Beth Kanter

Beth Kanter is a consultant, author, influencer. virtual trainer & nonprofit innovator in digital transformation & workplace wellbeing.

  • About Beth
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • Press
    • Books & Projects
  • How Can I Help You?
    • Keynotes & Workshops
    • Training & Facilitation
    • Resources
  • Books & Projects
  • Beth’s Blog
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • CONTACT ME

Spotting the Human Side of Data at DoGoodData Conference

May 5, 2015 by Beth Kanter 1 Comment

“Problems don’t start with data, they start with people.” –@deanmalmgren reminds us not to lose sight of the user’s humanity #DoGoodData2015

— Plenty (@PlentyCo) May 1, 2015

Last week, I attended and presented at the DoGoodData Conference in Chicago.   The conference is expertly curated by Andrew Means who has shaped the agenda and speakers into an incredible learning experience for both the human and technical sides of data of for good.    This is the best conference to learn about data for nonprofits and suggest that you register for 2016.

The DoGoodData community understands that good data practice is a balance of both the human side and the technical skills.   It is like yin and yang, because these seeming contrary skills sets are interdependent.  You look at this yin yang narrowly as data visualization and spreadsheet data, but  it includes organizational culture and its influence on decision-making – from consensus building on indicators, agility in responding to data with action, and using data for learning and continuous improvement. I took lots of notes during the day, including this storify of curated tweets.
As I’ve gone back through notes,  I wanted to highlight some of the discussion threads and ideas that came bubbling up around the human side of data for good. Data As True North

@MRCCEO rocking her how to turn data into dollars session #DoGoodData2015 pic.twitter.com/YWlu1M0D05 — Beth Kanter (@kanter) May 1, 2015

“There is NO correlation between size and budget and high measurement cultures!” #DoGoodData2015

— Beth Kanter (@kanter) May 1, 2015


Sheri Chaney Jones presented an excellent workshop on How To Turn Data Into Dollars which offered some approaches for nonprofits to become more data informed in their decision-making.  She conducted an in-depth study of nonprofits and how they use (or don’t use) data for decision-making as part of her recently published book, Impact and Excellence.   One telling statistic is that she found no correlation between budget size and data informed practices.  In other words, she interviewed and profiled many small nonprofits with few resources who were using data to guide outcomes.  So, no more excuses!
Always Be Inspired By Social Change Outcomes

As part of the opening plenary,  Andrew Means interviewed Maria Kim from the Cara Program, a job training program for displaced interviews. She mentioned that data alone doesn’t tell the story of transformation of their clients and that stories go hand-in-hand with the data. Every morning at their staff meetings they do a motivational circle where staff and clients tell their stories of transformation. As Maria said, “It is the humanity of mission that we need elevate and show how data supports it.”
Data Visualization As Creative Process
Ann K Emery gave an incredible workshop about how to visualize data in excel.  Data visualization is less about science as it is about a creative, even artistic process.  She offered up some basic principles of visualization and best practices and then showed us how to apply it effortlessly in excel.   Her workshop included presentation, demonstration, and lots of hands-on time.        She took us through an excellent data visualization checklist, how to pick the right charts, and shared some of her creative process.    She actually makes many sketches of a data chart and the sketching is part  of the sense-making process.
All in all a high quality learning experience about the technical and human sides of data for good.
 

Filed Under: Measurement

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Protected by Spam Master


Categories

Never miss a post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
Powered by FeedBlitz

Related Posts

Join me at the Nonprofit Marketing Summit: Community Rising on Aug 20-22! 

Join me at the Nonprofit Marketing Summit on March 5-7

A People First Approach To Nonprofit AI Adoption

Recap: Nonprofits & AI – A Conversation with Devi Thomas

AI, Nonprofits, and Productivity: LinkedIn Live Event 1/24 at 10 am PT

Leading with Reflection: New Year’s Rituals for Nonprofit Professionals

Why Empathy is the Key to Outstanding Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations

Trainer, Speaker, Author

About Me
Books & Projects
Beth’s Blog
Keynotes & Workshops
Training & Facilitation
Resources

LinkedInInstagram

Beth Kanter

Copyright by Beth Kanter. | Site design by Eve Simon Creative. | Site development by Cindy Leonard Consulting.