Learning the Data Language: 7 Steps to Creating a Data Literacy Program

According to MIT Sloan senior lecturer Miro Kazakoff, in a world where data is increasing, companies staffed by people who’re data literate will be the ones to succeed. He explained that data literacy has always been important and that it’s under the spotlight now because the damaging effects of data illiteracy are more obvious than they were in the past.

A Forrester report published in 2020 titled “Data Literacy Matters: The Writing’s On The Wall” showed that 90% of the surveyed respondents think that the increased use of data insights should be a priority in business decision-making. As encouraging as that awareness is, the report also revealed a few worrying statistics.

Only 22% of the global information workers surveyed agreed with self-assessment statements regarding their leaders’ readiness for automation, while only 21% knew when to query automated technology results. Also, only a mere 19% agreed with organizational readiness self-assessment statements. An Accenture survey published in the same year found that only 21% of the 9,000 employees in various roles had confidence in their level of data literacy.

Kazakoff said that the sheer volume of data available nowadays is one of the primary reasons for ensuring that employees have the right degree of data literacy. Another reason, and one that makes those report statistics even more worrisome, is that increasing automation means that humans need to perform tasks that involve their judgement; judgements that, with data literacy, would be better and faster.

Data literacy and how it empowers workers

According to MIT professor Catherine D’Ignazio and research scientist Rahul Bhargava, being data literate means you can:

• Acquire, create, clean, manage and otherwise work with data
• Understand what data is and what it represents, also known as reading data
• Sort, filter, compare and otherwise analyze data
• Use data to support an argument or other narrative for the purposes of a particular communication intended for a specific audience

In Kazakoff’s words, data literacy requires you to be verbally, numerically and graphically literate. This may sound like it involves a massive amount of work to upscale your employees’ skills, but that’s not the case.

How to set up an effective data literacy program

A 2020 report by ThoughtSpot and the Harvard Business Review showed that investing in data literacy empowers employees—such as frontline workers—to make better decisions. The successful companies that did so reported increased productivity, higher top-line growth and improved rates of employee and customer satisfaction.

The approach of those companies is one that data science expert and author Piyanka Jain would agree with. Jain said that the omnipresence of data meant everyone needs to be data literate. She explained that data has become the new language and even the new currency of the business world. For that reason, it’s essential that people become literate in it—and that’s where data literacy programs come in. Use the following pointers to put yourself on the path to creating a simple but effective data literacy program:

1. Differentiate between data and technical literacy

Distinguish between technical and data literacy, as they’re absolutely not the same. Technical literacy involves training employees to use complex technical tools; data doesn’t really come into it. The idea is to use easy and simple-to-use technologies that enable you and your team to spend more time on data.

2. Assess data literacy skills

You can’t upskill your employees if you don’t know their existing skill level. Use data literacy and analytics maturity assessments to determine that level. Then, consider the literacy proficiency level appropriate for each job type. Those insights can help you create a program that’s tailored to your workers.

3. Acknowledge differences in learning ability and styles

While lengthy training sessions may suit some employees, it won’t suit them all. Others may respond better to self-led courses or practical demonstrations. Find out what works for your employees and then build the workshops appropriately. Keep in mind that upskilling workers shouldn’t only be in the correct medium, it should also be continuous and appropriate to their skill level and the level of proficiency required by their job types.

4. Establish a common data language

Avoid using jargon and complicated or obscure technical terms in your data literacy program. Instead, establish a common data language for use within your business. Doing so will help to further establish your company’s data culture, and it offers the benefit of clear communication. When all your employees are on the same page, marketers and analysts, for example, can communicate without the risk of misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

5. Involve leaders in the program

Don’t limit leadership involvement in your company’s data literacy program to chief data officers. Instead, get all the top executives involved. Not only should they offer input and attend sessions, they must model the hoped-for outcomes too. According to Jain, programs will have little to no effect on your team if the executives aren’t accountable.

6. Specify an understanding of success

A simple but effective data literacy program requires more than training materials and events. It also needs metrics that can help you assess the success of the program. Jain recommends you pair the training sessions with hands-on projects that offer measurable performance indicators. The projects should also be of high value.

7. Encourage a learning culture

An enthusiasm for learning and the rewarding of curiosity should be part of your company culture, especially if you want to develop data literacy among your employees. Such a culture should encourage continuous learning, and it should reward curiosity rather than punish poor data literacy skills. If you engage the services of a PEO company, ask them to offer employees added benefits for participating in continuous learning or training programs.

Whether it’s additional days off or a monetary bonus, a PEO can take care of the admin, HR and other related tasks that come with rewarding employees for their ongoing contribution and commitment.

Final thoughts

There’s no escaping the need for improved data literacy. No matter what sector you’re in, data is likely to play a role at some point, and a lack of literacy could be detrimental to your organization. Use these tips to create a simple program that’s appropriate for your business and you’ll soon see results.