Big Data... And the Information Professional
Jinfo Blog

By Victor Camlek

Abstract

Big data undoubtedly presents opportunities for information professionals. Victor Camlek looks at FreePint's recent articles on the topic to examine how info pros can demonstrate that their skill sets make them ideally suited to a career involving big data.

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We are living in the age of big data. At the simplest level, the concept is pervasive because it appears to be constantly defined, addressed, criticised, applauded and dissected across all forms of global media. Yet, despite this ubiquity, the question remains, is anyone speaking from the perspective of information professionals? Is big data something occurring around us - as a domain restricted to the world of IT experts - or are there opportunities, and perhaps risks, that we need to be aware of from the perspective of our operational workflow and career development as information professionals?

Recently Robin Neidorf reported, “When I asked customers near the end of 2012 what big-picture projects they had planned for 2013, a common theme quickly emerged: most of them mentioned "big data", in some way, shape or form.” However, Robin also noted that when she asked what these same clients meant by big data, the answer was, "I'm not sure yet."

Big Data in Action

Hence, FreePint has embarked on a series to define and evaluate big data from the perspective of our core clients, the information professionals and leaders responsible for managing corporate libraries and information centres.

In this Buyer's Guide, we have included several views from our contributing writers which are designed to provide enlightening, compelling and provocative insights that collectively provide an interesting mix of articles focused on the concept of big data and the info pro.

We start our adventure with an introductory piece by yours truly, Victor Camlek. Following a review of various articles and reports I accept the often mentioned notion that, similar to the “Ps” that define marketing, there are numerous “Vs” that define big data. In my opening coverage I elaborate on basic definitions of big data and offer an opinion about the career potential. This will be followed by several excellent articles which support various aspects of the big data challenge.

Collaboration and Analysis are Critical

James Mullan provides stimulating reasoning about the way big data can lead to opportunities for collaboration in addition to serving as a career path. He also introduces another set of functional parameters, “The Big Five”, that offer additional enlightenment around big data on an operational level.

Getting back to the value offered by big data, Tim Buckley Owen reviews the importance of analytics in the big data environment. Tim illustrates how analytics will be a critical, and not easily found, skill set. However, Tim further indicates why “reskilling” may be required for those info pros who want to move into analytic mode.

Opportunities for the Info Pro

Meanwhile, Dale Moore brings us closer to home as he compares big data to “big content”. Dale deftly cites recent reports that support the notion that whilst we struggle to apply analytics to huge datasets, there is a basic need to derive valuable “insights” from various components of the big data reservoir. These reports truly open a door to practical applications that spell opportunity for the information organisation.

By the time we review these assessments we should be ready to derive great benefits from Amy Affelt’s detailed article that deals with the “information overload”. The real world examples she quotes illustrate our growing reliance on big data. She also names the many tools available to extract knowledge and perform various kinds of analytics. Interestingly, Amy also turns to the concept of "Vs" for her definition of big data. However, similar to the conundrums offered by the various "Ps" associated with marketing, our readers will see that even within one series there are multiple Vs that are used by various authors. Regardless of views concerning which Vs to utilise, you will likely agree that Amy offers great value in her thorough and insightful review that includes a sequence of next steps that information pros should follow to achieve success as a big data expert.

Are Info Pros Essential to Big Data Projects?

We conclude on a provocative note as we return to Tim Buckley Owen who reports on the impact of the mixed messages and challenges which big data advocates must resolve as we move further along the Gartner view of the big data “hype cycle”. Among Tim’s insights are the notions that the real home for big data within the corporate world may not reside within IT. He also raises the spectre of intellectual property within the realm of big data, an issue that definitely pulls legal professionals as well as information professionals into what I’ll sardonically describe as the big data fracas.

Hopefully you will agree that the series of papers presented here make for beneficial reading that will enlighten and stimulate all of us as information professionals. As info pros we're developing our plans to embrace big data as a career path and business opportunity, and to demonstrate how organisations can benefit from the skill sets integral to information professionals.

Editor's Note: Big Data in Action

This article is part of the FreePint Topic Series: Big Data in Action, which includes articles, reports, webinars and resources published between April and June 2013. Learn more about the series here.

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