This document provides advice for starting a Big Data project. It recommends defining a clear business goal for the project first before collecting data. Consider different types and sources of data beyond just internal company data. Get management buy-in to ensure results are acknowledged and acted on. Address privacy and security issues early on. Start with a small, well-scoped project rather than trying to do too much initially. The key is reaching your business goal, not the size of the data or tools used.

1. So, you want to do a Big Data project…
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2. …OK, we’re here to help!
But before you do anything else,
ask yourself: why?
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3. A. Everybody else is doing Big Data!
B. You want to be a pioneer in your field and maybe get publicity
through your project
C. You have defined a business goal that can be furthered through
Big Data
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4. When your goal is sorted, you can go for the data bit:
Remember to consider different types and
sources of data.
Data is much more than numbers
(it can, for example, be text, voice or video).
It’s also more than your company-internal data.
The right source for your needs might be public (e.g. web content),
commercial (e.g. survey responses), or open (e.g. demographic data)
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5. Some ideas to get you started on data:
Your goal:
Increase sales
Improve customer experience
Enhance production
Create new products
Examples of useful data sources:
Social media /
user generated content
Records of customer
behaviour
Production logs, sensors
Market stats & forecasts
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6. Don’t be shy, talk to people about your project,
and most importantly:
Get management buy-in.
You need executive advocates for your project in order for your results to
be acknowledged, distributed and acted upon within the organization.
Also, data and analytics isn’t the only way of working towards your goal
so be sure to collaborate with other insight-generating projects for
maximal results.
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7. Some things are better done sooner rather than later:
Consider privacy issues before you start.
If you’re working with consumer transactions or other sensitive data,
don’t spook out your customers by your insights, and make sure your
internal data doesn’t leak to outsiders.
In some cases you might want to consider a ”mydata” approach –
letting customers freely access and use their own data.
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8. And finally, for a bit of counter-intuitive advice:
Start small.
You don’t want your first project to get out of hand.
Remember, what matters is not the size of the data and the numbercrunching power of the tools you use.
What matters is reaching your business goal.
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9. Recap: Five pieces of advice
for a successful first Big Data project
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Start with a clearly defined business goal
Remember the many types and sources of data
Obtain management buy-in
Plan for privacy & security issues
Start small
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10. Questions? Comments? Need more advice?
Contact Camilla Magnusson: camilla@instanssi.fi
Twitter: @InstanssiFi
www.instanssi.fi
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