Comments for The Data Whisperer

Comment on How to Avoid the Efficiency Trap by Sapinete

Sapinete — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:33:00 +0000

Do my customers feel secure and satisified when dealing with me??Do my customers step smiling when they got an issue with my product, or do they come willing to fight and bargain??

Comment on Starting With the Basics by How to be the Rumpelstiltskin of Data

How to be the Rumpelstiltskin of Data — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:36:17 +0000

[...] = 'wpp-257'; var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true,"ui_language":"en"};In the first post of The Data Whisperer, I presented the relationship between data, information, knowledge, and [...]

Comment on Starting With the Basics by Julius Campbell

Julius Campbell — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:51:00 +0000

Hi Doug,
I have worked with data on the back end for many years and most of my days went like this: “Julius, I need a new feature (column, table, query, report, etc.) can you provide this feature for me?” In most cases, if the feature was well-defined enough, I could provide it. As I progressed in my career, the level of complexity of features I was able to provide increased. What I began to realize, however, was that the business value of the features I provided was not necessarily proportional to the complexity or effort I put into producing them.

This realization disturbed me. If I’m going to spend a major portion of my life cranking out complex data operations and features, I would like to think I’m producing some sort of value. That’s what got me thinking about “why data matters” so to speak. That was ultimately the reason for this blog post.

“What is the value of this discussion?” This discussion helps me personally to think about my job from a different perspective. It is fun for me to work on complex data features. I get to use my knowledge, skill, and creativity; that in itself is rewarding. Forcing myself to think about what happens to data after it leaves my hands helps me to have a language to push back against producing features that add little to no business value – even if producing it would provide me with temporary gratification. In other words, it helps me feel comfortable that I’m “doing the right thing” and not just “doing things right”.

I agree that an information supply chain framework is a practical way for organizations to plan information management activities. However, not every organization uses or will ever use such a framework. I have never worked anywhere that used one. Meanwhile, every organization has to deal with data. I found it useful for me to develop a discipline of thinking about data from a different perspective and thought it would be helpful for other people in my situation. That was the reason for this blog post.

Thanks for the comment!

Comment on Starting With the Basics by Doug Laney

Doug Laney — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:24:00 +0000

I hear this “data->info->knowledge->whatever” discussion often, but struggle to understand it’s value or application in the real world. It’s certainly an interesting framework and fun over-a-beer argument, but what’s the practicality? Where’s the beef? I have found that using an actual information supply chain framework, e.g. acquisition->administration->application (and all the functions therein) to discuss how data flows from capture through consumption is much more helpful to organizations in planning info management activities.

Comment on How to Succeed at Business Intelligence by Tweets that mention How to Succeed at Business Intelligence :The Data Whisperer -- Topsy.com

Tue, 18 May 2010 15:18:50 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Julius Campbell, Julius Campbell. Julius Campbell said: Wondering how to successfully implement a Business Intelligence (BI) initiative? This may help. http://bit.ly/cmWPSZ [...]

Comment on Aligning on Purpose by Julius Campbell

Julius Campbell — Sun, 16 May 2010 21:57:02 +0000

Hi Niel,

Thank you for providing the model. I use it every chance I get. It's really useful in identifying and staying focused on business value. Feel free to send me the whitepapers you mentioned. I'd love to read them. Also, let me know if you have any video out there that doesn't require registration to view. There's some things that just don't come across the same way as when you actually say it like “Do more smart stuff and less stupid stuff”. I think people could benefit from seeing and hearing you say it.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.

Comment on Aligning on Purpose by Niel Nick

Niel Nick — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:03:11 +0000

Julius,

Thank you for using my model. Let me know if there is anything I can provide you. I have a couple of other whitepapers I can send.

Niel

Comment on What Should Be The Focus of Every CIO? by Julius Campbell

Julius Campbell — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:52:26 +0000

Yes, and by the same token I hoped to make the point that a good CIO/CTO should allow other IT staff to be involved in shaping the strategic vision of the organization.

Thanks for the comment.

Comment on What Should Be The Focus of Every CIO? by Matthew Schmitt

Matthew Schmitt — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:02:12 +0000

I agree with you. Good CIO / CTO's should be very aware and engaged in the core infrastructure. Sure, they have solid ops managers to "turn the wrench", and must spend a great deal of time determining how to drive business initiatives with IT, but credibility as a trusted technology advisor is built on a deep understanding of the technology they plan to use to drive those initiatives.

Great thoughts here, keep it up!

Matthew Schmitt
http://matthew-schmitt.com
http://twitter.com/matt_schmitt/

Comment on Cheat Whenever Possible by Gary Eckhardt

Gary Eckhardt — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:40:11 +0000

Given the number of users on the system and the fact that the DB didn't need to be up 24×7, the decision to make a cold back was the best choice. A cold backup is ALWAYS preferrable to any other backup method as it is the most reliable in respect to recoverability both in accuracy and speed.

Gary Eckhardt
Database Administrator, 19 years experience