Optimize Your Greatest Asset -- Your People: How to Apply Analytics to Big Data to Improve Your Human Capital Investments

Appendix HWords of Wisdom from Human Capital Analytics Practitioners

Buddy Benge, HR Leader HR Analytics at Monsanto

All too often in our analytics community, we bemoan our HR partners' capability to understand and interpret data without realizing our own responsibility in developing them.

Mark Berry, Former VP of HR at ConAgra Foods

For the neophyte, start small, focusing your efforts on one thing that—if solved—will be recognized by the leadership in your organization. At the same time, don't allow your focus on this to dictate the direction you see to go. Cast a vision of the future with respect to your organization and HR analytics, but be sure to deliver something more than a delusion. Those who focus their efforts on fewer (don't solve for everything), bigger (go for maximum impact), and better (don't accept “good enough” as good enough) will win.

A. D. Detrick, Learning Measurement Consultant

Be patient. No successful analytics environment was implemented quickly. Plan for what you need, give your architects time to optimize your data, and hire capable people to run your analyses. In our quarter-to-quarter-driven financial world, organizations look for quick returns on investment. But bad data yield bad returns. Be patient and invest up front, and you'll be glad you did in the long-term.

Candis Fields-Johnson

Familiarize your organization with the impact of leveraging HR analytics and invest in one system that allows you to use big data when making strategic decisions about ...