Re:U.S. universities, rich in data, struggle to capture its ...
by nonrandomstring on Saturday December 31, 2022 @01:54PM
(#34199479)
Indeed, absolutely true. And furthermore, sometimes the value of data,
and of possible other sources, doesn't emerge until you start analysis
and then deductively see new collection opportunities. It's a
to-and-fro process.
> how much ROI does the insights in the data provide, relative to the
cost to build the organizational infrastructure
Having seen the workings of academia for a long time now I'd argue
very little.
But I think the problem is more subtle. A Heisenbergian problem. When
data collection involves people you have a triple problem of
intrusion, distraction, and ossification. the act of trying to create
a "data driven culture" in some contexts simply kills what's
there. The cost of this, in addition to the bootstrapping costs of
sensors and analytics are paralysing.
Academia, by its very nature, if properly functioning, demands to be
dynamic. If it's good, it will not stand still long enough for you to
look at it. And if you measure it "too hard" it will evaporate as all
the good people who resent ossification leave.
> how much ROI does the insights in the data provide, relative to the cost to build the organizational infrastructure
Having seen the workings of academia for a long time now I'd argue very little.
But I think the problem is more subtle. A Heisenbergian problem. When data collection involves people you have a triple problem of intrusion, distraction, and ossification. the act of trying to create a "data driven culture" in some contexts simply kills what's there. The cost of this, in addition to the bootstrapping costs of sensors and analytics are paralysing.
Academia, by its very nature, if properly functioning, demands to be dynamic. If it's good, it will not stand still long enough for you to look at it. And if you measure it "too hard" it will evaporate as all the good people who resent ossification leave.