The Future of Data and Analytics: Reengineering

the Decision, 2025

Published 16 November 2020 - ID G00732704 - 2 min read
Frank Buytendijk
Initiatives: Data and Analytics Strategies; Data Management Solutions; Legal and
Compliance Technology and Analytics

Decision making is a core capability for every organization, and it

is becoming more complex. Decisions are becoming more
connected, more contextual and more continuous. D&A leaders
must prepare to reengineer decision making, and ultimately make
business decision making a competitive differentiator.

Additional Perspectives

■ Summary Translation: The Future of Data and Analytics: Reengineering the Decision,
2025
(23 December 2020)

Data and analytics (D&A) leaders need to ready themselves for the next big thing that
helps create business value and innovation. To do this, they must drive the reengineering
of the decision-making process.

Data and analytics has been full of innovation for decades, and it seems to be far from
over. In their quest to create more data-driven companies, chief data officers (CDOs) report
that creating data literacy programs is currently a high priority. Improving data literacy will
uncover the next big constraint: effective decision making. Decision making needs to be
reengineered.

This is a topic that is not only relevant for D&A leaders. It is relevant for leaders
throughout the business and IT.

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All of this may easily lead to the conclusion that the result of reengineering decision
making is trying to eliminate the last unreliable element: the human. That would be
unfortunate. In fact, we think the correct conclusion is exactly the opposite. Examining the
anatomy of business decision making means not only that we learn about automation,
but also that we also build a deeper understanding of human decision making itself. We
explicitly account for the human component, including emotion and intuition.

In the end, the role of technology is what it has always been: extending human capability.
The role of data is also unchanged. It still reduces uncertainty about the environment in
which we operate — just in more sophisticated ways.

The Powerpoint download may look like a presentation, but it is not meant to be
presented. Instead it is meant to be read and retained. This document uses a combination
of text and visuals, to provide a snapshot — and further insight into the future of D&A
(rather than creating a sequential narrative).

The casual reader may simply browse the executive summary and the analysis to get an
overview of the topic. Others may also want to more carefully study this deep-dive —
looking at the business impact, people impact and technology impact and preparing
themselves for the future of D&A.

This presentation is based on original research. It is designed to give Gartner clients

insight into the future of data and analytics, with a focus on reengineering decision
making.

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Develop Good Decision Models to Succeed at Decision Management

Get Decisions to Stick in Your Organization

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Redefining Analysts as Decision Experts (Philips)

When to Automate or Augment Decision Making

How to Manage the Risks of Decision Automation

Document Revision History

The Future of Data and Analytics: Tales and Trends From the Center to the Edge - 17
October 2018

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