What is it about? According to its authors: “Mathematics scares and depresses most of us, but politicians, journalists and everyone in power use numbers all the time to bamboozle us. It is liberating to understand when numbers are telling the truth or being used to lie.” According to Steven Poole at the Guardian: “This very elegant book… […]
Everybody Cheats
Who can you trust? When I was a small boy, the most exciting thing in the world was a day trip to London with my father. I was brought up in a field in deepest Yorkshire. The big smoke was amazing. It had museums, skyscrapers, underground trains, toy shops, galleries and ice cream. Best of […]
Never Trust a Single Number
Dubious statistics Journalists love to use single numbers, they do it all the time: Three British women will get pioneering womb transplants 4,000 foreign criminals including murderers and rapists we can’t throw out NHS hospitals save £400,000 by switching to same brand of surgical gloves But single numbers are meaningless. People quote point metrics and […]
The Proxy for Performance
Did you hit your numbers? It is a common challenge. You must make your numbers. You must smash your sales target You must slash your budget You must decimate your waiting times If you’ve hit your numbers then you’ve met your performance goals. Numbers and performance are synonymous. But the numbers are only a proxy […]
The Dark Side of Data
Data-centricity Organisations are tripping over themselves to become data-centric. They are busy investing in business intelligence and analytical infrastructures. There is a thriving market for analysts and data scientists, accountants and actuaries, people who can pore over the numbers and provide insight. Data is the new gold, businesses are spending money like drunk sailors. Data […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 13
- Next Page »