Of course you are "data-driven." But who's driving?

These days, every organization strives to be "data-driven:" to collect and use information---data---to improve their operations and fulfill their mission. The question is, who's driving? Do they have the knowledge and skills to get the most out of your data? Professionally trained statisticians do.

"Crunching numbers" in a spreadsheet seems easy. Too easy, really. Without truly understanding the nature of your data and the assumptions behind your methods, things can go wrong. You might not reach sound conclusions. You also won't fully appreciate the uncertainty around them. Because there is always uncertainty---because there is always variation in the natural and social world. That's where statistics comes in. Statistics, in a nutshell, is the science (and a little art!) of drawing quantifiable conclusions in the face of variation and uncertainty.

In your organization,

• What exactly are you measuring, and how exactly are you measuring it?
• Are you measuring the right things in the right way?
• What are your measurements telling you? What do your data mean?
• How confident are you in your conclusions? How far off could you be? How would that matter to your mission?

Why Agency Statistical Consulting?

In my experience, it is the rare public service agency that has professional statistical expertise in-house. As an academic physician, American Statistical Association Accredited Professional Statistician®, and epidemiologist with 30 years experience in medicine, public health, and higher education, I bring a unique depth of understanding to the data needs of public service agencies. I'd be pleased to serve as your contract-based, just-in-time statistics department, whenever you need, for only as long as you need.