But what futurists in particular, and all managers in general, really need to do is tackle the great puzzle of our time: how to create value for stakeholders.
Data is the cement that paves the way for AI value. “Big Data” is an important field that risks being misclassified as irrelevant, that is, of the past, or as lacking benefits that are worth the trouble. CIOs and digital executives need to ensure that big data is getting the attention it deserves.
Rethink the way you think about data
When you're faced with a substantive, long-term problem that isn't immediately life-threatening (for example, why aren't you getting enough value from your data?), it's a good idea to conduct a mental model audit. How do we think about this issue?
I asked a group of senior executives to think about how they think about data. I asked if they could be classified as Swallows with big ideas and soaring ambitions. Hedgehog, an executive who views the world through the lens of a single defining idea. or Moles, which focuses on short-term projects with specific deliverables.
I wasn't surprised to learn that very few executives identify as hedgehogs. This is likely due to the lack of a widely accepted and deployed framework for using data to create value. The consensus was that value is most often harvested when stretch data goals are clearly articulated with actionable project connections with achievable milestones.
Clearly, there is value in simply inserting data and analytical ambitions into the multiple strategy development processes taking place in a given company. At Gartner Data and Analytics Summit 2024, VP Analyst He Ehtisham Zaidi said: For the past 9 years. ”
