On 15 May 2025, we welcomed Prof. Dr. Aleksi Aaltonen to IWI for an engaging research presentation. He discussed why data should not be treated as given facts. The Professor of Information Systems at Stevens Institute of Technology emphasised that every piece of data relies on human decisions: which events are recorded, which questions are posed, and which options are provided. Thus, the focus shifts from the dataset itself to the data-producing arrangement: the ensemble of question logic, measurement infrastructure, and system integration that enables data in the first place.

Aaltonen clarified that these arrangements are shaped by three aspects. First, "grammatical rules" determine whether a form allows selecting only one nationality or multiple selections. Second, historical developments show how outdated norms persist in today’s data fields and can be disrupted by thoughtful redesign. Third, data flows between systems determine whether newly created information becomes genuinely usable or remains siloed.

Using a vignette on capturing gender identities, Aaltonen illustrated how adding an extra field enhances visibility for non-binary individuals, but simultaneously compels HR, CRM, and analytics systems to adjust. Aaltonen refers to such interventions as data innovation: creating novel data strengthens an organisation’s capacity for further data-based innovation and enables targeted environmental interventions.

His conclusion: those who design data wield influence. Poorly designed data perpetuate biases and waste opportunities; well-designed data open new business models—from repurposing existing medications to more accurate recommendation systems. Open questions remain on how classification systems could be audited in the future and how issues of data justice can be systematically examined—topics that Aaltonen continues to advance through his freely accessible Data Studies Bibliography.