How to make the case for test-driving analytics -- in your organization.
1. Demonstrating value: Starting with a pilot project offers management a proof of concept with tangible benefits up front, before significant time, capital and resources are invested.
2. Reducing up-front investment: There is no need to buy enterprise software or hardware until you know that it works.
3. Leveraging resources: Since a pilot is narrow in scope with defined boundaries, there is no need for a large team and broad cross-functional involvement.
4. Offering manageability: A pilot does not require an organization to have the highest level of enterprise data quality. Since the pilot will likely leverage limited data sets, companies can start where they are and enhance data quality as they add to the pilot.
5. Tackling critical questions first: An analytics pilot helps companies address vital questions quickly. By targeting the more critical value systems first, you can get your most pressing issues addressed up front.
6. Jump-starting problem solving: The pilot initiative can uncover big problems quickly, which can give the organization a head start on fixing them. If you fix problems in the target data set, you can establish a method for fixing them at the enterprise level.
7. Mitigating risk: If things go wrong in the pilot, the repercussions are limited because they are not felt at the enterprise level. You can fix the problems more easily because they are not organizationwide.
8. Achieving buy-in: The pilot helps identify champions and supporters. Since results are demonstrable and easily understood, executive sponsorship can be secured for a larger analytics initiative.