Unpacking the Importance of Data Nature in Understanding Your Datability

Christian J. Ward
October 3, 2023
6 mins
Subjective? Objective? Why does that matter?

In today's data-rich ecosystem, companies face the formidable challenge of not just amassing data, but making sense of it. Enter the concept of Datability, a framework that enables organizations to truly leverage their data assets in a meaningful way. Of its four defining categories—Data Source, Privacy Level, Data Nature, and Temporal Aspect—the dimension that often goes overlooked, yet holds an insidious power over how data is employed, is Data Nature.

What is Data Nature?

Data Nature categorizes data as either Objective or Subjective. Objective data is factual, verifiable, and devoid of personal interpretation. It is the bedrock of metrics-driven strategies, drawing a direct line from data to actionable insights. Subjective data, on the other hand, is opinion-based, variable, and dependent on individual perspectives. It deals in the realm of sentiments, opinions, and interpretations, often relying on sophisticated analytics tools to glean actionable insights.

Why is Data Nature Critical?

Understanding the nature of your data is pivotal for several reasons:

  1. Decision-making: Objective data is the gold standard for data-driven decisions. Its empirical nature lends itself well to mathematical models and statistical techniques. Subjective data, however, may require sentiment analysis or qualitative assessments, inherently embedding a layer of uncertainty in decision-making processes.
  2. Compliance and Ethics: Objective data, especially when dealing with private information, may be subject to stringent compliance rules (like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.). Subjective data, while still regulated, often requires nuanced handling, especially when interpreting and applying insights.
  3. Interpretation and Bias: While objective data is less prone to misinterpretation, subjective data can be highly susceptible to bias, both in collection and analysis. This affects the reliability and integrity of the data, calling for advanced techniques like natural language processing or machine learning algorithms to mitigate these challenges.
  4. Strategic Partnerships: A company that excels in managing objective data could benefit significantly from a data partnership with an entity proficient in subjective data analytics. Such collaborations could result in a more rounded understanding of market conditions, customer sentiments, or even global trends.
  5. Monetization Opportunities: Objective data typically has more direct monetization avenues such as predictive analytics or trend analyses. Subjective data may offer monetization paths through customer experience enhancements, sentiment analysis services, or targeted marketing strategies.

Real-World Applications: IPOD vs. IPSD

Let's consider two Datability Types: IPOD (Intrinsic, Private, Objective, Dynamic) and IPSD (Intrinsic, Private, Subjective, Dynamic). IPOD companies might leverage real-time, factual data for instant decision-making or behavioral analytics. In contrast, IPSD organizations might employ dynamic, subjective data for capturing real-time sentiments or preferences. The analytics stack for an IPOD company might be built around real-time analytics platforms like Apache Kafka, while an IPSD organization may be more reliant on sentiment analysis tools or specialized machine learning models.

Data Nature isn't just another variable; it's a lens through which data should be viewed, handled, and capitalized upon. It influences everything from strategic decision-making to ethical considerations, thereby making it imperative for organizations to accurately identify and appreciate. As we navigate this data-driven landscape, understanding the nature of your data can make the difference between mere data collection and meaningful data utility. And in a world that's increasingly reliant on data for almost every facet of business, understanding this dimension of datability could be your competitive edge.

Nature & Search: Objective and Subjective Queries

Decoupling Objective from Subjective in Digital Experience

The customer's digital experience is increasingly influenced by how effortlessly they can extract pertinent information from an ocean of data. This is where search engines, both on and off your site, play a critical role. Traditionally, search engines have been designed to index, rank, and present information based on a set of objective criteria such as relevance, credibility, and user behavior. However, as search algorithms become more sophisticated, there's a distinct move towards decoupling objective queries from subjective ones.

  1. Objective Queries: These are factual queries that can be addressed with a straightforward, empirical answer. For example, "What is the capital of France?" Here, the answer is definitive and can be verified against reliable data sources.
  2. Subjective Queries: These questions are opinion-based or dependent on individual perspectives. For instance, "What is the best laptop for graphic design?" The answer would vary based on user preferences, software needs, or even the current market trends.

Why is this Important?

The customer experience is elevated when search engines can appropriately differentiate between these two types of queries. For objective queries, precision and speed are of the essence. Subjective queries, however, benefit from a more nuanced, context-aware presentation of information. This differentiation informs how search results are generated, ranked, and displayed, thereby aligning more closely with user intent and delivering a more tailored user experience.

Role of Generative AI

Generative AI, such as the OpenAI's GPT models, bring an intriguing capability to this search dichotomy. For objective queries, Generative AI can synthesize information from multiple sources to produce a concise, accurate answer. For subjective queries, the AI can analyze sentiment, context, and historical data to generate responses that not only answer the query but also offer an informed perspective, sometimes even weighing pros and cons or offering alternatives.

Case in Point: Personalized Search Experiences

Imagine a user searching for "best strategies for digital marketing" on your knowledge graph-powered corporate search engine. An advanced AI model could parse this as a subjective query and present a tailored list of strategies based on the user's past behavior, industry trends, and even sentiment analysis from community forums or social media. This level of customization turns search into an interactive, personalized experience, rather than a mere transactional one.

The Bottom Line

Understanding the nature of data isn't a task confined to the back offices of data scientists or strategists. It is becoming increasingly integrated into customer-facing technologies like search engines. The marriage of advanced search algorithms with Generative AI heralds an era where search becomes more intuitive, responsive, and aligned with human needs and intents. In doing so, it paves the way for a more nuanced understanding of datability, directly impacting how companies interact with their customers in the digital realm. Therefore, as businesses, being attuned to the intricate layers of data nature is not just an organizational competency but a critical customer experience enhancer.

Christian J. Ward
Since launching his first data company in 1999, Christian Ward has focused his career on data strategy. He co-founded Jaywalk Incorporated, later acquired by the Bank of New York, and two additional data startups in the past 25 years. Today, as Yext's Chief Data Officer, he helps customers and partners turn data into AI and search opportunities. Ward co-authored the #1 Amazon bestseller, "Data Leverage," and has held executive data roles at Arizent, Data Axle, and Thomson Reuters. Ward's insights appear in top publications and industry conferences on data strategy and AI.
Christian J Ward
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