Starting an analysis with flawed data significantly undermines the effectiveness of data-driven decision making. One major consequence is that more time is spent managing data than analyzing data. Analysts must devote substantial effort to cleaning, validating, and correcting errors before meaningful analysis can occur, delaying insights and increasing costs.
Another critical result is that missing data tend to skew the results of the analysis. Incomplete data can distort averages, trends, and statistical relationships, leading to biased conclusions and unreliable decisions. This is especially problematic in predictive and inferential analytics, where assumptions about data completeness are essential.
Using spreadsheets or placing data in charts does not inherently result from flawed data, nor does it resolve data quality issues. While visualization can help identify errors, it is not a direct outcome of starting with flawed data.
Data-driven decision making emphasizes that poor-quality input leads to poor-quality output. Ensuring data accuracy and completeness before analysis is essential for producing valid insights. Therefore, the correct answers are B and D.
