The full New York Times Innovation Report was leaked last week. It’s worth reading if only because it lets you look at a paradigm – an entire way of thinking, laden with it’s own explanations of culture, causal factors, jargon, assumptions, myths, systems, and heretics. It enumerates the preferences and aspirations of a small group of people (including their preferred org-chart re-org!) and highlights a long-standing tension between technologists and journalists. It may also serve as a wake-up call that continuous improvement and scientific management is already a reality at several disrupting media startups. Let’s begin. Summary if you didn’t read it (and won’t): The document contains 97 pages. The term “Competitor” is mentioned on 39 of those pages. Analytics[…]
Month: May 2014
It’s a big week for analytics in Toronto. There’s a growing industry of digital intelligence / analytics, professionals in southern Ontario. It’s a brilliant and welcoming industry. This is the week when we get together, share knowledge, and welcome newcomers. The eMetrics Summit, the conference of the Digital Analytics Association (use the promo code BERSPK for a discount to the summit), will also mark second major Southern Ontario Chapter meeting. There will be case studies from TD, CBC, Bombardier, Intuit, The New York Times, TVO, Hyatt, and Maple Leaf Entertainment. Zoe Morawetz (TD) is showing us how they execute digital segmentation. Gareth Cull (Mozilla), Mark Dykeman (BMO) and Tim Ashby (CM) will be sharing which technical traps to avoid, Greg[…]
This piece from McKinsey highlighted the inflated expectations of big data analytics – “…expectations of senior management are a real issue…but too often senior leaders’ hopes for benefits are divorced from the realities of frontline application. That leaves them ill prepared for the challenges that inevitably arise and quickly breed skepticism.” The listicle (et tu, McKinsey?) summarized below, is somewhat related to that concern: 1. Data and analytics aren’t overhyped—but they’re oversimplified 2. Privacy concerns must be addressed—and giving consumers control can help 3. Talent challenges are stimulating innovative approaches—but more is needed 4. You need a center of excellence—and it needs to evolve 5. Two paths to spur adoption—and both require investment (automation and training) In a fit of[…]