The creative use of big data, especially that from the Internet of Things, is transforming business models, empowering start-ups, and enhancing or destroying existing business value. Many proponents focus on marketing uses of big data, but most value—or disruption—will come from its daily application in novel and transformative ways. Making the right architectural and technological choices is vital in designing and managing the automated environments big data should have and the Internet of Things will demand. However, true business and IT leadership requires looking at the broader ethical and economic issues raised by big data. Concerns around personal privacy, employment and social disruption must all be urgently addressed if individual businesses and society at large are to successfully navigate this data driven transformation of all aspects of business and technology.
Barry Devlin
Dr. Barry Devlin is a founder of the data warehousing industry, defining its first architecture in 1985. A foremost authority on business intelligence (BI), big data and beyond, he is respected worldwide as a visionary and thought-leader in the evolving industry. He has authored two ground-breaking books: the classic Data Warehouse–from Architecture to Implementation and Business unIntelligence–Insight and Innovation Beyond Analytics and Big Data in 2013. Barry has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, previously with IBM, as a consultant, manager, and distinguished engineer. As founder and principal of 9sight in 2008, Barry provides strategic consulting and thought-leadership to buyers and vendors of BI and Big Data solutions. He is an associate editor of TDWI’s Journal of Business Intelligence, and a regular keynote speaker, teacher and writer on all aspects of information creation and use. Barry operates worldwide from Cape Town, South Africa.
