At CSmart, we’re interested in discussing data because it’s different from information. And information is different from intelligence. Let’s break it down.
Aggregated data isn’t intelligence, it’s just data. And oftentimes, it’s a whole lot of it. And that can trip up some folks. Many think that the sheer mass of the data means it must have intrinsic value.
Avoid Leaning into Big Data
It can be enticing to lean into these large sets of data. Platforms like GovWin from Deltek, Bloomberg Government, Fedmine US, and Gov Tribe provide aggregated data. These platforms extract their data from the same sets of public sources. They save you time because you don’t have to go to the multiple sets of source data they use – they pull it for you and put it all together.
But it’s important to remember that it is just data, there is nothing strategic about it because the sources they use are publicly available to all. Aggregated data is the place to start our strategic endeavors. and for many organizations, they never go beyond this data in making their strategic decisions. That is a mistake because if you do that then you’re using baseline data that everyone else has to drive your strategic decisions. By definition, there is nothing strategic about that approach.
Everyone operates at the Data level, Few make it actionable
Most everyone creates some Information out of the Data. But a smaller set actually spends the time, effort, and dollars it takes to create a large enough set of Information they can leverage into Intelligence that is actionable.
The work we do at CSmart is to create Information and Intelligence from the Data.
As you see in the graphic, getting to Information requires some analysis of the Data, and getting from Information to Intelligence requires us to take action, and make strategic decisions based on the Information we created.
A quick word about Secrets or embargoed data/information. We don’t recommend interacting with confidential sources whether human intelligence or documentation.
The risk of getting discovered is high and the penalties for the possession of the embargoed data or even the attempts to learn it are severe. Additionally, CSmart has found there is plenty of Intelligence we can create from the Data we are all allowed to work with. And this ability to create actionable intelligence is what drives us to successful decision-making and contract wins.
Finally, it’s just better to be ethical!
If you have any questions about data vs. information vs. intelligence, we’d be happy to discuss it with you! Leave a message on our “Contact Us” page or reach out at info@competitionsmart.com.
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