The document discusses the coming "big data tsunami" and how organizations need to prepare. It notes that enterprises are drowning in data but lack confidence in decisions based on their data. It recommends three steps to prepare: 1) assess existing data quality, 2) implement incremental corrections, and 3) lead the organization to be prepared to benefit from big data. Key sectors that will be impacted include retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and education. The document encourages organizations not to drown but to prepare to ride and benefit from the big data wave.

1. THE COMING
BIG DATA
T S U N A M I
SWIM OR SURF!

2. John Randall Dennis
Chief Strategy Officer
www.randasolutions.com
www.linkedin.com/in/johnrandalldennis
@tech2learn

3. Big Data and
High-Stakes Decisions
1 Enterprises are drowning in a deluge of data.
2 C-suite decision makers struggle to quantify their data quality.
3 They lack confidence in high-stakes decisions based on their own data.
4 C-level execs are anxious about ferocious data growth.
5 Many oblivious to the coming “tsunami”.

4. Forces Driving the Big Data Tsunami
Mobile Web Use Growth Context-Aware Computing
•Gartner Research: By 2013 more web access via •Context-aware is now positioned where search
mobile than from computers. engines were in the 90’s.
•Forrester: 2012 the year of “mobile ascendency” •Marketers and consumers benefit first, but potential
mobile surpassing PC and mainframe markets. of context-aware computing is far reaching.
•IDC: Worldwide IT spending will grow 6.9% in •Extended implications for process improvement,
2012, driven by mobile devices and networks, immediate expertise sharing, and knowledge
social media, and Big Data analytics. workers.

5. Big Data Offers Big Benefits
1 Makes information transparent and usable at much higher frequency
2 Creation and storage of transactional data in digital form acquires more accurate and detailed
performance information - exposing variability and boosting performance.
3 Clearer, narrower customer segmentation - providing customized products or services.
4 Sophisticated analytics to improve high-stakes decision-making.
5 Big data can be used to improve the development of the next generation of products.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute “Big data: The next frontier…”

6. Sectors Most Impacted
All types of enterprises will eventually be influenced by the surging wave of data.
Those reliant on mobile devices for the customer experience, as well as sectors
demanding more data driven decision-making, will be impacted most:
• Retail specialty stores: increasing sales and operating margin
•Healthcare: improving efficiency/cost controls, quality of care with evidence-based
medicine processes, moving toward life quality healthcare
• Manufacturing: improved efficiencies and better product roadmapping
• Education: aligning data to provide reliable intelligence for high-stakes decisions
• Personal location services
• Finance and insurance

7. Don’t drown or swim.
Prepare to ride!
There are three clearly attainable steps to prepare to harness the power of the tsunami.
These steps are simple, but not easy.
They’re not free. But they are all essential.
1 Assess the quality of your existing data.
2 Implement incremental corrections.
3 Lead your organization into a position prepared to surf.

8. 1 Assess
Gartner’s Data Quality Maturity Model is still relevant.
Yet most organizations’ relevant data is scattered over a number of
departments, vendors and third parties. Each silo is probably at a
different level of maturity and exhibit different levels of inaccuracy.
Don’t be afraid to map and assess each silo, each process and
identify each information asset’s accuracy.
Don’t be ashamed to face the findings.
Only a few organizations have mature data
quality initiatives.
Resources:
“Gartner’s Data Quality Maturity Model” Andreas Bitterer
Gartner Research
“Diagnosing an Effective Data Quality Initiative” Daniel Teachey
www.information-management.com

9. 2 Implement Incremental Change
Map a matrix of your silos with the revenue/cost savings each
could provide if improved.
Budget the cost of improving the data quality of each.
Sort the list with the most expensive data improvement at the top.
Then start at the bottom: the cheapest improvement that will have
the largest impact. Improve the data quality.
Celebrate the improvements with your team. Apply the increased
revenue or cost savings toward improving the next.

10. 3 Lead
You can lead your organization into a position to surf the tsunami.
Inspire. Focus on the thrill of surfing! When people in your organization
realize your point in identifying weaknesses in processes and
inaccuracies in data isn’t to shame, but to enjoy the thrill of surfing,
they’ll want to be a part of it.
Persevere. The larger your organization and the more pulverized your
data, the slower this process will be. This will take time and discipline.
Celebrate. Monitor and celebrate progress.
What’s a major victory? When any silo attains Level 4 or Level 5, put it
on a pedestal. Give props, salute, and publicly applaud the people who
help you get there every stage of the way.
You can do this!

11. Action Items
1 Gartner’s Data Model Maturity Model: If you’ve got it, dust it off and read it
again. If not, you can order it at gartner.com
2 Team with people in your organization who recognize the tsunami is coming.
Build a consensus that now is the time to plan, prepare, act! (You shouldn’t try
this alone.)
3 Review the state of every data silo in your organization – the additional
revenue each could bring in if optimized, the expenses each would save if
improved, the cost of optimizing/improving each.
4 Identify easiest victories. Crush them. It will inspire your team, and probably
provide you clear RIO justification for investing in the next battles.
5 Build a recurring schedule of meetings to keep moving the ball downfield.
Onward!

12. John Randall Dennis
RANDA Solutions | Chief Strategy Officer
www.randasolutions.com
www.linkedin.com/in/johnrandalldennis
@tech2learn