Go Back To Basics Before You Move Ahead With (Big) Data Projects

"How can we make sure that our big data project is successful?" In all its variants, this is one of the most common questions we're asked in the context of our big data research and advisory work. The answer is of course multifaceted and multilayered — there is no single guaranteed recipe for success. Many things need to come together to make any kind of technology project successful — the right technology, the right skills, the right development and support processes, etc. — and big data projects are no different. Ultimately, though, none of these will lead to sustained success if the fundamentals aren't in place. That's why it's important for CIOs involved in initiatives related to big data to step away from the minutiae and go back to basics first.