I FINALLY figured out why the data team gets overloaded with ad-hoc requests from just about everyone: Let's start with a few simple logical claims. Managers need to feel competent about the domain they're in charge of. In order for them to feel competent, they need to be able to answer any questions anyone asks them about their domain. That kind of understanding only comes from having a good theory of how things work and why. A good theory allows you to explain cause and effect relationships, make accurate predictions or offer prescriptions. In physics, one of the ways we develop theories is through data analysis and synthesis, which is exactly what businesses are trying to do. However the tools and methodologies available to data teams are too focused on fragmenting reality into smaller and smaller pieces. Whether it’s a dashboard, a report or even a notebook. This fragmentation leaves gaps in the managers’ mental models of their domain. They never feel like they have a solid grasp of it. They know that if they’re asked a question they don’t know the answer to they’ll be embarrassed and seem incompetent. Nobody wants to seem incompetent and so the questions never stop.