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Data literacy is the ability to understand, use, and communicate data effectively, including the skill to analyze and interpret data, make data-driven decisions, and reporting results clearly to your project stakeholders. The discussion delves into this crucial skill for project managers required in today's data-driven world.

Marcus Glowasz is a professional coach and expert in the fields of data literacy and data-driven leadership. We discuss the importance of data literacy for project managers and provide insights into how project managers can improve their data literacy skills. We also look at the role of data literacy in making informed decisions and how it can help project managers make better decisions that drive success in their projects.

Whether you are a seasoned project manager or just starting out, this episode will give you new insights into the importance of data literacy in our industry.

This episode was recorded as a live stream on Facebook and YouTube, and we got some excellent questions from the audience.

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Episode Transcript

Below are the first few pages of the transcript. The complete transcript is available to Premium subscribers only.

Video Introduction

Cornelius Fichtner: In this episode, we look at data literacy, which is the key to successful project management in the age of artificial intelligence.

Hello, and welcome back to The Project Management Podcast™ at www.pm-podcast.com. This is the live stream for Episode 485 and I’m Cornelius Fichtner. Thank you so much for joining me.

And, since this is a live stream, I also wanted to mention that for those of you who are accessing this episode recorded and not live, please remember, this is a video episode. So, if you are only getting audio then please do look for the Play Video episode link in your podcast app or simply visit www.pm-podcast.com/485 where you will be able to play the video.

Video Presentation

Cornelius Fichtner: So, in this episode, we delve into the topic of data literacy, a crucial skill for project managements to have in today's data-driven world. Data literacy, that is the ability to understand, use, and communicate data effectively. And that includes the skill to analyze and interpret the data, make data driven decisions. And most importantly, for us, project managers, reporting results clearly to your project stakeholders.

We want to discuss the importance of data literacy for project managers and give you some insights into how we all can improve our data literacy skills. We'll also look at the role of data literacy in making informed decisions and how it can help to make better decisions that drive success in your projects. And when I say we, that means my guest and I.

Joining us today, our guest is Marcus Golowsz. He is a professional coach and expert in the field of data literacy and data-driven leadership. And he wrote the book “Leading Projects with Data” that you can see here on the right. Let's bring Marcus in. Hello, Marcus! [Herzlich willkommen!]

Marcus Glowasz: Hi, Cornelius! Thank you for having me here. Really glad to be on your show.

Cornelius Fichtner: Wonderful. Marcus is joining us from Switzerland today. He's originally from Germany. That's why I started out here in German for a moment here. Right!

Marcus, before we begin the actual interview here, really the questions here, tell me what can our listeners expect to take away from our conversation today?

Marcus Glowasz: Right. So, I mean, if we look at the title, Data Literacy, I think data is everywhere right now. And, AI is at the title that's always very attractive. And when we think about AI or, yeah, artificial intelligence in general, then the first thing that comes to mind is ChatGPT at the moment, right? As it's very trendy, very sexy topic right now. And I believe we have all been exposed already to AI in some form or the other, like Netflix, Google. I mean, we do that or we confront AI, basically, every single day. But I believe we haven't really notice it that consciously.

But people need kind of an awareness that, you know, AI, especially when it comes to project management, it's not as easy as just like connecting an engine like, you know, ChatGPT or just open it like a chat and ask a question and then, poof, everything comes out, right? So before actually thinking of AI, we need to think about what it actually requires to work, and that is data. And that's where data literacy comes in, right? I mean, you can buy a car and if you don't have fuel or gasoline or electricity, right, then it will just sit in the garage.

And, I just got reminded on this. My son is 12 years old. He right now is in the age where he constantly tells me, you know, when I'm old, I'm going to buy this car and this and that car, right? And he argues with me about the car, which one's better, right, or not. And he obviously doesn't have a driver's license yet. So, data literacy in the data world and AI world is kind of the driver's license that you need first. So, before you even step into all these topics, then make sure that you actually get a proper understanding and know what data is all about. And that is data literacy. I believe this is what people can take away from this conversation today. Yeah, to get a better understanding what it actually requires to step into that space.

Cornelius Fichtner: Alright! Thank you very much! Since we are live, let me remind everybody, if you are joining us on Facebook or YouTube, then please, if you have a question, do use the chat. Just type it into the chat over there. And if it is a topical question, I will definitely bring it up.

So, no wait. Wrong, wrong button pushing here. There we go. So, first question, let's start with the basics. You almost answered this question perfectly already. Marcus, what is data literacy and why is it important for project managers in the age of artificial intelligence here?

Marcus Glowasz: Yeah, data literacy. I mean, if you look it up, I mean, you just could put it into ChatGPT if you want, or Google it. Just, I mean, you wouldn’t find definitions like it's an ability to read, write, and comprehend data, and communicate with data, basically to engage with information and data in the end, right?

And when you think then about project management, it's all about data, project schedules. Now, we have risk registers. We have stakeholder maps. I mean, you name it, right? We have a whole lot of artifacts that we are producing every single day in projects.

But you have to be aware that data is not only digitalized data. It's also speaking, right? Right now, when I'm speaking with you, I'm actually transmitting data, right? Or the visualization. I see things, right? I perceive things and I make judgements about whatever comes my way or what I see around me, et cetera, right?

Above are the first few pages of the transcript. The complete transcript is available to Premium subscribers only. Please subscribe to our Premium Podcast to receive a PDF transcript.