The mean, commonly referred to as the average, is a measure of central tendency calculated by summing all values in a dataset and dividing by the total number of values. It provides an overall representation or typical value within a set of data, offering insights into general trends or behavior.
In analytics and business contexts, the mean helps identify performance trends, predict future outcomes, and inform strategic decisions. By understanding average values, organizations can benchmark performance, monitor changes over time, and detect patterns or deviations effectively.