up:: [[Data Analysis]] tags:: #on/data-analytics # Phases of Data Analysis The [[Data Analysis]] process consists of six distinct phases: 1. **Ask**: work to understand the challenge to be solved or the question to be answered. 2. **Prepare**: find and collect the data you'll need to answer your questions. 3. **Process**: clean and organize your data. 4. **Analyze**: do the necessary data analysis to uncover answers and solutions. 5. **Share**: present your findings to decision-makers through a report, presentation, or data visualizations. 6. **Act**: put the data insights into action. ## Ask During the Ask phase, analysts define the problem to be solved and work to understand stakeholder expectations. When defining the problem, it helps to look at the current state and identify how it differs from the desired state. For understanding stakeholder expectations, it helps to consider the following: - Who are the stakeholders? - What do they want? - When do they want it? - Why do they want it? - How do I best communicate with them? The [[Five Whys]] are useful here. It also helps to decide which questions to answer in order to solve the problem. ## Prepare This is where an analyst identifies and locates the data that will be used to answer their questions. This phase also involves collecting and storing the data. ## Process The Process phase is where data is cleaned and organized. During this phase, an analyst refines the data, finds and eliminates inaccuracies, transforms the data into a more useful format, and combines datasets to make information more complete. ## Analyze This phase is where an analyst uses tools to transform and organize data into actionable information. Analysis is done to uncover answers and solutions. ## Share Here is where an analyst's findings are presented to stakeholders through a report, presentation, or data visualizations. ## Act The Act phase is where a business takes the insights presented by an analyst and puts them to work to solve problems. --- > [!createdat] Created at: [[2024-11-21]]