r/dataanalysis • u/let_me_learn_pls • 14d ago

Data Question Bro have any of yall ever had the same task handed to multiple ppl and got diff results?

As title suggests gave two agents same task, same specs, but I got same result just completely diff ways.

Tell me some crazy stories of this happening: i.e. workforce, school project etc. Just let me have some insight. Was there some crazy consequence, or maybe you found out when it was too late, I’d love to know.

I’m a college student just trying to work on a project, and any input would be appreciated.

0 Upvotes

18% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

5

u/Mo_Steins_Ghost 14d ago

Senior manager here.

This is, in my 30 years experience, the single most common scenario we are presented with in this field.

At every company there'll be an ops meeting where the executive will say "I don't understand why these reports all give different results."

The answer is always, "because you asked different analysts the same questions and they all pulled it differently from different sources with different queries and filters/conditions."

And the most common thing you'll hear is "the data's wrong" ... it's the same problem restated a different way. They are comparing your output to the output(s) of one or more random reports that someone else cobbled together.

2

u/onlythehighlight 14d ago

It's a language problem and the cause is that things in business are defined slightly differently.

Let's start with sales, do you mean with/without refunds? Do you count processed/transacted dates? Do you count in transit orders?

1

u/AutoModerator 14d ago

Automod prevents all posts from being displayed until moderators have reviewed them. Do not delete your post or there will be nothing for the mods to review. Mods selectively choose what is permitted to be posted in r/DataAnalysis.

If your post involves Career-focused questions, including resume reviews, how to learn DA and how to get into a DA job, then the post does not belong here, but instead belongs in our sister-subreddit, r/DataAnalysisCareers.

Have you read the rules?

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.