Fiefdoms and Data

So, I have noticed that in every company that I have worked with, there are a few fiefdoms of data. So here it goes. You have all heard about the Westeros of data (yes that is a reference to GoT), the Winterfell of data and the Dothraki of data(well, that might have been a little too much, but hey, when you are talking about data, nothing is off topic!) So here is a simple question. "What doesn't Google know?"

Simple, right? Right? Right? Not so fast.

Why do we analyze data, if you are a "mere mortal" company? Two reasons and two reasons only:
1> To make money
2> To save money.

That is it. And yes, I am coming back to the "What doesn't Google know" question.

Google knows everything that you put on a website( public domain). Well, Facebook, Instagram and sooooo many other social media networks know whatcha doing. Can you imagine if all of that information combined, what it could produce? There will be an ad playing on your toilet seat when you are about to go to the bathroom that is so specific to your bathroom!! Oi Vey!! But, as the CXO of your organization, you need to know what "your data" tells you. 

So, what about your data? Here is where the fiefdoms come in. Your company has them. They quote, privacy, data protection laws and this and that and the commercial availability of "thingama software".   If you are about to embark on a journey of data and may GOD protect you if you are talking about Data Monetization, your fiefdoms will start a revolt. Have seen it over and over again.

So, I implore you Ms. CXO, remove the fiefdoms, when it comes to data. The only way you are going to succeed is if you have all of your data in one place. This is not a Microservices architecture that is meant for app development. This is data. The more information you have in one place, the better off you are. And when you have it all in one place where we technologists call "data lake" or "data fabric" or "thingamasoftware",  then you have a chance of succeeding. "Data Zindabad!


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