Behind Every Good Decision

How Anyone Can Use Business Analytics to Turn Data into Profitable Insight

By: Piyanka Jain, Puneet Sharma

Narrated by: Karen Saltus

List the hottest buzzwords in business today and "analytics" is bound to come out near the top. But to most people, analytics implies complex tools and technical experts manipulating massive amounts and varieties of information (i.e.,"Big Data"). But complex Big Data analytics isn't the only game in town. And many people don't realize that a business doesn't need data scientists and complex tools to derive useful information and valuable benefits from any amount of raw data (e.g., names, behaviors, zip codes, demographics, sales statistics, etc.). Now Piyanka Jain and Puneet Sharma have defeated the myth that analytics is "rocket science" - and that only Big Data matters. In Behind Every Good Decision, they demonstrate how you can leverage the data you've got to generate valuable insights and drive countless smart business decisions. Best of all, the techniques for solving 80 percent of all business problems can be solved by any professional using only a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet! - and the authors show you how. Among the fascinating things you'll learn and apply from this engaging, easy-to-understand book are:

• How to use a unique, remarkably effective, streamlined method called "BADIR" for short, that works in any industry and will help you move from data to decisions in just five steps
• How this tool can help you improve customer experiences, optimize your work flow, predict the rate of customer churn, and determine which among several business propositions should be the focus of your attention
• The four most commonly used analytics methodologies
• Tools you can use for storing, reporting, and analyzing data
• The kinds of people who should be chosen for an analytics team

With this book, you'll see that business analytics is a simple problem-solving tool. Done right, your analytics effort can make for happier customers, better products, agile business practices, more productive employees, bigger revenues, and fatter profits - not to mention delighted bosses. And with the help of Behind Every Good Decision, you'll be able to launch that effort right from your own laptop. It's time to see how.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.©2014 Piyanka Jain and Puneet Sharma (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"If you want to learn how to set up an analytics-driven organization and compete with analytics, then this book is for you." (Steve Berkowitz, CEO, Move, Inc.)

Lots of great insight

There's a lot of information in this book. Definitely one you have to pay close attention to, but much better than reading from a physical book. I will probably need to read twice :)

Useful straightforward up-to-date knowledge.

A comprehensive and easily accessible introduction to analysis. I found it a good guide in searching trough my first data set, segmenting and finding correlations. Ended up buying the printed book for better to benefit from tables and illustrations.

Good content, missing pdfs

There were many accompanying pdfs referenced, which obviously are not included. There could have been better explanation of charts, graphs, and tables as I have heard in other technical audio books. The content was very good and I plan to listen a second time.

Great for getting up to speed on business analtics

Easy to listen to, straight to the point and great for someone who's heard of business analytics but hasn't really taken the dive into researching or studying it.

Great content but not for an audiobook

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Great book for anybody who wishes to improve analytical skills at work. It revelled a lot of terms and techniques I know I will explore further.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Behind Every Good Decision?

Real life examples of analysis techniques.

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to Behind Every Good Decision?

Product owners, product managers, growth managers, business owners

Any additional comments?

Unfortunately the script of this is book is not adjusted for an audiobook. What is book is a subtitle here is just read as a one phrase making it difficult to understand the context. It is not a listen while jogging position and needs focus and deep understanding I would recommend going for a paper/ ebook version.

Great, could be better.

I loved it. got the physical book too. I was hoping they have more business related stories and case studies. it was like a teaser and a pitch for their services.

Simple book for every professional

A very simple book, which will be useful every professional. They refer to several PDF documents which are not provided for the audio version. That's very disappointing.

Clear and Applicable Data Analytics Overview

"Behind Every Good Decision" is very well structured eases business owners into the world of data analytics and data mining in a very manageable way. Throughout the book there are exercises and examples of using data in profitable ways by tying with already well established business principles. You can't manage what you can't measure and "Behind Every Good Decision" teaches you how to create an internal feedback loop to track and improve upon all areas of your business.

Might be better NOT as audio

Would you try another book from Piyanka Jain and Puneet Sharma and/or Karen Saltus?

Maybe. I felt that I got some concepts and inspiration but I didn't get the nitty-gritty I was hoping for. More technical details on tools and techniques... The case studies/examples were somewhat interesting but not what I thought I would get. I would buy another book from them after more careful consideration of reviews and samples of the audio and print information available.

Has Behind Every Good Decision turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

Which character – as performed by Karen Saltus – was your favorite?

While a pleasant voice I did occasionally have trouble distinguishing some letters. Note that I listen while driving, not in a quiet space, so not ideal conditions.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The basic premise was good.

Not good for audio

I wouldn't recommend this as an audio book, the content seemed good but it didn't present well on audio.