To Make the Best Decisions, Demand the Best Data (HBR Article Collection)

Your company's success hinges on the quality of the decisions you and your executive team make. No matter what the decision, you need hard data to select the best course of action. Yet many managers fail to gather adequate information while considering a crucial decision. They rely on their gut, or they embrace the latest "best" practice without investigating its risks. Even if there's evidence at hand suggesting the right course of action, they may ignore it--especially if it has disturbing implications. And some managers fail to share crucial information because they lack the right communication vehicles, such as meeting protocols and IT systems. Result? Poor-quality decisions that waste time and money (at best) and that risk a company's future (at worst). To avoid these scenarios, establish rigorous disciplines for gathering, sharing, and analyzing data. This Harvard Business Review Article Collection helps you get started. When you systematically collect and use information, you make the right decisions about the most pressing issues facing your firm.