BI Tools News Alert March 2019 Software developers and analysts are experts at coming up with new acronyms and exotic-sounding names for their platforms, features, plug-ins, and add-ons. NLG, VBD, MOLAP, BIaaS, federated analytics, augmented intelligence, the Prep Conductor, Vizzes, smart analytics, the list goes on. End-users have the unenviable task of looking past the jargon and trying to judge all new announcements on their own merits. A critical attitude, focusing on the promised … [Read more...]
Has your organization tamed the Data Bull?
Holistic data management and taming bulls Not everyone gets excited about the prospect of discussing information entropy, shadow IT, and technical debt. But for Martijn Evers, it's all in a day's work. We had an animated discussion about holistic data management and the art of taming bulls.Together with Ronald Damhof, Martijn Evers, co-founder of i-Refact, started an online movement dedicated to perhaps the ultimate job of the future: full-scale data architect. It's a job that has to suit … [Read more...]
Wanted: Data Architects with a holistic perspective
Holistic perspective on data In practice, Martijn Evers, co-founder of i-Refact, believes there's a desire for data architects with a holistic vision (read part 1 of our interview here). Architects that can effortlessly switch between various modes. He jokingly refers to the contrast between a gorilla architect, who is assertive and supported by the direction, and a guerrilla architect, who doesn't have a wide base of support in the organization due to all kinds of politically sensitive … [Read more...]
Microsoft comes out on top of the BI market
Power BI becoming a top product AI may be currently dominating the discourse, but BI (Business Intelligence) is proving to be a term with staying power through 2019, both for BI tool vendors and end-users. Nevertheless, BI vendors dating back to the early days of the field are having a hard time staying out of the danger zone. Microsoft, on the other hand, is rising above the pack with Microsoft Power BI. This product has the potential to become the de facto BI standard. These are the results … [Read more...]
Data Literacy: core competency number 1 for 2019
Data literacy becoming crucial As we recently pointed out, data literacy is a hot-button issue. Only 24% of the decision-makers in international business spheres indicate that they have complete confidence in their own ability to read data, work with it, analyze it, and discuss it. This alarming conclusion was drawn by the worldwide Data Literacy Project. Spoiler alert: 2019 could be the year of data literacy.The concept of literacy is a lot broader than most people think, according to … [Read more...]
The long and winding road to lasting change
Change: a constant factor Change is a fact of life. New software, processes, and system updates cause minor upheavals on a daily basis. And that's to say nothing of the digital transformation. Without learning about the psychology behind change processes, without clear communication, and without investing in human, "warm", contacts, such projects are doomed to fail. Those are the steadfast beliefs of Ericka Petrignani, associate partner with Passionned Group. With her refined stakeholder … [Read more...]
Six misconceptions about algorithms
Misunderstanding algorithms Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic. Algorithms can determine the notes of a new perfume. The high-art world has been scooped by a portrait painted by an algorithm and signed with the code: minG maxD Ex[log(D(x))]+Ez[log(1-D(G(z)))]. These are two random examples of relatively innocent, yet surprising, applications of AI. However, algorithms can also inspire fear. Crashing self-driving cars, smart speakers that take over the entire house, algorithms that … [Read more...]
The 12 biggest growing pains in becoming a mature BI organization
Learn from the growing pains others have overcome As project leader, you're cradling an ambitious BI project, and you're looking for theoretical and (especially) practical frameworks. You know that you can achieve better results using the right management information. Googling "Business Intelligence" returns 527 million results. "BI Tools" narrows it down a bit, but still returns 855,000 hits. Discussions are spreading out in all directions and it's hard not to get dizzy. If you want to get … [Read more...]
