Catalog & Cocktails: The Honest, No-BS Data Podcast
TAKEAWAYS - (Most) Data Teams Are a Waste of Resources with Blake Burch
Apr 17, 2025
Blake Burch tackles the pitfalls of modern data teams, often born from executive trends but failing to deliver real value. Many team members churn out unused dashboards, leading to wasted resources and data graveyards. He suggests rethinking data integration by embedding experts within business units and crafting 'full-stack' practitioners. Emphasizing clarity in business goals and measurable outcomes, Blake advocates for an experimental mindset and smaller, agile teams to truly connect data efforts with tangible business impact.
06:10
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Quick takeaways
- Most data teams face inefficiencies due to unclear methodologies and lack of alignment with actual business needs, resulting in wasted resources.
- Embedding data experts within specific business units fosters deeper insights and relevance, ultimately enhancing the quality and impact of analytics produced.
Deep dives
The Need for Effective Data Practices
Many data teams struggle due to a lack of clear methodologies and an overemphasis on specialization, leading to inefficiencies and wasted resources. When organizations rushed to build data teams during the rise of machine learning and big data, they often hired excess personnel without defining what constituted 'good data' or 'good practices.' This lack of clarity resulted in team members creating solutions that weren’t aligned with actual business needs, leading to stagnant or irrelevant outputs. Shifting towards a model where data practitioners are well-rounded and understand the broader business context can help align data work with tangible business outcomes, ensuring that efforts are focused on solving relevant problems.
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