Analyzing Analyst Struggles

Raise your hand if you are an analyst and you've run into one of these issues before:

• Data Discrepancies: Your stakeholder approaches you and says, "I noticed the data in your report doesn't match the data in this other report.  Which one is correct?"
  
  
• No Data: Your stakeholder asks for some data but after some further research, you realize that product team never implemented the proper tracking.  Zero.  Zilch.  Nada.
  
  
• Blocked Access: Your stakeholder asks for a dashboard that requires integration from multiple data sources.  You go to query the data but realize you don't even have access to one of the databases.
   
• Ad Hoc Request Madness: Multiple stakeholders ask for data, dashboards, and insights all at the same time.  And they want it yesterday.
  
  
• Groundhog Day Questioning: Your stakeholders ask the same questions over and over and over again.

Below I've laid out some of the Top Analyst Struggles along with the impacts that these struggles can lead to.  These are just a handful of issues you may experience while being a Data Analyst.  You'll encounter all kinds of issues throughout your career as an analyst, but know that they are all part of the job.  It's up to you (sometimes working closely with others) to try and figure them out in order to help your stakeholders reach their goals.

Data Quality & Accuracy:

• Collecting reliable and clean data when dealing with multiple data sources or complex tracking implementations 

IMPACT: Inaccurate data can lead to incorrect insights and recommendations for an analyst

Understanding Business Objectives:

• Understand stakeholder/client's business objectives and goals
• Clients may not clearly articulate their objectives

IMPACT:  Analysts might struggle to align their analysis with the goals, making it harder to provide actionable recommendations

Data Privacy & Compliance:

• Need to navigate the complexities of compliance
• Client data is handled in a manner that complies with regulations

IMPACT: An analyst may have to integrate anonymization techniques to obtain consent

Data Integrations:

• Integrating data from various sources can be complex
• Technical issues, data compatibility, data governance, etc

IMPACT:  Analysts sometimes struggle with merging data from different platforms to create a comprehensive view of the customer journey

Communicating Complex Insights:

• Presenting insights in a clear and meaningful way can be a struggle
• Translating technical terms and complex data into insights that are not easily understandable for clients who don't have a strong background in analytics, can be difficult

IMPACT: Without effective communication skills, analysts will struggle to ensure that their clients comprehend, appreciate, and trust the insights being provided

Resource Constraints:

• Nothing is more stressful than being short staffed and taking on large workloads
• Analysts might face constraints around time, tools, budget, etc

IMPACT: If an analysts had limited resources, it can have a huge impact on the depth and breadth of the analysis that can be performed

Keeping Up With Technology:

• Analytics is a rapidly evolving field (especially with AI now working its way in)
• Continuous learning and development is needed

IMPACT: Analysts that don't keep pace with the latest tools, methodologies, and industry trends, will quickly fall behind the younger up and coming analysts