Big-data projects will never meet expectations if the underlying data is inaccurate or missing. It’s time to fix the u201cdysfunctional cycle of data chaos,u201d says a report by TechVision Research. Before companies can do fancy things with data, like predictive analytics and data monetization, they need to fix the “broken fundamentals of data,” according to a new report by TechVision Research. The report, by Noreen Kendle, a principal consulting analyst at TechVision, says organizations are mired in a “dysfunctional cycle of data chaos.” They spend “ridiculous amounts of time hunting for missing data, correcting inaccurate data, creating workarounds, pasting data together and reconciling conflicting data. This results in tremendous unaccounted loss in productivity,” the report says. One problem is that nearly all IT funding goes into technology, not the data itself, despite high-minded pronouncements that data is an important business asset. The report identifies challenges such as poor data quality and data governance, and then makes general recommendations for fixing those problems. Today’s hype-fueled “big data” projects will fail unless data quality and governance are improved, the report suggests. “All of the great data technology advancements will continue to fall short of expectations mostly due to the reality of our data—redundant, disparate, inaccurate, missing, misplaced, undefined, ill-defined, dirty, old, reused, misused, etc.” In the report, Kendle tells the story of a basketball coach who would always say “if we cannot get the basics right (e.g., dribble, pass and shoot) then we cannot possibly pull off the fancy plays it takes to win the games.” She says the same back-to-basics principle applies to using data for business intelligence, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and data monetization. “Information is truly powerful, but only if the data is right.” Register now to download the 39-page report, titled “Data – The Fundamentals are Broken.” Before companies can do fancy things with data, like predictive analytics and data monetization, they need to fix the “broken fundamentals of data,” according to a new report by TechVision Research. The report, by Noreen Kendle, a principal consulting analyst at TechVision, says organizations are mired in a “dysfunctional cycle of data chaos.” They spend “ridiculous amounts of time hunting for missing data, correcting inaccurate data, creating workarounds, pasting data together and reconciling conflicting data. This results in tremendous unaccounted loss in productivity,” the report says. One problem is that nearly all IT funding goes into technology, not the data itself, despite high-minded pronouncements that data is an important business asset. The report identifies challenges such as poor data quality and data governance, and then makes general recommendations for fixing those problems. Today’s hype-fueled “big data” projects will fail unless data quality and governance are improved, the report suggests. “All of the great data technology advancements will continue to fall short of expectations mostly due to the reality of our data—redundant, disparate, inaccurate, missing, misplaced, undefined, ill-defined, dirty, old, reused, misused, etc.” In the report, Kendle tells the story of a basketball coach who would always say “if we cannot get the basics right (e.g., dribble, pass and shoot) then we cannot possibly pull off the fancy plays it takes to win the games.” She says the same back-to-basics principle applies to using data for business intelligence, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and data monetization. “Information is truly powerful, but only if the data is right.” download Data – The Fundamentals are Broken TechVision Research Related content feature State of IT jobs: Mixed signals, changes ahead Layoffs and salary plateaus in the wake of exuberant pandemic-era IT hiring has the IT talent market in flux. And while employers pay premiums for hard-to-find AI skills, IT pros seek the same for filling in-office openings. By Sarah K. White May 17, 2024 10 mins Salaries Hiring IT Jobs feature Project manager salary: 5 key tips to earn more Project managers need to know what their worth is — and make others know it, as well. Here’s a look at project manager compensation, skills that increase a project manager’s pay scale, and how to negotiate a more competitive project By Josh Fruhlinger May 17, 2024 14 mins Salaries Project Management Careers feature Cyber resilience: A business imperative CIOs must get right With ransomware at an all-time high, companies need to understand that being cyber resilient means going beyond compliance to considering all aspects of a business, from operational continuity to software supply chain security. By Andrada Fiscutean May 16, 2024 9 mins Regulation Incident Response Data and Information Security feature Shine a Spotlight on Your Team’s IT Excellence with CIO Awards Canada By Allice Shandler May 16, 2024 4 mins Events IT Leadership PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe