Then this rogue data is stored onto the aforementioned #1, #2, #3, or #4. Shadow technologies are used to extract and store data that business needs that not readily available in the IT data repositories – many times external data, public data, or unprocessed data from application systems.(And because stackoverflow, github, and kaggle also counts as support). Or maybe the company just doesn’t like spending on cool stuff. Using unsupported open source technologies for mission critical real-time applications, primarily to reduce cost (it's free) and because the business benefit from analytics can’t seem to justify a commercial license or support.The use of BI and visualization applications as either an permanent data storage or data mart environment (also related to #1 and #3) and accumulating an unhealthy amount of extracted data because it takes too long to wait for historical extracts from the real data warehouse.The use of expensive commercial statistical and analytics tools to do very basic and mundane data management tasks like extracting data, joining tables, and querying – which is more economically and efficiently done via ETL or database tools instead.The use of standalone desktop databases like Microsoft Access for too much data that can either a) safely fit on an Access database or b) be too sensitive to be in one place at one time accessible by anyone or c) support too many business uses and applications that should really be done on a more stable platform.The use of Excel Spreadsheets as data marts or repositories and for anything and everything else.Taking Shadow Analytics beyond blog-fiction, here are some more common symptoms: (collect them all) The reason: Company IT is too slow or they need a functionality that existing enterprise tools do not deliver, and business requirements are changing so fast and rapidly that users do not have the time or the patience to wait for the completion of the grand pie-in-the-sky modernization plan that was announced decades ago. Similar in nature to black market activity, Shadow Analytics refers to independent databases, spreadsheets, BI tools, and open-source applications that Business users implement on their own, usually without IT intervention or authorization, to solve their day-to-day business and information requirements. Whether latent or explicit, this battle creates a phenomenon called Shadow Analytics. On the IT camp the battle cry is “SCALABILITY” – the need to standardize and rationalize enterprise architecture for long term growth, information security, and high availability. On the business camp the battle cry is “AGILITY” – the need to be able to test and prototype ideas and get to market quickly with new offerings. Whether you are aware about it or not, there is war is going on with your company’s analytics. This legendary dialogue reminds me of yet another classic battle that probably rages to this day right in your company. Batman face-to-face with the Joker atop Gotham Cathedral and as Batman beats the villain to pulp – Joker exclaims: “You maniac! You MADE ME.” Batman retorts: “I made you. It was an iconic scene in the original Tim Burton Batman film.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |