Data Management
First Look: FICO Decision Optimizer
Decision management tool / shutterstock
Decision Optimizer is one of FICO’s Decision Management Tools and is designed to address some specific challenges in customer decisioning, particularly that there are often competing objectives and very large numbers of customers (and thus customer decisions) involved.[read more]
Finding the Right Sponsor for Your Big Data Project
What's your Big Data strategy? / shutterstock
Earlier we discussed that big data should be a Strategy matter instead of an IT matter. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the reasoning behind this and find out who within the organization should be the sponsor for a big data strategy. It would be wise to have one high up in the organization.[read more]
The Misunderstanding of Master Data Management
Frequently, folks confuse the function and purpose of Master Data Management with Data Warehousing. I suspect the core of the problem is that when folks hear about the idea of “reference data” or a “golden record”, they have this mental picture of a single platform containing all of the data.[read more]
SAPPHIRE NOW: The Human Face of Big Data
SAPPHIRE NOW in Orlando was packed with examples of how Big Data affects all our lives. SAP Executive Steve Lucas was the host of an Intel-sponsored Big Data special interest group meeting at the conference; Rick Smolen, a former Time Life journalist, also spoke at the event.[read more]
Seven Steps to Rejuvenate Your Marketing Database
database / shutterstock
Your messaging needs to engage. You need to make sure that you are communicating with relevance. Your marketing database is what will help you create this relevance. Here are seven key considerations to rejuvenate your marketing database.[read more]
5 Kinds of Business Analysis Techniques Every Executive Should Know
If you’re a business user thinking about analytics, the options can be dizzying. Where do you begin? Here is a list of 5 business analysis techniques to get you started.[read more]
Could Business Computing Be Done by Users Without Technical Experience?
spreadsheet / shutterstock
Most business users have no IT experience. They can only rely on the business spreadsheet software to complete such computing. However, the traditional business spreadsheet software is weak in calculation, which will bring about errors in the calculation process.[read more]
Statistics vs. Data Science vs. BI
As someone who trained as a statistician, I've always struggled with that title. I love the rigor and insight that Statistics brings to data analysis, but let's face it: Statistics — the name — has always had a bit of a branding problem. That's why I'm a fan of the term "data scientist."[read more]
Tactical Analytics: Wandering Off the Path One Inch at a Time
From social media sentiment analysis to dynamic product pricing, we’re adopting more and more super-fast micro-decision systems to do what’s good “right now, right there” without much consideration for the cumulative effect over a longer period and a broader scope.[read more]
What's the Difference between Desktop BI and Solution BI?
All modern Information Technologies which are capable of improving the enterprise competitiveness fall in the scope of BI, such as ERP, CRM, Reporting tools, Data Computing, Statistical Analysis, Data Mining, OLAP, and ETL, etc. They can be divided into two categories: Desktop BI and Solution BI.[read more]
In Big Data Endeavors, Don't Neglect Softer Business Skills
business skillset / shutterstock
Employees with technical skills are critical to enable an analytics program, but the ability to communicate, relate and navigate throughout an organization—so called “softer skills”—are especially needed to propagate analysis and communicate the impact of data-driven decision-making.[read more]
The Road to Self-Service BI
People have been writing about the limitations of self-service BI for years. What does the failure of self-service BI mean for Big Data? Big problems. Unless self-service and pervasive BI become the norm, enterprises will never productively tap the business ROI from Big Data.[read more]
Welcome to the Cloud Neighborhood
At its most basic, cloud computing is about the ability to enhance enterprise value through more efficient use of IT resources. One of the more innovative ways to boost capacity and add capabilities in a cloud environment is by the virtualization of services and infrastructure.[read more]
Seek and Destroy: U.S. Energy Firms Warned of Recent IT Threats
IT threats / shutterstock
The U.S. government released a warning about the increasing risk of cyber attacks targeting critical energy corporations. While the majority of previous attacks have involved stealing trade secrets, the newest threats appear to be motivated by the intention to shut down industrial machinery and energy delivery.[read more]
Mobile and Decision Management [VIDEO]
While at IBM IMPACT this year I was interviewed about Decision Management, Mobile and more. Check out this video to see the interview.[read more]
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“Data variety is indeed both a challenge and an opportunity. I work for Gnip and we provide social data from a variety of sources and are constantly talking about what we call The Social Cocktail. We normalize the streams to help businesses overcome some of the challenges presented in this articles The Curse and Challenge of Data Variety section. Our customers are using multiple data sources ...”
“Interesting post... I've been an admirer of Rick's for years and had no idea that this is what he is interested in right now. Good for SAP for having him at SAPPHIRE.”