Big Data for Skeptics

A few months ago, while I was attending a daylong conference in New York, several people approached me to say they’d like to write something for HBR about “big data.” It felt like a tipping point, so I began asking businesspeople for their take on the topic. I soon found that they have a huge interest in big data, but also a lack of clarity about it. Just what differentiates “big” data from mere data—and how are organizations supposed to use it to their benefit? I also learned that many skeptics wonder whether some of the companies selling big data “solutions” are simply capitalizing on the emerging hype. (Y2K, anyone?) In this month’s Spotlight package, we aim to clarify the subject. The primary takeaway: Yes, there’s a lot of hype. But companies that make a sophisticated analysis of the huge data streams now available can unlock deep insights and value—without having to make major new investments in technology. We tapped some of the best minds in the field to illuminate the topic. Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson, both of MIT, make the case that big data has the potential to revolutionize the art of management. McKinsey’s Dominic Barton and David Court agree; they demonstrate that with the right organizational support, big data can help propel companies to levels of performance we haven’t seen in two decades. Tom Davenport, a visiting professor at Harvard Business School, and D.J. Patil, of Greylock Partners, identify data scientists as having the “sexiest” job of our era and explain how to find and attract them. Big data is out there. The trick is finding ways to make it work for your company. Adi Ignatius, Editor in Chief

Big Data for Skeptics

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