Opinion

Opinion

• Governance, compliance, ethics in data mining: Separate but equal

  In the ethical mining and analysis of data, governance, compliance and ethics are mistakenly taken as one in the same. Data managers need to be aware of the critical differences.  Continue Reading

• What-if business planning simulation at its predictive best

  Simulating timely and accurate business scenarios can be an essential competitive weapon for predicting the performance, pitfalls and benefits of strategic initiatives.  Continue Reading

• Augmented analytics reveals the hidden side of things

  The rise of augmented analytics empowers businesses to find correlations in data that might very well be the critical difference in operational efficiency and cost savings.  Continue Reading

• HR metrics and analytics make workforces more valuable

  Employing metrics and analytics to improve logistics, operations and forecasting is a good first step, but not enough. Your workforce is the most important resource to optimize.  Continue Reading

• Business intelligence and artificial intelligence are a natural fit

  Despite the current notion that business intelligence and artificial intelligence are separate disciplines, AI-powered BI is an idea that should get more attention.  Continue Reading

• IBM's Watson Analytics makes strides but gives off bad vibes

  Watson Analytics is a strong player in a formidable field that includes Google and Adobe. It does perform as advertised -- but IBM's AI-driven analytics technology leaves a lot to be desired.  Continue Reading

• Streaming data analytics puts real-time pressure on project teams

  A real-time data architecture that can support streaming analytics applications is an enticing, yet daunting, prospect for organizations looking to act quickly on information.  Continue Reading

• Prescriptive models take analytics one step beyond

  Descriptive analytics is powerful. Predictive analytics, flashy. Prescriptive analytics? Boring, perhaps, but no less essential to improving operations in the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics tools hinge on good data, business expertise

  Predictive analytics helps businesses maintain a competitive edge, but only with the right data. And even then, the most advanced analytics tools can't replace expertise.  Continue Reading

• Don't let a data-driven approach ax judgment from analytics equation

  Data analytics can help improve decision-making in organizations. But human intuition and judgment need to be part of the picture to keep predictive models and analytical algorithms from going awry.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning models take over the software industry

  Just as software took over the broader technology industry a few years ago, we're starting to see machine learning algorithms dominate software. There's good reason for this trend.  Continue Reading

• Emerging analytics tools challenge dominant big data philosophy

  Analytics technologies like the internet of things and cognitive computing mean we cannot have all the data on a given subject. So, what does that mean for big data?  Continue Reading

• Sports data analytics isn't always a slam dunk

  The growing trend of analytics in sports has caused much debate, and even though data-driven decisions can provide some benefits, they're not right for all occasions.  Continue Reading

• Sell your CEO on business intelligence software tools

  Convincing executives and other workers to adopt business intelligence software remains surprisingly difficult. If you aren't selling BI's benefits internally, that might be one reason why.  Continue Reading

• Don't just buy into data connectors in new BI tools

  There's no shortage of data analysis tools promising easy connectivity to a range of data sources. While these technologies are promising, users need to approach them cautiously.  Continue Reading

• Data analysis tools don't create data-driven culture

  Businesses want to be more data-driven, and vendors are capitalizing on the demand with sleek, self-service tools. But it's culture, not tools, that creates a data-driven organization.  Continue Reading

• Customer data analytics teams take on a more lawyerly look

  In some organizations, corporate lawyers are tasked with protecting data from analytics abuse. But they need to avoid tying the hands of data scientists.  Continue Reading

• Data science jobs not as plentiful as all the hype indicates

  These days, it seems everyone is talking about data scientists. General interest in the role continues to grow, but that isn't leading to corresponding growth in jobs among employers.  Continue Reading

• Bring data analysis methods to the masses

  Many members of the general public, which includes business executives, don't really understand what analytics is all about. It's up to data scientists to educate them.  Continue Reading

• Businesses are out of excuses on cyber security analytics

  Major data breaches keep happening, even though businesses have security analytics tools available to them that could put a stop to the problem.  Continue Reading

• Approach big data projects with care, purpose

  IT observers caution organizations against data for data’s sake, urging instead a focus on the best technology for the business problem at hand.  Continue Reading

• Don't misfire on your targeted-marketing campaign

  Targeted-marketing campaigns don't always find their mark. When they go astray, the results can be ugly.  Continue Reading

• For many, glitter of business intelligence process not yet gold

  The shiny promise of new analytics technologies can obscure the fact that a lot of organizations are still in the early stages of putting basic BI capabilities in place.  Continue Reading

• Take your data analysis skills to the next level

  Regardless of what industry you work in, you are likely to be left behind if you lack basic analytical skills. Taking a proactive approach may end up saving you time -- and a hassle – further down the line.  Continue Reading

• Gazing into the future of predictive analytics ROI

  Companies are investing in the software to gaze into the future and learn more about customers and business opportunities. Is it prophesy -- or fallacy?  Continue Reading

• Anxieties about big data technology trends are valid

  Criticism of big data technology trends may go too far, but proponents shouldn't dismiss the critiques.  Continue Reading

• Lesson from HealthCare.gov rollout: Get business and IT alignment right

  The problems with the HealthCare.gov website show that IT-business alignment is key in large projects. Is your BI team on the same page with users?  Continue Reading

• Bow down to the IT ROI throne on all BI projects? Fuggedaboutit!

  You can't demonstrate a projected return on investment for a proposed business intelligence or analytics project? Maybe you shouldn't have to.  Continue Reading

• BI in the cloud: Find your bliss

  Hosting business intelligence off-premises might seem scary, but soon it will be a necessary and normal part of corporate life. For the biggest benefit, learn the lay of the land.  Continue Reading

• Analytical modeling is both science and art

  Models are the key to predicting outcomes to business decisions. And while math may make them tick, it also takes a certain eye -- and ear -- for what works.  Continue Reading

• BI leaders need more than just technology

  It takes something other than fancy tools to lead in the business intelligence arena, says TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson, pointing to the ability to direct a diverse team.  Continue Reading

• Information delivery snags create big data analytics bottleneck

  Big data analytics applications require high-speed data availability. But one key part of many IT infrastructures isn't prepared for that challenge.  Continue Reading