The 3 biggest challenges: dark data, looking backwards and insularity
Most organizations use only 1% of their data to generate valuable insights, even though at least 25% could be utilized. This untapped but potentially valuable data is known as dark data. In addition, most reports, analyses, and dashboards focus on retrospective accountability rather than future improvements, continuous innovation, or actionable insights, making effective management impossible. Furthermore, various well-intentioned initiatives – such as Lean, KPIs, continuous improvement, BI, quality management, data-driven work, PDCA, strategy formation, SMART goals, Artificial Intelligence, dashboards, and customer journeys – are scattered across the organization, making processes more complex instead of simpler. As a result, many initiatives fail to achieve meaningful outcomes because they operate in isolation. Due to these challenges – dark data, looking backwards, and insularity – many improvement opportunities remain hidden, and even when they become visible, they are often not utilized effectively.
One method that brings everything together and connects
This can and should be different, we believe. What organizations need in this day and age is a single, integrated approach that enhances work happiness, margin structure, overall performance, decision quality, management strength, data utilization, and customer satisfaction – one efficient method that brings everything together and connects. You might ask, “But doesn’t this take extra time?” The paradoxical yet beautiful reality is that, in practice, it actually saves time. Because of this connectedness, we move forward much faster together.
Figure 1: One method that brings and connects everything together.
Passionned Group has combined all knowledge and experience from the various islands into a revolutionary and practical method: The Data-Driven Growth Accelerators. Like true “dark data detectives,” we uncover every opportunity for improvement within your organization. In most cases, we achieve measurable results within just 3 to 4 weeks.
Get a new impulse every time
Our method is not a one-time exercise but a hands-on approach that becomes addictive and hard to let go of. In fact, it continuously reinvigorates you with energy, as it quickly delivers visible results. Moreover, more than 20 years of research into High Performance Organizations (HPO) by Dr. André de Waal has shown that the real difference comes from people – their attitude toward work, the level of transparency, their responsibilities, and the organization itself. Employee commitment to the company’s mission, strategy, and goals is crucial, and that very aspect runs like a thread through our approach.
SMART Funnels
The starting point is the main organizational KPIs and their associated goals, but the core focus is on the data-driven optimization of processes and funnels. Each process functions as a funnel, where more goes in than comes out. There are almost always more job applicants than hires, more leads than customers, and more raw materials than what ends up in the final product. And so on. We call this funnel conversion, and we enhance it in a highly efficient and smart, data-driven way.
Figure 2: The SMART funnel and context.
We explain this in detail to everyone involved because establishing a shared conceptual framework – and fostering engagement – is crucial for the changes we aim to implement. We also systematically map decisions and make them data-driven, step by step, improving both productivity and funnel conversion. As connectors, we naturally bring people & technology, management & shop floor, and decisions & data back together. In many ways, we empower management to grow while also restoring employees’ confidence and autonomy. Power back to the craft.
What results can you expect?
What we deliver is not the end result but a means to achieve it. Our methodology brings the following outcomes:
- More job happiness, energy, passion, and purpose for employees as they finally understand their contribution to the bigger picture and higher purpose.
- Data shifts from being a mandatory exercise to a crucial, everyday tool for driving improvements.
- All major inefficiencies and issues disappear from your processes, while non-value-adding work naturally becomes less of a priority.
- An intelligent, data-driven organization where employees and managers consistently extract value from data, steering with KPIs and capitalizing on valuable insights from a Lean perspective.
- Business Intelligence and data-driven work used as they should be – not just for observation, but for making informed decisions.
- A clear understanding of data quality and completeness, along with practical ways to improve them.
- Higher customer satisfaction, better financial performance, and reduced absenteeism and staff turnover.
- Full alignment – from strategy to the shop floor, across processes and silos – resulting in significantly less noise and inefficiency.
And the best part? You’ll benefit from it too.
What steps are we taking?
Where we can, we leverage internal expertise and capacity, because we believe that the power of collaboration provides more energy and produces better results. Together, we take the next steps in short iterations:
- Documentation on strategy, KPIs, data, processes and organizational structure we will extensively analyze, summarize and challenge where necessary.
- We organize a kick-off and we put together an effective work team.
- Together with the management team we will discuss, describe and define the organizational KPIs in a workshop, including the success factors of the journey.
- We organize SMART funnel sessions with domain experts and the decision makers.
- We describe the SMART funnels, decisions and touchpoints in the customer journey
- We research the necessary data sources and set out improvement actions.
- We create a rough project schedule and a project plan. A preferably internal project leader will pull the project.
- We organize an inspiration session ‘Data-driven growth accelerators’ for key target groups in the organization.
- We model the KPIs and SMART funnels, automatically building a cloud data warehouse.
- We build a collection of dashboards, machine learning models and reports that enable the effective management of funnels.
- We organize training and courses to teach all involved to make data-driven work a daily practice.
- We help set up a conversation cycle to periodically discuss the KPIs in the funnel with the team and executives among themselves.
- We facilitate in setting the standards and targets on the KPIs.
- We coach executives in developing skills required for data-driven work.
In all steps, management plays an important role. Whether it is about defining and steering on KPIs, data access or quality, or setting up an interview cycle. The lead time of the steps depends, among other things, on the complexity and scope. The first results can already be achieved in 3 to 4 weeks, but per funnel you have to take into account an implementation time of about 3 months. Then a complete improvement system is in place.
The deliverables: what do we deliver?
In addition to the results (outcome) of the process – depending on what is already well established, among other things – the following products will be delivered:
- A refinement and sharpening of the strategy in the form of a KPI tree.
- A KPI definition manual including KPI owners and conversation cycle.
- A data-driven PDCA cycle where KPIs are standardized and analyzed and discussed on a periodic basis.
- A living process model (with simulation capabilities) and description of steps and touchpoints.
- Interactive KPI dashboards, data analytics and where necessary AI with machine learning models.
- A future-proof cloud data warehouse based on state-of-the-art standards.
- Where necessary, we also build a data lake for the storage and analysis of unstructured data.
- Education and training in the field of data-driven working and management.
What are the entry requirements?
We do not set any prerequisites for participation, but having a strong desire to improve your organization and give it a competitive edge is a significant advantage. Any organization can immediately start using our methodology. Depending on consultant availability, we can quickly schedule an appointment to discuss specific needs and challenges.
Do you also want to achieve data-driven growth?
Do you want to strengthen your growth ambitions using (dark) data and empower your people? Contact us to schedule an appointment.
About Passionned Group
Passionned Group is a specialist in data-driven work, AI, and process optimization. Our passionate and experienced hands-on consultants and advisors help organizations of all sizes become intelligent and data-driven. Every two years, we organize the Dutch BI & Data Science Award™.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this method make other methods completely obsolete?No, existing improvement methods are still applied but within a new framework. Over time, a unified team may emerge where all expertise comes together. We do it together.
How do I convince others of the added value of the methodology?
Within 3 to 4 weeks, we deliver the first measurable results. Within a few months, a complete improvement system is in place. The required investment is relatively low, and the methodology is well thought out and has already proven its effectiveness in various organizations, including a safety region, a supermarket chain, a bicycle store, and an e-commerce company.
Is my organization ready for this method?
In principle, any organization can apply this methodology, but the urgency and need must be clear. Additionally, there must be a genuine desire to improve.
Don’t you turn the whole organization upside down?
Not at first. We start with one crucial funnel, allowing the methodology to gradually spread throughout the organization like an oil slick, leading to a total transformation over time.
