Data Over Gut Feeling: Interview with an MCI Expert

Date 2026-03-27

Intuition meets analysis: Barbara Lill-Rastern on the role of data in modern leadership and HR management

How can data-driven analysis improve leadership decisions? This question is the focus of a recent interview with Barbara Lill-Rastern, a professor in the department of Social Work and an expert on leadership, in the business magazine top.tirol.

Together with international expert Andrea Derler, she discusses the growing importance of “people analytics” – that is, the use of data for informed decision-making in human resources management. It becomes clear that intuition remains important, but is increasingly being supplemented by data-driven insights.

Barbara Lill-Rastern emphasizes that data serves to support professional decisions and can help better understand complex relationships within organizations. At the same time, responsibility always remains with people.

The topic of leadership is central to social management and is covered in both the bachelor’s program in Social Work and the master’s program in Social Work, Social Policy & Management at MCI.

Top.tirol is a platform for the Tyrolean business community. In addition to its online presence, the business magazine is published four times a year as a supplement to the Tiroler Tageszeitung. Associated with this is the top.tirol Club, which invites its members to monthly gatherings featuring lectures and networking.

<p>Barbara Lill-Rastern, professor at the MCI Department of Social Work ©MCI</p>

Barbara Lill-Rastern, professor at the MCI Department of Social Work ©MCI

<p>Barbara Lill-Rastern, professor at the MCI Department of Social Work ©MCI</p>
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