Steve,

Does this really apply to data professionals? I have been a programmer and data provider since 1982 and I have never been asked to interpret the data. It was always someone else's job to do that. I provide the data, the reports, and the Excel spreadsheets. I think that it is dangerous for the same person who is providing the data to be making decisions based on it. I just have to make certain that the data is correct and ahs not been corrupted, and, that it is reported correctly.

As far as how people make those decisions... I have seen both ends of the spectrum. One manager I know hardly reviews any data goes by emotion and gut feel. Another one pores over data for a very long time before coming to decisions. Amazingly, both tend to get it right. There are others who want to use data to justify their preconceptions and get angry when the data is "wrong" (different from their preconceptions). Most people are somewhere between the extremes.

Thanks,

Tom