Data privacy describes a set of principles and guidelines to ensure respectful processing, protection, and handling of personal data. Due to a series of breaches and other consequences when mishandling personal information, data privacy has taken a central position in regulation and fines. These laws make financial and image consequences more severe. Data privacy takes on fragmented […]
What Is Self-Service Analytics?
Self-service analytics describes the use of technology by subject-matter experts to get relevant information without requiring computer coding or substantial information technology support. The purpose of self-service analytics gives business users and stakeholders the capacity to perform day-to-day tasks without “getting involved in a more critical data process.” Characteristics of self-service analytics include the abilities […]
What is a Data Democracy?
A data democracy describes a methodological framework of values and actions that benefit and minimize any harm to the public or the typical user. Organizations like Data for Democracy, initiated by Bloomberg and BrightHive, and projects like Data for Democracy, established by the University of Washington to help Myanmar transition to a data democracy, are spearheading […]
What is Reference Data?
Reference data (a.k.a. as master data, or golden copy, or single source of truth [SSOT] ) describes the set of data an organization needs for daily operations. According to the DAMA-DMBoK2, reference data characterizes or classifies or relates to other data or information external to the organization. It describes the core entities of the business […]
Maturing Data Governance and Data Literacy to Serve Organizations Better
Maturing Data Governance means growing an organization’s conception and management of its data assets from a narrow IT project conception to the broader business. Organizations can no longer ignore this approach as they drive to digitally transform, improve business efficiency and effectiveness through digitization and human resources. Al-Ruithe, et al. hammer this point home by […]
What is Data Literacy?
Data literacy describes the ability to read, work with, analyze, and argue with data, according to Raul Bhargava and Catherine D’ignazio from MIT and Emerson College. Easy access to data sets are essential to exercising these skills. All employees in an organization involved with data-driven decisions should learn to think critically about the data they […]
What is Data Discovery?
Data discovery describes processes in understanding data sets on hand for data integration and/or data analysis. This step occurs in design and should combine technical search from tools with subject matter expertise, from people. During data discovery, a high-level view is taken in assessing data preparation, or data quality needs. Data discovery can be broken […]
What is a Data Mart?
A data mart is a subset of a data warehouse designed to service a specific business line or purpose. Data warehousing pioneer Ralph Kimball conceived of data marts to “begin with the most important business aspects or departments.” This bottom-up dimensional approach creates a user-friendly, flexible data scheme that delivers reports rapidly, without having to […]
NoSQL Databases: The Versatile Solution for Continuous Intelligence
Most businesses tend to rely on relational database management systems (RDBMS) to provide business insight, including continuous intelligence. Cloud relational databases have improved computing power they bring to the table, to handle more massive amounts of data. However, relational databases, even ones in the cloud, face two issues. They have a harder time with the […]
What is a Data Modeler?
A data modeler is a person who models data or documents software and business system designs. By doing this, a data modeler translates business needs into technical specifications. Developers and other IT members benefit from this when creating new data systems and troubleshooting and maintaining them. Data models promote consensus among developers, customers, and other […]