A retail business closes its books and reports R7.1 million in revenue. The data has never been cleaned. The real number is R4.1 million. We analysed 1,050 transactions and found four categories of data quality issues responsible for a R2,985,788 overstatement — and show exactly how to fix them.

Struggling to make sense of your data or finish your dissertation? You’re not alone. Many postgraduate students hit a wall during the analysis stage, often for fixable reasons. This post unpacks the five most common causes behind stalled research and delayed submissions, and how to overcome them with clarity and confidence.