Data’s True Value: From Dashboards to Decisions, According to Leonardo Freixas

In a recent LinkedIn post, Leonardo Freixas tackles a pervasive issue in modern business: the underutilization of data. Freixas argues that despite the explosion in data collection and reporting tools, many organizations struggle to translate this information into actionable insights, leading to slower, not faster, decision-making. He highlights a critical gap between raw data and its practical application.

Freixas points out the irony of increasing data volume without a corresponding increase in decision velocity. “Companies collect more data than ever. More reports. More charts. More metrics. Yet decisions don’t move faster,” he observes, challenging the assumption that more data automatically equates to better business outcomes.

The Meaning Deficit in Data Interpretation

A core theme in Freixas’s analysis is the concept of a “meaning deficit.” He contends that data often dies in dashboards not because it’s inaccurate, but because its significance is lost on those who view it. The lack of clear interpretation leaves teams uncertain about what the numbers truly signify or what steps should be taken next.

Freixas poses critical questions that he believes are often left unanswered when data is presented without context: “Someone has to look at the numbers and answer the real questions: What changed? Why did it change? What should we do about it?” Without these answers, the data, despite its cost and impressiveness, becomes mere decoration.

Shifting from Data Presentation to Decision Presentation

According to Freixas, the most agile organizations in leveraging data adopt a fundamentally different approach. They move beyond simply presenting numbers and instead focus on presenting decisions derived from those numbers. This shift requires a deeper level of analysis and interpretation.

Freixas emphasizes this distinction, stating, “Without those answers, data becomes decoration. Impressive. Expensive. And mostly ignored.” He contrasts this with successful data-driven companies, noting, “The organizations that move fastest with data do something different. They don’t present numbers. They present decisions.” This perspective underscores the importance of analytical rigor and strategic thinking in making data a true driver of business progress.

Freixas’s insights serve as a potent reminder that the true power of data lies not in its collection, but in its intelligent interpretation and application to guide concrete business actions.