Over the summer my 18-year old recumbent exercise bike failed. The bike had saved me countless trips to the gym over the years, especially in the early years when I lived many miles away from a gym and bike trails. Now, with the pedaling locked into the hardest effort level, I faced an age-old decision: […]
Introduction This post is the first in a series of “working papers” where I will explore how cognitive diversity, knowledge management, artificial intelligence, and data democratization can work together to support effective organizational decision-making. These are exciting times for practitioners of data across the entire spectrum of professions. Our tools are expanding at a rapid […]
Introduction For almost two and a half years, I have recorded my diet, weight, and exercise data in MyFitnessPal. I recently decided to use ChatGPT’s Data Analyst to analyze my diet’s impact on weight. This analysis supplements my growing understanding of my personal metabolic dynamics. The results all at once surprised me, confirmed intuitions, and […]
Generative AI has opened up a variety of possibilities for content analysis. The AI engine can take unstructured language, such as free-form text in a survey, and organize it into categories and themes. The AI engine can also take structured writing and score it against goal-oriented criteria. Both processes help content creators and analysts alike […]
In “The scourge of ‘stealthflation’ – Companies have found sneaky ways to raise prices. Where will it end?” The Economist aired a litany of egregious ways in which companies try to foist higher prices on consumers. Some of the violations appear to result from insufficient competition in the marketplace. Some of the violations come from […]
Budgeting Is Hard Budgeting is the challenging nexus connecting what you WANT to do, what you SHOULD do, and what you CAN do. The first step toward success in budgeting involves understanding and aligning the roles each of these points play in your life. What you want to do reflects your values. What you should […]
Convoluted Carpool Lanes Carpool lanes started as a simple energy-conservation and pollution-reducing incentive: multiple people riding in a car get access to a special lane that typically moves faster than other lanes of traffic. Over time, transportation agencies and regional governments have piled on a range of goodies into these lanes. Electric vehicles and hybrids […]
A friend with a healthcare startup discussed pricing strategy with me after reviewing Y Combinator’s Kevin Hale in the video “Startup Pricing 101.” My friend learned that setting prices too low can hurt a startup by undermining the brand and perceived value for the early adopters critical to young startups. Revisiting Past Insights on Pricing […]
Planning a family trip can be daunting. Parents and guardians must balance a myriad of preferences across eating, sleeping, and entertainment preferences all while maintaining a budget. A wrong turn or a small mishap can cascade into major vacation disruptions and undermine the best plans and budgets. I recently faced these important analytics challenges while […]
My son recently taught me about better decision-making. He wanted to celebrate his birthday at California’s Great America amusement park with his closest friends. An imminent winter storm complicated the planning. While he and his friends were determined to go almost no matter the weather, I was hesitant. I psyched myself up for braving the […]
