Data Diagnostics

The majority of statistical tests and analytics are performed under a variety of assumptions about the descriptive distribution of data, the influences that determine the values of the data, and the manner in which the data are collected. Assumptions play an important role not only in analytics, but in daily life; a person generally makes the assumption that what he sees is representative of reality, or that orders given are being properly followed, or even that six nuclear warheads could not be accounted for one moment and then simply disappear in the next. These assumptions are based on patterns necessary for even simple functioning—if we did not assume that the ground beneath us would not fall away as we walked, then each person would be paralyzed with uncertainty. During planning, it is assumed that any orders given will be executed correctly and in a timely manner, otherwise the desired goals will not be accomplished, and the unreliability of any particular element within the organization makes management of that organization nearly impossible. When commanding a unit to protect the nuclear warheads at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, if command does not assume that this will be performed properly, then they cannot build upon that action or take advantage of the goals they intended to accomplish.