Big Data
Big Data
What is Big Data?
Big data describes both the structured and unstructured data that exceeds the processing abilities of conventional database systems. Because of the increased processing abilities of modern technologies, data has become too big and too fast. As a result, special analytical software is required to understand all of the stored data. Ultimately, the big data in the databases is useful in creating valuable information to businesses. By analyzing big data, companies have improved their decision making processes to help them gain competitive advantages, prevent threats and fraud, and capitalize on new sources of revenue.
How is Big Data related to MIS 2502?
To see the value of data, Data Analytics class has taught us different ways to transform data into useful information using analytical software. One method of analyzing data is through a database management system called MySQL Workbench. MySQL decreases processing time and makes evaluating data easier for companies to create useful information. Along with MySQL, Excel’s pivot table function allows users to simply drag and drop table values to extract specific information from very large and detailed data sets. Like MySQL, pivot tables reduces the data processing times because it summarizes the data into easy-to-read lists and tables. SAS is the last analytics tool we learned that enables us to enter, retrieve, and manage data. Using SAS, users create decision trees, clusters, and perform association rule mining to evaluate data sets into useful information and is a beneficial tool businesses can use to gain value from big data.
An example of Big Data in the world:
Target was in the news for using big data. By analyzing all of the data in their systems, Target was able to send coupons and personalized booklets for expecting families to lure customers into its stores. By analyzing its big data, Target was able to ingeniously increase profits and gain competitive advantages by covertly marketing to a specific group of people. While the public might feel Target analyzing their shopping patterns is an invasion of their privacy, the company’s practices show the importance of big data and the benefits of it to companies if used properly.
Sources
“Big Data.” IBM – What Is – United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Beal, Vangie. “Big Data.” What Is Big Data? Webopedia, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Dumbill, Edd. “What Is Big Data?” O’Reilly Radar. O’Reilly Media, Inc., 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Apr.
Hill, Kashmir. “How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did.” Forbes.
Forbes Magazine, 16 Feb. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.