Why Measuring the Wrong Thing Can Destroy Your Business:
Private Equity Data Guy · 2025-06-30 · 40 min
Episode notes
Scale Your Business With Data Episode 6:Why Measuring the Wrong Thing Can Destroy Your Business: Data Lessons from Vietnam to Modern Analytics. On this episode of Scale Your Business With Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Gurwinder Bhogal about the critical importance of measuring what truly matters in business and life. Drawing from historical examples like the McNamara Fallacy from the Vietnam War, they explore how focusing on easily quantifiable metrics while ignoring qualitative data can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The conversation delves into modern applications of data measurement, from social media metrics and sentiment analysis to health tracking devices, emphasizing the dangers of compound metrics like "sleep scores" and the value of specific, high-resolution measurements. Bhogal shares insights on Goodhart's Law, the importance of data storytelling, and why our brains are wired for narratives rather than raw numbers, making this essential listening for anyone using data to drive decision-making.
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