Recent technology developments are driving urgency to modernize data management. What do you do about architecture, modeling, quality, and governance to keep up with big data, cloud, self-service, and other trends in data and technology? Examining some best practices can spark ideas of where to begin. Originally published at https://www.eckerson.com/articles/stepping-up-to-modern-data-management

Data catalogs have become the centerpiece of modern data management. They are the means to connect self-service analysts with the right data, the “go to” technology for data curation, and the new gold standard for metadata management. With many data catalog tools available, choosing the right data catalog is an important decision.

In this episode, Wayne Eckerson asks Steve Dine about the approach needed to migrate to the Cloud and architecture required to run analytics in the Cloud. Steve Dine talks extensively about the pitfalls to avoid during Cloud migration and finishes off by saying that even though security is a big issue, most organizations will have part of their architecture in the Cloud during the next two-three years. Steve Dine is a BI and enterprise data consultant and industry thought leader who has extensive experience in designing, delivering and managing highly scalable and maintainable modern data architecture solutions.

BI teams often work extremely hard but have little to show for their effort, and they can never get ahead of a continuous backlog of requests. The business rewards their hard work by reducing their budget and staff. Even if they know what needs to be done, they have little authority to make it happen. To succeed, BI leaders need to partner with the business and deliver quick wins to turn the tide of adoption in their favor. Originally published at https://www.eckerson.com/articles/why-bi-teams-struggle-the-tipping-point-of-success

In this Episode, Wayne Eckerson asks Charles Reeves about his organization’s Internet of Things and Big Data strategy. Reeves is senior manager of BI and analytics at Graphics Packaging International, a leader in the packaging industry with hundreds of worldwide customers. He has 25 years of professional experience in IT management including nine years in reporting, analytics, and data governance.

Exploring the evolution of data analyst tools from manual spreadsheets to modern self-service technologies. Importance of integrating data catalog, preparation, and analysis functions for improved productivity. Role of data virtualization tools in enabling versatile data access and integration in analyst workbenches.

In this episode, Wayne Eckerson and Shakeeb Ahkter dive into DataOps. They discuss what DataOps is, the goals and principles of DataOps, and reasons to adopt a DataOps strategy. Shakeeb also reveals the benefits gained from DataOps and what tools he uses. He is the Director of Enterprise Data Warehouse at Northwestern Medicine and is responsible for direction and oversight of data management, data engineering, and analytics.

A classic management practice dictates that a newly-appointed leader must accomplish certain things in their first 90 days. While some of this is general knowledge, there are specifics when it comes to Data Management and Analytics If you have been recently named to head any group that has to manage or facilitate the use of data, at any level in the organization, then this audio blog post is for you. Originally published at https://www.eckerson.com/articles/what-do-you-do-first-after-being-hired-as-a-bi-analytics-data-engineering-director

In this episode, Wayne Eckerson and Rich Fox discuss what differentiates data science from analytics, why and how data science addresses business needs, why balance scorecards are relevant, and why Excel is a problem. Throughout the podcast, Fox shares many real-life examples and personal experiences. Fox is vice president of Data Science and Analytics at Apex Parks Group, one of the largest entertainment center companies in the United States, which operates amusement parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers.

With all the hype and attention around big data and huge data platforms, there can sometimes be some data envy. There are still organizations and companies that don’t have big data: are they not poised for analytics too? Can they not get insights as well? The BI Pharaoh gives tips on how to work with your little data just like the big boys. Originally published at https://www.eckerson.com/articles/little-data-needs-love-too