Who could have predicted that Big Data would be cast in a starring role in a documentary by an acclaimed Hollywood director? But that’s exactly what’s happened. Sandy Smolan saw the impact that Big Data is making on the world and made an award-winning movie about it – The Human Face of Big Data.
Words like inspiring, optimistic, life-enhancing spring to mind – words that describe both the documentary and the Big Data opportunities that are ours to take and change the way we do things.
It’s these unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize our world and dramatically change the way we live that motivate me to get the most value we can from Big Data. To do this, I believe businesses need to jump on board, overcome barriers and start using data in new ways. To make the Big Data story happen for them, companies need a strong supporting cast and crew.
Enter the data scientist
These rare and clever people can take data and align it with your company’s business imperative. Find one fast – preferably with skills within your industry.
Create the perfect set. Many companies have very complex IT environments. You should simplify yours so that you can use Big Data in your daily operations.
Forget typecast silos. IT and business functions should break out of them and start talking to each other. Big Data isn’t just an IT challenge, it’s a huge business opportunity and everyone needs to come together to harness that opportunity.
Creative thinking is a must-have
We must all think out of the box too. Andy Bitterer from BARC (Business Application Research Centre) calls for companies to be more creative – both the people at the top and at the operational level. He believes it’s only by being creative – and by also looking at the data that exists outside of their organization – that businesses come up with the new business models such as Facebook and Netflix. It’s models like these that create the disruption that succeeds in marketplaces. He advises companies not to ask what others are doing and follow, but to find their own ways of being different. They don’t have to follow a script.
Andy thinks it’s the companies that ask ‘what can we do with all this information we’ve never had before?’ that are being successful. They’re the ones that are collaborating and taking Big Data and creating their business around it. They gain business value from Big Data insights.
When it comes to Big Data, companies should be asking whether they want to be a major player or settle for a small bit part. All set for the audition?
To find out more about how your business can succeed in a Big Data world, watch the Run Simple Show – Gaining Business Value from Big Data Insights at http://virtualrunsimpletour.com/runsimpleseries
