Getting Bit by the Byte

By definition, Big Data is simply the accumulation of massive amounts of bits and bytes that can ostensibly offer up intelligence.

Amassed data, no matter how big, in and of itself has the same impact as the noise a tree makes falling in a forest. The only way to hear that tree — ergo, the only way to use that data — is to be there. It’s the human element that makes it viable and valuable.

Big Data can be powerful — and it’s being used to manage epidemics, prepare for devastating weather, understand poverty, help agriculture, evaluate education, model economic change, even at the most basic, help you shop and get your packages in a more personalized, timely and efficient way.

So, with all that, how could GM be oblivious to 10 years of cars crashing and people dying and only claim to catch on through warranty claims?

How is that simply possible?

GM marketers use Big Data to woo new customers and to keep old ones loyal and buying more GM cars.

GM is neck deep in social media (a nice fat source of data for them) and, ironically, has been using it to the hilt for damage control.

GM uses data to design, to analyze, to build, to model, to pay their vendors and get paid by customers.

And here’s a random fact — Target, looking not to repeat their data mishap (with its devastating public fallout) just last month hired a new Corporate Information Security Officer, a data security guy, and guess where he came from? GM!

Data is everywhere in GM’s business, up and down the ladder. So how is it that they couldn’t — or wouldn’t — connect the dots?

Their failure to do so has now spiraled into the recall of over 29 million cars.

Whatever the answer turns out to be, ultimately it will be less about data and more about people. Less about algorithms and more about ambitions. Or apathy. Or even ignorance. But all of it human.

I don’t mean this to be a screed against GM. No doubt many there are doing their best to right this wrong.

My point is, there’s no hiding behind the bits and bytes. People create problems. And people solve them. I like to believe that more people are committed to finding answers rather than dodging questions. And when it comes to GM, it will take not only “intelligence,” in whatever format, but also intuition, heart and guts to fix.

The lesson to all of us is that all those bits and bytes can bite hard if we don’t watch out. And without the human intel, they only gunk up our servers and bite bad.

Ben Meredith

Data Transformation Done Right

9y

Having a lot of data is great but only if it is accurate, relevant and you have good analytics and business alerts management in place.

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Common sense and accountability are needed with data - big and small.

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Diego Brunot

Principal Design Researcher at Walmart | Storytelling Believer | Behavioral Science Enthusiast | Woodworker on the weekend

9y

Data empowers decision makers but it certainly does not make decisions for them nor does it warrant their decisions to be good ones.

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Ivy Chau-Soonthornsima

Vita Green Asia (Thailand) Ltd

9y

yes we need the rational and emotional balance in all communications works! good words David

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John Marland

Senior Developer at Automated Telemetry,LLC

9y

In regard to the post - well said. @Steve - I'm that's not a joke - that's what we call 4 bits. ....JW

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