As an analytics professional, have you ever found yourself wondering where your work ends and another department’s begins? You’re not alone. The lines can get blurry, and it’s essential to know where to draw them.
I’ve seen it happen: an analytics team gets tasked with a project, only to realize it’s more suited to the marketing or product department. Or, they start working on a problem that’s actually a data engineering issue. It’s frustrating, and it can lead to wasted time, resources, and energy.
The Problem of Scope Creep
Analytics is all about providing insights to drive business decisions. But sometimes, we get pulled into tasks that are outside our scope. We might be asked to create marketing materials, develop product features, or even manage databases. While these tasks are important, they’re not what analytics is meant to do.
Where Do You Draw the Line?
So, where do you draw the line between analytics work and the work of other departments? Here are a few signs that you might be stepping outside your scope:
- You’re being asked to create content: If someone asks you to write a blog post or design an ad, that’s likely a marketing task.
- You’re building or managing a database: That’s a job for data engineering.
- You’re making product decisions: That’s a product management task.
The Importance of Communication
The key to avoiding scope creep is communication. Make sure you understand the project requirements and boundaries before you start working. If you’re unsure, ask questions.
Collaboration, Not Overlap
Analytics, marketing, product, and data engineering all need to work together seamlessly. But that doesn’t mean we should be doing each other’s jobs. By knowing where our roles end and others begin, we can focus on what we do best and drive real business value.
Your Turn
Where do you draw the line between analytics work and other departments? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
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*Further reading: What is Analytics?*