Cool Media Project in the Works

I recently came across an interesting discussion on LinkedIn about Rick Smolan’s newest pet project called “The Human Face of Big Data.” The project is meant to shine a light on the work of the Big Data industry, and as someone who works almost exclusively with this field, I was immediately fascinated. Putting a face (or many faces) to Big Data is an extraordinary idea and it seems like the perfect time to do so.

No one can deny any more the incredible influence that data analysis has on so many aspects of our daily lives, but even so it would be brilliant to capture this influence in a photograph. Gary King was right to call this abundance of data analysis a revolution, but the truth is the revolution has been a long time coming.

For 30 years now I’ve been working with recruiting marketing scientists into the workforce and I have seen the industry evolve first-hand from a small, back-room career with limited potential into a force in the board room. This project will truly do justice to the professionals of this arena but moreover, it will allow the public to see the work we do not as some dry, mysterious science, but rather as an exciting source of good.

Can’t wait to see how it all pans out!

Tell Us Something We Don't Know

Did you see the article in Saturday’s NY Times? The Age of Big Data article was a huge Internet hit. Everyone was talking about it, from Federal News Radio to individual bloggers. Big Data is Big News, but not to us. We’ve been talking about it for … years.

• We know that the ability for computers to crunch vast quantities of data has been around for a good handful of years.
• We know that the data doesn’t explain itself—that to be meaningful it needs to be analyzed by quantitative specialists who can help companies turn lots of data into usable information.
• We know that statistics are sexy—especially in the job market.

So, where’s the news in this news?

A quick Google search reveals that the rest of the world is still trying to define Big Data. Literally tens of thousands of sources have Big Data on the brain. In just the last hour, Google News reports 37,100 search results for Big Data. Listed below are just a few examples of the stories you can find. Take a look, if you're interested. In the meantime, while everybody is busy figuring out what Big Data means, we’ll keep moving forward. And we’ll let you know when the rest of the world catches up.

2/14 Panel: Social big data analytics proving difficult within the enterprise (ZD Net)
2/14 Big Data is Changing the Game (IT Web Business Intelligence)
2/14 Big data and open source software (Federal News Radio)
2/14 Big Data and Procurement: Get Ready (Some Context First) — Part 1 (Spend Matters)

2/14 Why Midsize Businesses Shouldn't Leave Big Data to Big Businesses (Infoboom)
2/14 Some Thoughts on Big Data (ABC Technology and Games)
2/14 What is Big Data – An Explanation in Simple Words (SQL Authority)

2/13 'Big Data' Prep: Five Things IT Should Do Now (PC World)
2/13 Using big data to make an MPG for everything (gigaom.com)
2/13 Big Data = Big Challenge? Utilities compete for analytics talent (Intelligent Utility
2/13 SQL Server 2012, cloud, ‘big data’ driving momentum in 2012 (Search SQL Server)
2/13 What's your agency's big data IQ? (Government Computer News)
2/13 Best U.S. jobs will be in data (CBS/smartplanet)
2/13 It's the Age of Big Data: That's Why Math Counts! (Psychology Today)

2/13 The Last-Mile Challenge of Big Data (Qlik Community)

2/13 Why Big Data is a Big Deal for Marketers — and HR (HR marketer blog)

2/13 What Big Data [Means] for Your Career (FINS Technology)
2/13 How Big Data is Creating the Future of Science Fiction (Smart Data Collective)
2/13 The Intersection of Security Intelligence and Big Data Analytics (Network World)
2/13 EMC to Open Cloud and Big Data R&D Center in Russia (The Nation)
2/13 The Future of High-Tech Health Care — and the Challenge (NY Times Technology)

2/12 Big Data: Smart move for the future (Fierce Finance)

2/11 Big Data and Rise of Predictive Enterprise Solutions (Smart Data Collective)
2/11 How's India Dealing with Big Data? (CIO.India)
2/11 The Age of Big Data (NY Times Sunday Review)

2/10 Big Data Demands New Skills (WSJ Tech)
2/10 Defining the Art of Big Data Leadership (Forbes)

Big Data Hits the Big Time but at What Price

“What Are The Odds That Stats Would Be This Popular?” That was the question Quentin Hardy asked in his NY Times piece last Friday (01/26/12). If you’ve been paying attention to this blog, you’d know that the odds have been good and are getting better.

The real issue isn’t in the headline, but comes a couple of paragraphs down: “What no one has are enough people to figure out the valuable patterns that lie inside the data.” As Big Data becomes a hot news topic, the demand for skilled analysts is growing exponentially. That’s good news for new grads in the field and those who have some experience and are ready to move up.

But it’s a troubling fact for clients looking to meet their growing needs for quantitative specialists with top candidates. It’s not a field for the faint of heart. Curricula in strong programs are rigorous and intellectually challenging for students. A quantitative mind will give you the leg up, and, as is true in many areas nowadays, a confidence in your computer skills will help you succeed.

A commitment to pursue an advanced degree in analytics is also important. A Master’s degree is often required for most jobs in businesses, and sometimes a PhD is preferred. There are excellent programs offering Master’s degrees, and as the visibility of this field grows, there have been a number of new programs emerging, such as:

• North Carolina State has offered a 10-month Advanced Analytics program since 2006
• Northwestern recently announced a new Masters of Science in Analytics
• The College of Computing and Informatics at the University of North Carolina is another young program

It’s important to note that the number of graduates from programs such as these doesn’t begin to meet even the current need, and many of our upcoming elementary and secondary students aren’t getting the strong math foundation they need to compete.

The law of supply and demand will kick in eventually. What can you do in the meantime? Stay tuned here and we’ll keep you up-to-date on what’s happening. If you are a hiring authority, make short- and long-term plans for your hiring needs so you aren’t scrambling to fill positions in a tight, competitive market. And for our candidates, keep up your skills. Become and remain the best of the best. And as always, call us with questions.