# Why Data Quality Matters More Than Mathematical Complexity in Optimization Models

DevFeed: [Why Data Quality Matters More Than Mathematical Complexity in Optimization Models](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/math-versus-dirty-data-40429.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.jeremykun.com/2019/06/08/math-versus-data/>)

Published: 2019-06-08T08:00:06Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Jeremy Kun](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/jeremy-kun.md>)

Topics: [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>), [Optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/optimization.md>), [datacenter](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/datacenter.md>), [Google](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/google.md>), [math](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/math.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>)

Tags: [data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data.md>), [datacenter](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/datacenter.md>), [debugging](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debugging.md>), [google](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/google.md>), [operations-research](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/operations-research.md>), [optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/optimization.md>), [transparency](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/transparency.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that obtaining reliable, maintained data is often harder and more consequential than solving the mathematical optimization problem itself. Incomplete or poor-quality data can create technical debt, edge cases, debugging work, and systems that are difficult to explain or audit.

## Source excerpt

At Google, our organization designs, owns, and maintains a number of optimization models that automate the planning of Google's datacenter growth and health. As is pretty standard in supply chain optimization and planning, these models are often integer linear programs. It's a core competency of operations research, after all. One might think, "Large optimization problems? That sounds hard!" But it's actually far from the hardest part of the job. In fact, it's one of the few exciting parts of the job.