Abstract
Companies have to contend with the need to process big amounts of data. This paper explores the concept of big data concerning how companies interact with big data and reap its benefits. This concept is often known as ‘big data,’ and it has prompted organizations to look for alternative methods of processing their data. Besides, the paper explores the business and analytical aspects of big data.
Case Summary
Modern companies have to contend with the need to process big amounts of data. This concept is often known as ‘big data,’ and it has prompted organizations to look for alternative methods of processing their data. Nevertheless, big data provides both challenges and opportunities to organizations. The benefits of big data can only be accrued when companies can manipulate their data successfully. The first example of big data concerns the British Library. According to the case study, the British Library has to accommodate approximately 6 billion searches and preserve data that is no longer in demand although it is historically significant.
Consequently, the British Library uses IBM BigSheets, a data processing software program that specializes in big data solutions. On the other hand, state and federal law enforcement agencies are concentrating on big data in regards to the patterns that it reveals. Consequently, law enforcement agencies are concerned with analytical elements when they are dealing with big data. For instance, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has a data ‘warehouse’ that contains millions of records.
This case study notes that some organizations are concerned with the need for energy conservation, as is the case with Vestas. Vestas is a wind energy company that is located in Denmark, and its big data comes in the form of a giant wind library. Vestas’ big data solution comes in the form of several integrated software programs. The integration of software programs ensures that Vestas can save time and energy during wind surveys. Another significant use of big data is in analyzing consumer-related dynamics. Nevertheless, big data solutions are not a sure remedy for businesses because they do not guarantee that the right information will be found or good decisions will be made.
Describe the kind of big data collected by the organizations
The organizations in this case study collect various kinds of big data. First, the British Library collects mostly government-related and historical data. The British Library’s website is tasked with the preservation of information that is mainly in the form of written texts and photographs. Consequently, the big data that is handled by the British Library mainly require safekeeping. For instance, the British Library is responsible for storing all news’ items that appear in major publications in the United Kingdom. However, this vast amount of data is also expected to be in a ‘searchable’ state.
On the other hand, the federal and state law-enforcement agencies mainly collect data that is in form of records. Law agencies are capitalizing on the ability to collect, store, and sort big data. Law enforcement agencies mainly handle data that is in the form of criminal records, citizen complaints, and other general public records. On the other hand, the agencies use their big data to formulate crime-related statistics. Vestas collects data that has some variables. For instance, Vestas collects data involving locations, weather conditions, and environmental changes. Out of the three companies that are included in this case study, Vestas’ big data is the most complex one in terms of its analytical elements.
Describe the business intelligence technologies
The business intelligence technologies that are outlined in this case study are mostly used to make it easy for companies to store and manipulate big data. The British Library uses a vendor-provided solution when handling its data. For instance, the British Library uses IBM’s BigSheets big data solution to handle over 6 billion searches that are made through its website every year. IBM’s BigSheets big data solution helps the organization to annotate, extract, and visually analyze random data bits into information that can be consumed by browsers. The hallmark of IBM’s BigSheets is the system’s ability to process information quickly and efficiently.
Another business intelligence technology is the one used by Vestas Incorporated. Vestas uses a combination of IBM’s proprietary software programs to cater to its various big data issues. For instance, Vestas uses IBM’s Infosphere BigInsights that has to run under IBM’s System x iDataPlex server. The key strength of this business intelligence solution is to handle the multiplicity of the big data that is often handled by Vestas.
Why did the companies need to maintain and analyze big data?
Big Data presents companies with several opportunities and advantages. In the case of the British Library, the need to manipulate big data is occasioned by the fact that the institution is expected to maintain records on behalf of the government and the public. Moreover, the British Library can minimize cost and time when it comes to data processing. The law enforcement agencies benefit from big data solutions because they can ease their operations in a big way. For Vestas, the big data solutions enable the company to reduce its carbon footprint and harness all its operations by putting them in a single platform. Another company uses big data solutions to track consumer behavior and feedback.
Identify three decisions that were improved by using big data?
One decision that was improved, using big data involves the need to preserve ‘outdated’ information by the British Library. Without big data, it would have been almost impossible to preserve the vast amount of information that is held by the British Library without jeopardizing its integrity. Using big data also affects the way the NYPD relays information concerning criminal records. For instance, officers on the ground can receive information about a suspect almost instantly. Another decision that was improved by big data involves Vestas doubling the capacity of its wind library as well as its ability to monitor turbines when they are in the field.
What kinds of organizations are most likely to need the big data management and analytical tools?
Law enforcement agencies can greatly benefit from big data management and analysis. For instance, police departments and anti-terrorist organizations need to institute complex data relay methods that can accommodate the need for urgency and accuracy in this line of work. The same pattern applies to the exchange of information between different law enforcement agencies. Crimes that are committed within different jurisdictions might require the exchange and collaboration of data within various databases. Another type of organization that might require big data management and analysis involves meteorology.
Weather information is required by various organizations, including airlines, farmers, and biologists, among others. Consequently, weather information qualifies for big data solutions and analytics. Nevertheless, information and technology companies have the biggest need for big data analysis due to their tendency to store data on behalf of their customers. Consequently, the data that is held by information technology companies never reduces, but it keeps increasing as technological platforms increase.