In today’s world, technology is everywhere, and we collect more data than ever before. But just having lots of data doesn’t mean we’re using it well.

“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.” E.O. Wilson

That’s why good IT practices are so important. They help turn confusing information into clear, helpful tools that actually make our lives easier while helping us move our companies forward.

Make Data Usable, Understandable, and Actionable

First things first—data needs to be useful. It’s not enough to gather numbers and charts. The information has to be easy to understand and help people make decisions. For example, if a store has sales data, it should be organized in a way that helps them see what products are doing well and which ones aren’t. That way, we can act on it—perhaps by ordering more of a popular item or running a sale on something that’s not selling.

Work With the Team to Find the Right Questions

Sometimes our teams collect data without knowing what they’re looking for. A better approach is to work with our team to figure out what questions they need answers to. Do they want to know why a product isn’t selling? Are they trying to improve how fast a website loads? Once you know the questions, it’s easier to find the right data and create tools that solve real problems. Good IT starts with good communication.

Focus on the End User

Always think about the people who will use the system. This includes both the occasional user and the person who uses it every day. A tool that looks fancy but is hard to use won’t help anyone. But a simple, well-designed system can make everyday tasks faster and less stressful. We need to test our tools with real users and listen to their feedback. This will make all the difference.

Keep It Simple: Less Is More

When building systems or dashboards, we need to remember the rule: less is more. The goal isn’t to collect every piece of data—just the ones that matter.

“Instead of building the largest data store it could, Tesco set out to build the smallest store of data that would give useful information.” Clive Humby (Scoring Points: How Tesco is Winning Customer Loyalty)

This smart approach helped Tesco stay focused and make better choices. A simple tool that works is better than a complex one that confuses people.

Final Thoughts

IT isn’t just about computers and data—it’s about helping our people do their jobs better. By making data clear, asking the right questions, focusing on the user, and keeping things simple, we can turn information into wisdom. And that’s what great IT is all about.

Full Disclosure

Since this blog was about IT, I thought I would use ChatGPT to help write it.  I had to give ChatGPT the framework and the key points.  And then I had to edit the output from ChatGPT.  But, overall, I was able to get my points across, and ChatGPT made the process much easier.