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Insight Report - Data

Data-Driven Decision Making: Closing the Gap Between Insight and Action

Jennifer C. By Jennifer C.|2nd April 2026

Data-driven decision making is entering a critical phase, where success depends not on access to insight, but on whether it’s actually used.

Despite major investment in data and analytics, many organisations still struggle to translate information into action.

Drawn from the GDS Data & Analytics Insight Summit, this report distils the most important conversations among senior data leaders—exploring how organisations are rethinking trust, ownership, and delivery to close that gap.

In this report:

  • Why technically correct data still fails to influence decisions
  • How trust—not architecture—is becoming the defining constraint
  • The shift from dashboards to embedded, real-time decision support
  • Why fragmented data and poor context are limiting AI performance
  • How leading organisations are redesigning ownership, governance, and delivery models

Closing the gap between insight and action requires more than better data.

It depends on how organisations build trust, embed data into workflows, and align ownership with outcomes.

This report explores how leading data and analytics leaders are advancing data-driven decision making to close the gap between insight and action.

GDS brings together senior executives from the world’s leading organisations to share insight, challenge thinking, and shape the future of their industries.

This report captures those conversations, so you don’t miss them.

Be part of the GDS Community, register your interest in out upcoming events!

Jennifer C. By Jennifer C.|2nd April 2026
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