Data-driven planning
Introduction
Data analysis is a process that consists of inspecting,[1] cleaning and transforming data with the aim of highlighting useful information, to suggest conclusions and support decision making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing various techniques under a variety of names, in different business, science, and social science domains. Data is collected and analyzed to investigate questions, test conjectures or refute theories.[2].
It focuses on statistical inference, which allows making a decision in a simple way with a certain degree of confidence,[3] identifying and analyzing both data and behavioral patterns. The techniques for this analysis vary depending on the needs of the organization as well as technology solutions, such as KNIME, R "R (programming language)") and visualization dashboards (such as Power BI or Qlik View, Tableau or Sas Visual Analytics). These project data in visual format in real time.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10].
Data analysis is a systematic and methodical process that involves the collection, organization, interpretation and visualization of data sets with the aim of extracting meaningful and relevant information. This process is essential for making informed decisions in various fields, from science and technology to economics and social sciences.
Data analysis is supported by a wide range of techniques and methodologies, including descriptive statistics, statistical inference, machine learning and data mining.[11] These tools allow researchers and analysts to identify underlying patterns, trends and relationships in the data, which in turn facilitates the generation of hypotheses and the formulation of informed conclusions.[12].
The importance of data analytics lies in its ability to transform large volumes of information into useful and actionable knowledge. By systematically processing and analyzing data, professionals can make more informed decisions, optimize processes, identify opportunities, and mitigate risks. This has led to a growing interest and demand for data analytics skills across a wide range of sectors, from data science to strategic decision making.[13].
Background
Data analysis, in its study of the structure of large ensembles, is modern but the methods of analysis are long-standing. The person who first introduced the method of factor analysis was Ch. Spearman in 1904 (factor concept).[14] The first definition dates back to 1961, when the mathematician John Wilder Tukey predicted the effect of computing on analysis, defining it as: "(the) Procedures for analyzing data, (the) techniques for interpreting the results of said procedures, (the) ways of planning the collection of data to make the analysis easier, more precise or more exact, and all the machinery and results of statistics (mathematics) that are applied to the analysis".[15].