What's Holding You Back?

Fear has replaced apathy and ignorance as the number one enemy of all things data. That’s the conclusion I reach as a result of my most recent scan of the data management space. This fear reflects a growing sense that, sooner or later, data will penetrate every nook and cranny of every industry, company, and department, transforming the work, relationships and power structures. The fear extends beyond business people--even lovers of data feel it.

There are several implications for everyone who labors to help our companies unleash the power of data. But there are five mutually-reinforcing steps that we can take, individually, as a team within our companies, and as a network of professionals across companies, industries, and continents, to make significant progress.

Tom Redman, the “Data Doc," helps companies, including many of the Fortune 100, improve data quality. Those that follow his innovative approaches enjoy the many benefits of far better data, including far lower costs. His recent article, “Data's Credibility Problem," (Harvard Business Review, December 2013) showcases what's possible. Tom's "Data Driven: Profiting from Your Most Important Business Asset" (Harvard Business Press, 2008) is the guiding light for companies seeking to build their futures in data. Tom started his career at Bell Labs, where he led the Data Quality Lab. He has a Ph.D. in Statistics and two patents.