6 ways to improve data quality in your organization

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. — Albert Einstein

Whether collected through surveys, assessments or routine monitoring and evaluation, high-quality data is important to the well-being of any development organization. Inaccurate data leads to false reports, poor decisions and, potentially, loss of time and money. On the other hand, good quality data promotes better decisions, optimal interventions, and maximum impact. When planning for a malaria prevention campaign, for example, a firm understanding of the disease burden, community attitudes, and socioeconomic characteristics is vital.

Data is considered to be of high quality when it is precise, reliable, complete and timely. Below are 6 steps that we recommend to help you improve the quality of data in your organization:

1. Determine the Metrics to Track

Different organizations need to track different aspects of their work. The critical indicators for the organization should inform the kind of data the organization collects. Therefore, the first step is for an organization to define the metrics they would like to track. For instance, an organization dispensing polio vaccine to children might track the number of children vaccinated in different locations. They might also…