Don’t Always Swing at the First Pitch

 

Your first pass at collecting and analyzing data may not be the final result you’re looking for.

It’s critical that, like a professional hitter laying off a curveball for a strike to begin an at-bat, you take a measured approach to collecting and leveraging data that allows you to remain open to a better final outcome.

Noted statistician and Chief Decision Scientist at Google Cassie Kozyrkov gives the following advice – focus on decisions, not outcomes to avoid falling into common traps in data utilization.

When you’re looking to elevate some aspect of your operations with data, keep these core philosophies in mind:

  • Don’t Run with the First Outcome
  • Focus on Decisions, Not Outcomes
  • Consider Additional Variable
  • Be Aware of Externalities
  • Actively Fight Against Bias

On this episode of Diving into Data, we’ll explore why taking every result with a grain of salt is the best approach. We’ll also get into some quick hits from the sports world, including some interesting analytical tidbits from the MLB, NBA and NFL, which is set to begin play this week.

Catch up on all episodes of Diving Into Data!

Diving Into Data with TC Riley

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

StudentSafe
Understanding Raptor StudentSafe
April 28, 2026

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Chris Noell, Chief Product Officer at Raptor Technologies, and Will Durgin, Director of Student Well-Being, about the vision behind StudentSafe and how it helps schools move from reactive responses to proactive student support. Together, they emphasize that safer schools depend on giving staff…

Read More
school safety
Going Slow to Go Fast in School Safety Leadership
April 28, 2026

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Tim Dykes, Assistant Principal for Culture and Climate at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conversation highlights how strong relationships, student voice, and steady long-term leadership can help schools build environments where people feel…

Read More
career
Closing the Education-to-Employment Gap: The Rise of the Career Center as Campus Infrastructure
April 28, 2026

Higher education is under mounting pressure to prove its value. As student debt, shifting demographics, and employer expectations reshape the landscape, institutions are being forced to rethink how they prepare students for life after graduation. At the same time, new data shows a sharp rise in internship-to-full-time hiring, with recent cohorts converting at their…

Read More
leadership
Called to Lead: Joel Allison on Faith, Risk, and the Future of Healthcare Leadership
April 27, 2026

Healthcare leadership is being redefined in real time. With the rise of AI, mounting financial pressures, and workforce burnout, executives today are operating in an environment of continuous disruption and uncertainty. In fact, industry leaders now rank workforce shortages and digital transformation among their top concerns—forcing a new kind of leadership that blends decisiveness…

Read More