A article written by Ted Sapountzis called “Big Data: What can an energy company teach us about data science?” has some interesting input on the emerging field of Data Scientists as well as Big Data. In the article Sapountzis writes:
We are all data scientists – Most of the innovation that is taking place at the data visualization layer today is about putting the information at the hands of those able to make the best decisions, i.e., the elusive business user / information worker. While this may feel self-serving as it allows technology companies to expand their footprint, my many years of working as a ‘data scientist’ have led me to the very same conclusion:
- The real challenge is about driving adoption: Although this is more relevant in an enterprise context, the challenge is not about squeezing the last drop of potential benefit, but rather ensuring recommendations are adopted. If there is one thing my many years in the field have taught me is convincing the decision makers to adopt your ideas. This Microsoft Windows 7 commercial sums it up best.
- Back-office data geeks do not always know the business challenge: Having been one myself, I can attest to the fact despite how smart we think we are, the knowledge that comes from knowing your business while being able to also act on those insights is priceless. The image and title of this post refers exactly to this point. PG&E is my local energy utility company and the data on the graph is my hourly energy consumption based on the smart meter (i.e., big) data they collect from my home. Who better to make decisions about energy consumption than the consumers themselves? Do the people appearing in this PG&E commercial look like data scientists to you?
About Ted Sapountzis:
Ted has been with SAP since 2004 and is currently responsible for scaling SAP’s social media practices in creating awareness, driving a dialogue and generating demand for SAP’s solution portfolio. You can follow Ted on Twitter @sapountzis.
You can read the entire article here:
Joshua Burkhow
Joshua is working to become a Data Scientist with focus on Analytics, Big Data, Machine Learning, and Statistics. His passion for Data and Information are second to none. He is a certified IBM Cognos Expert with more than 10 years experience in Business Intelligence & Data Warehousing, Analtyics, IT Management, Software Engineering and Supply Chain Performance Management with Fortune 500 companies. He has specializations in Analytics, Mobile Reporting, Performance Management, and Business Analysis.
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