Memo_er: Bett_er Self-Serve Data Analysis

Memo_er is a bett_er tool for self-serve data analysis. It is open source and available on Github.

It generates memos from a set of premises provided by a user. It does not run SQL queries like dashboarding systems commonly used for self-serve analysis. It runs Python code. Using a real programming language allows for flexible analyses that can take a wide variety of inputs.

It generates memos, not graphs, for a more literate approach to self-serve data analysis. Memos can provided automated explanations for findings and assumptions.

After memo generation, the memo can be manually edited on site, exported to a .docx file, or shared publically on-site with the rest of the organization.

Memo_er has three principles:

• Tables Not Graphs.

  Graphs persuade, Tables inform. Self-serve data analysis should inform.

• Memos Not Dashboards.

  Dashboards show, Memos explain. Self-serve data analysis should come with explanations.

• Analyses Not Queries.

  Queries retrieve data, Analyses analyze data. Self-serve data analysis should be about analysis.