Comic Book Lessons in Analytics — Batman
Everything’s impossible until somebody does it
In comics, there are two characters who have earned the title of “World’s Greatest Detective”. Batman is easily the first.
Sadly, no one gives the Elongated Man the credit he deserves (or really knows who he is). We’ll talk about him later.
This article is not about Batman’s parents, money, resources, gadgets, cave, or even his allies. It’s about his thought process.
This is one instance that illustrates what makes him the best analyst on Earth. And I’ll show you in a single comic panel.
In Batman RIP, Batman is buried alive. He has been betrayed, drugged, beaten, sleep-deprived, and poisoned.
Assessment
First, Batman assesses the situation and considers some background data.
He immediately dismisses the differences between the male and female body as irrelevant data. The references to bones, organs, and blood vessels illustrate expertise in both causing injury and preventing it.
All of this is presented as background, hardly noteworthy until you realize that he is rapidly filtering information until he determines which data is immediately relevant.
Also, never underestimate the value of a subject matter expert.
Focus
“All it takes is time. Days. Months. Years memorizing the finite number of ways there are to hurt and break a man. Preparing for all of them”
Did you catch the keyword?
“…the finite number of ways…”
This is scope definition in its purest form.
Most people would consider such a number to be infinite. Batman knows otherwise. This is not a statement that he will ever master every possible method, but it is a declaration that such mastery is possible.
There is no justification to carve out a difficult piece of a project and give it up as impossible. This is especially true in analytics, where we are dealing with numbers that should, by their very nature, be completely identifiable.
How many projects are short-changed or abandoned because they seem insurmountable or simply defy definition?
Preparation
The handcuffs and straight jacket are almost afterthoughts here. Not because they’re simplistic, but because Batman practices even the most basic skills constantly.
Even the most complex issues are often combinations of more familiar tasks. Never ignore the basics.
Remind yourself that each task can be defined, quantified, and accomplished. It might be difficult…
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