information as a service – the key to the correct decisions at the right time

© Acando AB 4/27/20091 Title of presentation

Information as a service

the key to the

correct decisions

at the right time

Notes

This set of slides were used in a seminar given by Acando in April 2009. This

seminar was part of a three-part theme all focusing on information and how to

leverage information to create competitive advantage.

The title of this presentation is “Information as a Service – the key to the correct

decisions at the right time”. The seminar used a chain of information evolution

defined as “data -> information -> knowledge -> understanding -> wisdom” (see

Ackoff, R. L., "From Data to Wisdom", Journal of Applies Systems Analysis, Volume

16,1989 p 3-9).

The key point made is that data, information and knowledge can be captured in

information systems and often exposed as some kind of automated service, but

understanding and wisdom requires a different approach. One such suggested

approach relies on social networks and leverages 2.0-concepts.

Of course the message is hard to convey without the presentation being made, but I

hope this set of slides can act as a catalyst for some interesting discussions. Please

feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the presentation or individual

slides.

Mattias Abrahamsson ([email protected])

2009-04-273 Title of presentation

Agenda

Introduction

Information types and data

sources


Expected effects

How to start?

© Acando AB 4/27/20094 Title of presentation

The value of information

Information is increasingly becoming the strategic asset

Control over data will provide a sustainable competitive advantage

The data is not the valuable part – utilizing the data in a wise way is the key

© Acando AB

Data

5

● symbols

DATA

representation in any form, usable or not, without

relations to other things

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whatknot/118219395/sizes/o/#cc_license

© Acando AB

Information


● data that are processed to be useful

● provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and "when" questions

INFORMATION

data that are processed to be meaningful

http://www.flickr.com/photos/namlhots/227505138/sizes/l/#cc_license

© Acando AB

Knowledge / Awareness


● application of data and information

● answers "how" questions

KNOWLEDGE

collection of information with intent is to be useful

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecadman/486263551/sizes/l/#cc_license

© Acando AB

Understanding


● appreciation of "why"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emagic/56206868/sizes/l/#cc_license

UNDERSTANDING

synthesizing new knowledge based on currently held

information, knowledge and understanding

© Acando AB

Wisdom / Insight / Judgement


● evaluated understanding

http://www.flickr.com/photos/infinityrain/202260475/sizes/o/#cc_license

WISDOM

the process by which one discern, or judge, between

right and wrong, good and bad as a basis for decisions

© Acando AB 2009-04-2711 Title of presentation

”Through 2012, more than 35 per cent of the top 5,000

global companies will regularly fail to make insightful

decisions about significant changes in their business

and markets” – Gartner

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maniya/582501103/sizes/l/#cc_license


Agenda

Introduction


sources


Expected effects

How to start?


Examples of data and information sources

Internal sources

Databases

Warehouses

Applications

ERP’s

Handbooks, policies and guidelines

Unstructured content

Organization

…

External

Customers

Internet

Analysts

Competitors

Partners

…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/-sel-/196548033/sizes/o/#cc_license


Categorization of information and data

public – private

external – internal

defined – undefined

processed – unprocessed

controlled – uncontrolled

secured – unsecured

static – dynamic

structured – unstructured

…http://www.flickr.com/photos/itatton/2375237162/sizes/l/#cc_license


Agenda

Introduction


sources


Expected effects

How to start?


”By 2012, one-third of analytic applications applied to

business processes will be delivered through coarse-

grained application mashups” – Gartner


© Acando AB 2009-04-27 Title of presentation18

Expose services to

leverage the

information assets!

© Acando AB

The Service Oriented Enterprise


Data Services

Problem

Solution

How do I expose structured data as a service?

Implement a query to gather the

relevant data in the desired format

and then expose it as a service.


Content services

Problem

Solution

How do I best manage (possibly

distributed and heterogeneous)

unstructured information so that a

service consumer can access the

content effectively?

Provide a consistent service

interface to content no matter where

it resides, maintaining the

relationship between content and

master data source.


Information

integration services

Problem

Solution

How do I provide a service

consumer access to consistent and

integrated data that resides in

heterogeneous sources?

Understand your legacy data and its

quality, cleanse it, transform it, and

deliver it as a service.


Master data services

Problem

Solution

How can consumers access

consistent, complete, contextual and

accurate master data even though

the data resides in heterogeneous

inconsistent systems?

Establish and maintain an

authoritative source of master data

as a system of record for enterprise

master data.

Exposure of

knowledge

Focus on

interpretation

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sensechange/2046554633/sizes/l/#cc_license


Analytic services

Problem

Solution

How do I access analytic data out of

raw heterogeneous structured and

unstructured data?

Consolidate, aggregate and

summarize structured and

unstructured data and calculate

analytic insight such as scores,

trends, and predictions.


Business rule service

Problem

Solution

How do I make a business rule

explicit and used coordinated

throughout my business?

Define and expose a service which

offers tactical advise for decisions in

daily operations; both automated

and manual.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48745248@N00/225249268/sizes/l/#cc_license


Decision service

Problem

Solution

How do I make sure that knowledge

and experience is gathered and put

to use throughout the organization?

Analyze and define important

aspects of your business where

judgment and coordination in course

of action is of importance. Create a

service interface for such decisions,

often backed by human logic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/twenty_questions/2545246015/sizes/m/#cc_license

Title of presentation

Pattern based service

Problem

Solution

How do I identify internal and

external patterns of importance to

my business and base decisions on

the identified patterns?

?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pictoscribe/398520274/sizes/o/#cc_license


Artificial intelligence

Problem

Solution

How do I create a system that

perceives its environment and takes

actions which maximize its chances

of success?

?


The Hive Mind

Problem

Solution

How do I capture and utilize the

collective intelligence of the whole

organization to make better

decisions?

?

© Acando AB

If HP knew what HP knows, we

would be three times as profitable.

Lew PlattFormer CEO of Hewlett-Packard

“

© Acando AB

Enterprise 2.0 is the use of emergent

social software platforms within

companies, or between companies

and their partners or customers.

Andrew McAfeeAssociate Professor, Harvard Business School

“

Social networks –Connections

& Context

Collective wisdom and

understanding

© Acando AB

Social software = communication + participation

Photo by Andrea Simonato, http://www.sxc.hu/profile/aemmea98

© Acando AB

Social networks provide the infrastructure for innovation

Rapidly distribute

ideas, experiences

and knowledge

Find and connect

with people

across

boundaries

Become

aware of what

others are

doing

Tap into the

knowledge of

your informal

network


What is your mindset?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnthnhys/93624537/sizes/l/#cc_license


Agenda

Introduction


sources


Expected effects

How to start?


”In 2009, collaborative decision making will emerge as

a new product category that combines social software

with BI Platform capabilities” – Gartner


Adapted from http://www.slideshare.net/InsideOut/richard-dennison-jboye08-presentation

Focus on value not risk!

Start anywhere … start immediately

Start small and build slowly

Emphasise evolution not revolution

Harness the enthusiasm of the enthusiastic … especially if senior

Sometimes … „the only form of transportation is a leap of faith’!

Adapted from http://www.slideshare.net/InsideOut/richard-dennison-jboye08-presentation


Agenda

Introduction


sources


Expected effects

How to start?