Effective Database Management

Don't manage to the exception! One of the universal truths about data management is, wherever possible, avoid managing to the exception. What I mean by this is to avoid developing any process th...

https://effectivedatabase.com/dont-manage-to-the-exception/

It's always about improvement Talking with a client recently, she expressed frustration about one particular project around data. As she put it, "It feels like no matter what we do, we're never ...

https://effectivedatabase.com/its-always-about-improvement/

Don't be a hoarder! The simple truth is that it's almost "free" to collect data. Or at least that's how it seems. Set up a field in the database, send out an email and ask for the data, and voil...

https://effectivedatabase.com/dont-be-a-hoarder/

With data analytics (as with most things), keep it simple! Over the past several years I've spoken with many clients and other associations about their experience with data analytics. I have bee...

https://effectivedatabase.com/with-data-analytics-as-with-most-things-keep-it-simple/

Don't forget about periodic maintenance Just as most automobiles need periodic maintenance, keeping your data as up to date as possible requires maintenance, as well. And while most cars have a ...

https://effectivedatabase.com/dont-forget-about-periodic-maintenance/

Users Groups are ALWAYS Valuable I am a huge fan of users groups. (Here's a bunch of stuff I've written in the past.) A client of mine recently attended their users group meeting, and I was remi...

https://effectivedatabase.com/users-groups-are-always-valuable/

But will you DO anything with that data? I frequently exhort my clients to always answer the question "What will you do with that information?" when they talk about collecting new data or creati...

https://effectivedatabase.com/but-will-you-do-anything-with-that-data/

It’s not what happens, but how you react... “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” - Epictetus I confess, I did not know this quote came from Epictetus, but...

https://effectivedatabase.com/its-not-what-happens-but-how-you-react/

Saying it and doing it are two different things When I work with my clients on a new AMS selection and implementation, one thing I focus on heavily is business rules and business process. This i...

https://effectivedatabase.com/saying-it-and-doing-it-are-two-different-things/

Benefits downstream are difficult to implement In my 25 years of consulting, one of the biggest challenges I've seen organizations face is implementing a process change that is initially "diffic...

https://effectivedatabase.com/benefits-downstream-are-difficult-to-implement/