Warm Data for Capturing Context

James recently shared an in-person event with me, featuring Nora Bateson, and introduced me to her concept of Warm Data. I'm a believer in the success of data-driven processes. However, I also feel that a strong focus on data can sometimes miss the bigger picture. Many people seem to intuitively sense this, often greeting data presentations with skepticism, as these may only offer a partial view of the whole story.

The term Warm Data could be a helpful way to address this imbalance. I found the explanation on Nora Bateson's Warm Data page a bit complex. Yet, after watching her short explainer video, I'm confident that it's a useful term for capturing those elusive elements often overlooked.

[Warm Data] doesn't just present the hard, cold facts. It provides context, and sometimes, it offers multiple perspectives.

Consider Amazon, a company that thrives on data-driven efficiency. It's incredibly successful at providing a seamless shopping experience and has built a massive business. However, I know many people who hold mixed feelings towards Amazon. Some are skeptical, some openly critical. Is it due to their treatment of workers? The ease of overconsumption? Environmental concerns? Or their strong-arm tactics with suppliers? It's hard to pinpoint, but it seems like there could be aspects of Warm Data that Amazon isn't optimizing for, aspects that people are intuitively noticing.

This isn't something I can immediately implement, but it's a concept I intend to explore further. One idea is to bring this into my next data-driven team meeting. At the end, I could ask, "Are there any particularly important Warm Data points worth considering here?" This question might help uncover valuable insights that go beyond the obvious numbers and charts.