Data contains more than numbers, demographics, and sales figures. It tells a story about your customers, your employees, and your organizations as a whole. Lexology brought this important information to our attention in their article, “What does your data tell you? Role of data analysis in mapping out DE&I goals.”

Every business wants to make good decisions. And good decisions rely on good information. But how you communicate that information matters.  

This is why understanding and translating data into meaningful insights is crucial. However, if you aren’t connecting that information to your audience, they will have little motivation to act on it. That’s where data storytelling comes in. 

When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), data can help tell that story too. Diversity has to do with representation; equity means looking at whether opportunities may or may not be fair; and inclusion is the degree to which the contributions, presence, and viewpoints of different groups of individuals are appreciated and incorporated into a setting.

The collection of data is a good starting point for preparing an effective DE&I strategy, and the general practice is to begin by collecting baseline data pertaining to the composition both of the workforce and the service providers. The stumbling block for most organizations seems to be that they are not clear on how to analyze and use this data effectively for impactful purposes.

Making data accessible is something we know a little about. Whatever you are searching for, it is important to have a comprehensive search feature and quality indexing against a standards-based taxonomy. Choose the right partner in technology, especially when your content is in their hands. Access Innovations is a known leader in database production, standards development, and the creation and application of taxonomies.

Melody K. Smith

Data Harmony is an award-winning semantic suite that leverages explainable AI.

Sponsored by Access Innovations, changing search to found.