In a recent LinkedIn post, Nick Curum discusses a critical challenge in modern business decision-making: the disconnect between live data and strategic thinking. Curum argues that while bringing data into the room has been a focus for years, the most impactful inputs—the qualitative insights from research, strategy papers, and playbooks—are often left behind, leading to decisions that are data-informed but not fully thought-informed.
The Evolution of Data in Decision Rooms
Curum recounts his early career experiences, where the push was to integrate quantitative data directly into discussions. This involved using tools like Tableau and TIBCO Spotfire to present live dashboards and enable real-time data filtering. While this approach offered significant improvements, Curum observed a persistent gap.
“Because even with all that data, something was still missing. The most important inputs into decisions were rarely numbers. They were buried in research reports, strategy papers, and playbooks no one had time to revisit mid-meeting.”
This observation led Curum to question the effectiveness of having data present but not the strategic thinking it supports. He posits that the issue wasn’t the presence of data, but the lack of dynamic, accessible strategic context.
From Dashboards to Decision Interfaces
The core of Curum’s recent experimentation focuses on bridging this gap. He has been developing a new approach that transforms research and playbooks into simple, interactive websites. These tools are designed to be used directly within meetings, not to supplant human judgment, but to make strategic thinking immediately accessible and actionable.
Curum explains the transformative potential of this method:
“Instead of saying: ‘We should consider transition risk…’ You can open a tool. Enter a few inputs. And show: ‘This is what that risk does to returns over five years.’ It changes the dynamic completely.”
This approach aims to make strategic considerations as tangible and immediate as quantitative data. By providing interactive tools, Curum believes that assumptions become visible, conversations become sharper, and decisions become more grounded in both quantitative and qualitative insights.
A Concrete Example in Energy
To illustrate his concept, Curum shared an example of an interactive tool he built for energy executives. This tool requires only five inputs and can be used in under two minutes, providing concrete insights before a formal paper is even presented.
“Not just better data. Better ways of using insight in real time. From dashboards to decision interfaces. From reports to tools you can actually use when it counts.”
Curum’s work suggests a shift from merely presenting data to creating environments where data and strategic thought converge. He concludes by asking industry professionals if they would adopt such tools in high-stakes discussions, indicating a desire to validate and refine this innovative approach to decision-making.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Nick Curum on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on April 11, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →