Book Review - Analytics at Work

James Taylor, January 26, 2010

I received a pre-release copy of Tom Davenport's new book Analytics at Work: Smarter Decisions, Better Results. The book is a follow-on to Competing on Analytics (reviewed here) and is a shorter, pithier book than its predecessor. Once again Tom collaborates with Jeanne Harris and this time Robert Morison of the Concours group. Where the previous book focused on so-called analytic competitors, this is about "analytics for the rest of us". It is a very readable book with some good practical advice that does not require the remaking of your company in a new image. It is also a quick read, it is only 180 pages or so, which should help get more people to read it.

For me the most useful part of the book is part one - a set of chapters describing The Analytic DELTA - Data, Enterprise, Leadership, Targets and Analysts - what Tom regards as the 5 critical elements of successful analytic adoption:

• D - accessible, high quality data
• E - enterprise orientation
• L - analytical leadership
• T - strategic targets
• A - analysts

Here is another book review from Mark McDonald: Analytics at Work Book Review an actionable and practical advice on working with information, January 27, 2010.

Analytics is a hot topic and executives looking to get value from business intelligence. Analytics at Work by Tom Davenport, Jeanne Harris and Robert Morison book discusses how they do that. I recommend this book as perhaps the book for people looking to establish and sustain an ability to use information in decision-making and process execution.

There is a sweet spot for business books between the illustration of a business idea and a discussion of its practical implementation. Business books that are too high level offer great ideas that appear realistic only to angels. Too low of a level and it's a technical manual that makes the idea seem mundane. I mention this because Analytics at Work rests firmly in the sweet spot between these extremes.