We are surrounded by data. It's everywhere and some businesses are drowning in it. The rapid growth has lead to the new buzzword of 'big data', but depending on whom you ask, it's either just plain old data or something new to contend with.
The reality is that it's an evolution. As businesses look for the next market advantage, they are digging into the data they already have – what Gartner calls 'dark data' – or looking for new sources through increased logging of web and customer activity and social media.
The one thing that is certain is that while technology and methods are evolving, the one thing that isn't keeping up is our people. There aren't enough well-trained people that understand the issues. In the next few years, only 25% of that demand for qualified staff is going to be met.
When you read through our two features on big data, think about whether your people are going to be ready and what risk that might bring to your business. If you're at the start of your big data journey, make sure you've booked a ticket for your people or you might not reach your destination.
First published in Technology Decisions, Dec 2012/Jan 2013: From the editor (Dec 2012/Jan 2013).