Many business leaders are finding themselves caught in a paradox: the very tools designed to guide decisions are creating new challenges. Over-reliance on static dashboards, coupled with limited time for in-depth analysis, is leaving leaders unsure whether their insights are leading to sound choices or costly missteps.
This dilemma is at the heart of Data, Decisions, and Doubt: A 2025 Leadership Perspective, a new report from TheyDo. Based on a survey of 500 senior decision-makers across the US, UK, and the Netherlands, the findings reveal that 77% of executives rarely question the data they depend on, even as 67% worry this dependency risks missing critical opportunities.
The report points to a growing trend of “dashboard dependency,” where fragmented insights and data overload hinder effective decision-making. Nearly half of leaders admit to feeling overwhelmed by the information they encounter daily, and collaboration issues further compound the problem, with 41% rarely involving other departments in their analyses.
“After years of calls for businesses to become more data-driven, the verdict today is clear – execs have become over-reliant on dashboards and are lacking actionable intelligence. Data overwhelm and static fragmented insights risk critical decisions being made on false pretences and executives missing key opportunities,” said Jochem van der Veer, Founder and CEO of TheyDo.
AI, hailed as a transformative tool, offers both hope and hesitation. While 28% of organisations have integrated AI, leaders remain cautious about its potential to exacerbate existing issues like data overwhelm and misplaced trust in insights.
“AI integration presents a critical junction for businesses. It can potentially address some of these concerns, but executives rightly worry it may exacerbate their workflow issues. Only by contextualising data and applying AI strategically alongside journey management can leaders regain clarity and confidence,” adds van der Veer.