Tell me what you want, what you really, really want: How to identify the real business question

Abstract

Believe it or not, data practitioners get hired to answer business questions. But what is a business question? What does it look like in practice? And how can you make sure that you're on the same page as your stakeholders about the end result of collaboration? This talk will present frameworks to help you understand and uncover your stakeholder’s business question so you can deliver an actionable data product. 

• Video pitch of talk

(Even shorter) Summary of talk, by Allie Beazell of Census: 

• "Breaking down how to align with your business stakeholders on data projects/questions (and how to help them help themselves when it comes to identifying project goals)"

• TL:DR: "Ask lots of versions of `why`"

Content

• (v 2.0.1) Speaker at ASA Consulting Statistical Practice. (2024; slides)

• (v 1.0.1) Blog post version of the talk for the "Locally Optimistic" blog

• (v 0.0.1) Speaker at Summer Community Days with OA Club & Census (July 2022: slides, video recording)

References

• Thank you Josh Richman for suggesting the title of the talk!

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