Correct information = correct result

This blog was written by Harald van der Weel, Data Management Architect at SynTouch, a subsidiary of SUPERP.

“The right information leads to the right result.”

This applies to all activities: from a simple task to a strategic project.

Many people respond skeptically: “Surely there are many more factors that determine the outcome?”
That’s true. But if you look closer, you’ll see that those factors can always be traced back to one thing: information.

What is the correct result?

A good result is an outcome that meets the expectations of stakeholders, with the desired quality, within the agreed time and resources.
Expectations are therefore key, and you can only manage expectations with the right information.

What is “the right” information?

Accurate information is more than just reliable business data, such as customer data, product data, and transactions. It also includes:

1. Frameworks and processes: how do we work, what steps do we need to take?
2. Knowledge and experience: the skills of employees and suppliers.
3. Contextual information: market, legislation, competition, economy, but also factors such as weather and public sentiment.

Conversely: failure = lack of information

Turn the statement around and it becomes more concrete:

An incorrect result can always be traced back to a lack of accurate information.

Some recognizable causes of project failure:

• “The project was too complex” → insufficient understanding of complexity and impact.
• “We didn’t have the right people” → no clear picture of the required competencies.
• “The scope was larger than anticipated” → insufficient understanding of what was truly required.
• “The supplier was unable to deliver” → insufficient knowledge of the supplier’s capabilities.
• “Users do not accept the system” → insufficient insight into needs and resistance factors
• “The competition beat us to it” → inadequate market and competition information.

Even unexpected events such as a cyber attack or the departure of a key employee point to a lack of risk information and insufficient preparation.

And what if it does go well?

The reverse is also true.
During the preparatory phase of a customer project, it became apparent that a supplier would be partially sold and that specific technology would no longer be supported. Thanks to this information, the scope and expectations were managed in a timely manner, allowing the project to respond to this in a timely manner and thus still be a success.

Without that information at that point, the project would undoubtedly have suffered significant delays at a later stage and would not have been able to meet expectations.

Conclusion

Every choice, priority, and action stands or falls with the quality of your information. Mistakes are never purely bad luck; they indicate a lack of the right knowledge, data, frameworks, or context.

The right information ensures the right result.

So make sure your information management is in order: complete, up-to-date, and reliable.

Would you like to know how best to organize this structurally? Contact us, and we will examine how your organization can achieve better results with better information.