• You'd expect BI people to have a proper grounding in statistics but they haven't. It is very rare for someone who gives themselves a fancy title like this to be able to explain what a normal distribution or whether a finding is statistically significant.

    You'll get a BI person to come up with an 'actionable insight' (whatever the hell they think that is).

    ' Oh? Is that statistically significant?' I ask.

    'Yeah' they say.

    'Interesting, can I see the calculations, please?'

    'Calculations?'

    'Yes, what is the probability level' (blank look from BI person) 'So what do you mean by 'significant'"

    'Well, management will really go for it. It will get them really interested'

    (Phil Factor storms off bad-temperedly)

    Best wishes,
    Phil Factor