drivers of any problem and provides the jump-off point for additional analytics.
- KPIs and metrics are considered more of a BAU type of analytics and answer questions such as:
- How many customers do we have in which segments?
- How many and what channels are they using?
- Describing and profiling: often helps define customer behaviors.
- Which customers are profitable? Helps understand the 80/20 rule.
- What prospects are similar to our customers? Look-alike profiles, etc.
- What is the financial situation of our customers—are they wealthy, what life stage are they in, etc.?
- Knowledge discovery: surface unknown patterns which customers have. For example, if you're in a bank, are certain checking customers diminishing their balances which may mean they're taking their money out and potentially putting it elsewhere? Intervention strategies can be designed from this type of knowledge discovery.
- Segmentation and clustering: grouping customers by homogenous groups, for example, based on their value, life stage, potential, etc.
- Algorithms and prediction. Many data science and statistical methods can help to predict the customer's responsiveness, next best action, right channel to engage, risk level, and more.
So that's a little bit about how to match the business problem to the type of analytics. The next step would be for the analytics leader or analytics liaison to work with the data product owner or business lead to provide an endorsed quarterly data analytics plan which would also identify data needs in order to perform the agreed-upon analytics.
What are the elements of the analytics plan?
Given the data mesh puts a higher degree of quantitative skills on business partners, it is imperative for all stakeholders to have a better understanding of data, analytic methodologies, and execution. Training and knowledge maturity is critical.
I hope this post helps fill in some of the planning gaps in the data mesh concept and shows how analytics planning can inform what the data product owners can work on and how an ongoing engagement and governance model can be established to benefit both the analytics team as well as the business as a whole.
What has your experience been with data analytics planning in the data mesh? We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
From Your Site Articles- Why You Need A Data Strategy Before Data Governance (Part 2) ›
- Chief Data Analytics Officer (CDAO): From Mindsets To Skill Sets ›
- Where Is Data Analytics For Banking In The Metaverse Heading? ›
- Driving Business Value from a Data Mesh Approach | Integrate.io ›
- How JPMorgan Chase built a data mesh architecture to drive ... ›
- Data Mesh + Data Fabric ›

We get it. Looking for work can be scary, especially if you’ve been at it for a long time and haven’t gotten any results.
Understanding which fears are getting in the way and how to overcome them will make all the difference. Sometimes you might not be aware of which obstacle is getting in the way of your goals. If you want to overcome these fears once and for all, we invite you to join us!
In this training, you’ll learn how to:
- Utilize strategies for coping with your job search fears
- Be confident in your job search—from writing your resume to networking
- Face your fears and move forward
Join our CEO, J.T. O'Donnell, and Director of Training Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live event on Wednesday, October 5th at 12 pm ET.
CAN'T ATTEND LIVE? That's okay. You'll have access to the recording and the workbook after the session!

The COVID-19 crisis has sent the economy into a recession and impacted numerous careers. Although people are naturally on edge right now, it's important to know that while searching for a job during a recession isn't easy, it's not impossible.
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, millions of people quit their jobs or were laid off by their employers, and many are still struggling to find a job. There are record levels of competition for open positions. If you want to stand out to employers, you need to be prepared for the job search process.
Here are four common myths about the job search process during a recession, and what you should do to land a job in hard times.
Myth #1: No One Hires During A RecessionBusinesses are always hiring!
There are some businesses that are greatly impacted by recessions that will reduce staff and implement hiring freezes, and others that will slow their hiring, but in general there's always some need to hire people as a result of vacancies and retirements. In addition, there are some industries that continue to do well in a recession.
However, while businesses are still hiring during a recession, the job competition will be greater and you'll need to work harder to market yourself as an employee worth hiring. There are multiple ways you can make yourself a better candidate. This includes finding ways to upskill, networking, improving your resume, and writing a disruptive cover letter.
Myth #2: No One Will Hire You After Getting Laid OffBigstock
Layoffs are a fact of life and businesses realize that.
But from a competition standpoint being laid off puts you at an initial disadvantage. Layoffs are common during a recession. This increases competition because of the number of people in the job market in need of work.
If you're laid off, you have to work even harder to market yourself to potential employees. But at the same time, you don't want to come across as too desperate. Like with any job search, do your research and leverage your professional network whenever you can.
You may also want to consider which industries are still hiring during the recession and taking a job in one of those industries to hold you over. There's no shame in working outside of your desired industry. There may even be benefits to it.
Given the circumstances of COVID-19 and the recession, future employers will understand the career detour.
Myth #3: If You're Over 50, You Won't Get HiredAge discrimination is a topic that comes up from time to time but in reality it's actually called experience discrimination.
People over the age of 50 are staying in the workforce a lot longer but have to compete with millennials and Gen Z that make up more than half of the workforce. These younger generations are highly skilled, tech savvy, and a lot cheaper to employ.
This means that anyone over 50 looking to get hired needs to work even harder to get noticed. You need to clearly understand and sell what it is that you do well (your specialty). You also need to invest in yourself and be willing to upskill whenever you can.
Myth #4: You'll Have To Take Less MoneyFinding a job during a recession doesn't mean an automatic pay cut!
Recession or not, you should prepare for a typical salary negotiation process. Do your research and have an idea of the competitive rate for the position you're pursuing.
If you've settled on a salary range, be ready to prove to the company why you would be worth the investment. You can do this by demonstrating why you'd be a valuable asset to the company and how your unique skills/experiences will make you the best fit for the role.
It always comes back to marketing yourself.
Recessions come and go and we will get through this one! Recession or not, one thing about the job search process remains true—you have to work hard and be your own best advocate.
Need more help with your job search?
We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Read moreShow lessfinding a job during a recession {"customDimensions": {"1":"Aaron Sanborn, Jenna Arcand","3":"experience discrimination, job search, job search advice, job search tips, recession job, recession, economic downturn, economic recession, economy, job growth, layoffs, labor market, hiring process, hiring, networking, personal branding, personal brand, competitive job market, competitive salaries, job competition, skills, skill set, recession myths, job search during recession, covid-19, coronavirus causing layoffs, coronavirus, finding a job during a recession, finding a job during recession, covid-19 effects, covid-19 economy, job market, job seekers, unemployed, laid off, salary negotiation","2":"popular","4":"11/29/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 404327439, 479660731, 543270555, 473310813, 473333499, 376491143], "buckets": [], "authors": [19836093, 19836096]} } Community Taking A Breath: The Importance Of Being Mindful & Present Jim BlackNovember 28, 2022Yesterday, I had a “bad day.” Poor sleep, work was a challenge, family issues, and feeling worn down. I was not in a good mood by any stretch of the imagination.
I went home to my lovely wife who made a nice dinner. She asked if I was OK, and I said no. She left me alone for a while, and I opened up. We talked. Still, I was having a bad day.
This morning, I woke up and had my daily meditation. I listened to expert-led meditation on resetting my day. The teacher pointed out you cannot retake yesterday’s breaths; you can only breathe the breath of the current moment.
Think about this for a moment (while taking a breath). Can you retake your last breath? Can you retake the breath from two weeks ago, two years ago, or two decades ago? Can you take a breath two years from now? The answer is no—you can only breathe in the present moment.
Profound, thought-provoking, and so simple.
Letting Go Of The PastBigstock
I am Jim, and I have a problem. I cannot let go of my past. I dwell on mistakes. I rethink and rethink my actions repeatedly. I go over in my mind what I did wrong and what I would do differently given the chance.
Those breaths are gone, and I cannot get them back. No matter what I do.
I have been doing a lot of reflection in the past several years. I have found a new philosophy for life that I am actively exploring. Mindfulness and being present are at the forefront of this study. Breathing my current breath.
Worry About The FutureBigstock
I am Jim, and I have a second problem. I overthink my future. Similar to my past, I replay what I want to do repeatedly in my mind. I work through scenarios (many worst cases) to plot how I want things to go. I even stress over those things I cannot control—like someone’s response.
These breaths have not even occurred, and I cannot predict when and where they will fall. No matter what I do.
Preparation and being mindful of the future are OK. Worry and obsessive planning can be stressful. Regardless of how hard we try, we cannot control every aspect of the future, nor can we predict those breaths.
Breathing Right Now… And Enjoying It.Bigstock
I am not an expert, and I am only several steps along my life path. I can tell you, I have struggled with being mindful and present. Whether I am replaying my day past or I am predicting my indeterminate future, I am adding undo stress to myself. I am creating chaos. Until this morning, I did not (and may still not) fully appreciate the words "you cannot breathe yesterday’s breath." Your breathing is the one thing you can follow to remain present and in the moment. It only occurs once, and it cannot be recreated. No two breaths will ever be alike. No breaths can ever be repeated.
The only breath that matters is the one you are taking right now. You can learn from the previous breaths, and you can prepare for the future takes. However, the only one truly in your control is the one taken right now. All the others are meaningless.
Take your breath, and know it is the best breath you can take in this very moment. Enjoy it.
Read moreShow lessbeing mindful and present {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, Jim Black","3":"being mindful and present, taking a breath, being mindful, being present, mindfulness, letting go of the past, worrying, overthinking, future, past, present moment, meditation, mistakes","2":"community","4":"11/28/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 544324100, 544398570, 473333499, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 25315544]} } FeaturedAP by OMG
Asian-Promotions.com |
Buy More, Pay Less | Anywhere in Asia
Shop Smarter on AP Today | FREE Product Samples, Latest
Discounts, Deals, Coupon Codes & Promotions | Direct Brand Updates every
second | Every Shopper’s Dream!
Asian-Promotions.com or AP lets you buy more and pay less anywhere in Asia. Shop Smarter on AP Today. Sign-up for FREE Product Samples, Latest Discounts, Deals, Coupon Codes & Promotions. With Direct Brand Updates every second, AP is Every Shopper’s Dream come true! Stretch your dollar now with AP. Start saving today!
Originally posted on: https://www.workitdaily.com/analytics-planning-drives-data-mesh