The Three Levels of Decision Superhero Analytics

Every Decision Superhero knows that analytics is more than reports and dashboards. It’s about transforming raw data into insight, foresight, and ultimately—better decisions. We break it down into three levels:

🟦 Descriptive Analytics – The Origin Story

Understand what has happened and why it matters. Descriptive analytics provides the foundation—turning hindsight into awareness.

Key Tools & Questions

• Dashboards & reports – What happened? How do we compare to plan? What’s happening right now?

• Ad-hoc queries – How many? How often? Where?

• Drill-downs – What exactly is the issue?

🟨 Predictive Analytics – Seeing the Future

This is where you put on the cape. Predictive analytics uncovers patterns and projects future outcomes, helping you act before risks materialize or opportunities vanish.

Key Tools & Questions

• Data mining – Which factors move together?

• Pattern recognition & alerts – When should I act to correct or adjust?

• Monte Carlo simulation – What might happen under uncertainty?

• Forecasting – If trends continue, what’s next?

• Root cause analysis – Why did this happen?

• Predictive models – What will likely happen if we take this path?

🟥 Prescriptive Analytics – The Decision Superpower

The highest level of analytics doesn’t just predict the future—it empowers you to shape it. Prescriptive analytics helps you weigh trade-offs, optimize resources, and make decisions with confidence, even under uncertainty.

Key Tools & Questions

• Optimization – What’s the best path forward?

• Stochastic optimization – How do we make the best call when uncertainty is part of the game?

⚡ The Decision Superhero Advantage

Most organizations stop at descriptive insights. True Decision Superheroes push beyond reporting, harnessing predictive and prescriptive methods to turn analysis into action.

👉 Ask yourself:

• Are our analytics stuck in reporting mode?

• Do we simulate uncertainty, forecast risk, and optimize trade-offs?

• Are our teams trained and disciplined enough to use advanced methods when the stakes are high?

The questions above aren’t just analytical—they’re strategic. They separate firms that react from those that lead.

Source:

• Torkia, Eric and Klimack, William K., Decision Superhero, Technics Publishing, 2024

• Lustig, I, Dietrich, B, Johnson, C, and Dziekan, C (2010, November-December), The Analytics Journey,Analytics Magazine, 11-18.