Frame the decision
Define the question, baseline, time period, affected population and action the analysis should support.
Understand what is driving the result.
Investigate performance, explain relevant patterns and compare options using evidence appropriate to the decision.
Data Analytics & Decision SupportWHEN THIS IS USEFUL
The situation
A measure has changed, a recurring problem is poorly understood or a decision needs more than a summary report.
The intended change
An agreed information or workflow improvement with reviewable outputs, defined ownership and evidence for the next decision.
What the service covers.
Investigate the evidence
Inspect quality, segment the data and examine trends, exceptions and competing explanations. Develop forecasts or scenarios when justified.
Explain the implications
Present findings, assumptions, uncertainty and options. Identify the evidence needed before acting or extending the analysis.
What an agreed engagement can produce.
| Deliverable | What it makes clear |
|---|---|
| Analysis and decision brief | The question, scope, baseline and relevant business context. |
| Validated analytical findings | Trends, segments, exceptions and explanations supported by the inspected data. |
| Forecast or scenario analysis, where scoped | Transparent assumptions, evaluation and practical limits. |
| Recommendation and measurement plan | Options, remaining uncertainty and a way to review the result. |
Select and tailor the deliverables to the agreed scope, access, responsibilities and acceptance criteria.
What acceptance should establish
- The business question, definitions and accountable owner are agreed.
- Results reconcile to the scoped evidence and limitations remain explicit.
- Users can apply the output, with operating ownership and review established.
Make the work concrete.
A situation to examine
Order delays have increased. Compare products, process stages, periods and exception types, and examine whether changes in volume or data definitions explain the apparent difference before attributing a cause.
What to measure
Data coverage, reproducibility, explanatory strength and whether the findings support an actionable decision. Predictions require their own evaluation.
Methods that support the work.
ECF →Business capability and performanceAEAF →Architecture and dependenciesAEES →Reusable engineering specifications
The service scope determines which methods, artifacts and review points are needed.
Questions about this service.
Does analysis establish the cause of a problem?
Patterns and associations can suggest explanations. A causal conclusion needs suitable evidence and a method that addresses alternative explanations.
Is predictive analytics always included?
Forecasting and predictive methods are scoped only when the question, data and evaluation approach support them. A clear descriptive or diagnostic analysis may be sufficient.
Define the next useful decision.
What question or task should this work support, and what information and evidence can be made available?