We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit, taking place this week in Orlando, Florida. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference.
On Day 1 from the conference, we are highlighting the Gartner opening keynote presentation on innovation amidst uncertainty, as well as sessions on digital ethics and the top trends in D&A. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.
Presented by Gareth Herschel, VP Analyst, Gartner and Debra Logan, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Data and analytics (D&A) have simultaneously been a driver, enabler and response to the uncertainty organizations have dealt with for more than two years. In this session, Gareth Herschel, VP Analyst at Gartner and Debra Logan, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, explored how organizations can consider new perspectives in D&A and design better decisions in a world of perpetual change.
“As D&A professionals we should always be asking ourselves not just whether we are collecting, integrating and storing our data in the best way possible, but more fundamentally, whether we have the right data.”
“Having the right varieties of data is more important than volume.”
D&A leaders can ensure they have the right data by doing four things: 1) stop collecting data just in case; 2) consider substituting big data for small data, 3) swap real data for synthetic data, and 4) ensure your active metadata tells you not only what data you have, but also what it means.
“The most valuable data will be the data we create, not the data we collect.”
Gartner estimates that by 2030, the majority of the data used to build models will be synthetic data.
“Data alone is unlikely to drive decisions. Design better decisions by improving the timing of decisions, accelerating decisions and connecting decisions.”
Learn more in the associated Gartner press release.
Presented by Frank Buytendijk, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Digital ethics has become a key component of the data and analytics leader’s role, as organizations move from asking what they should do about ethics to assessing their progress on digital ethics initiatives. In this presentation, Frank Buytendijk, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, highlighted how organizations can assess their maturity in digital ethics.
A persistent misunderstanding is that technology is amoral. In fact, technology is intentional and its design reveals values.
Digital ethics is essential for all technology applications, but it is particularly important when evaluating complex or emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and metaverse.
An organization's digital ethics maturity can range from unaware or purely focused on regulatory compliance; to passive, where issues are solved as they arise; to proactive, where the organization is planning the right thing to do based on multiple perspectives. At the highest level of maturity, ethics is an integral element of all operations.
Learn to trust the process of developing a digital ethics strategy. Start with principles or values, then operationalize by identifying underlying dilemmas. Then, monitor for unintended consequences and take responsibility by having a process for escalation.
Remember that different technologies have different moral footprints. For example, databases and development tools may have a lower moral footprint, while tools like AI or the metaverse require new thinking to consider their ethical implications.
The bottom line is that digital ethics is now a mainstream topic. If it’s not on management’s agenda already, put it on.
Presented by Carlie Idoine, VP Analyst, Gartner and Ted Friedman, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Managing consequent and persistent uncertainty and volatility will be a key focus for data and analytics (D&A) leaders in 2022. In this session, Carlie Idoine, VP Analyst at Gartner and Ted Friedman, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, highlighted the top D&A trends that must be on D&A leaders’ radar to drive new growth, efficiency, resilience and innovation.
Trend #2: Data-Centric AI. Without the right data, building AI is risky and possibly dangerous. Formalizing data-centric AI as part of your data management strategy will ensure AI-specific data considerations, such as data bias, labeling and drift, are addressed.
Trend #3: Context-Enriched Analysis. It helps identify and create further context based on similarities, constraints, paths and communities. By 2025, context-driven analytics and AI models will replace 60% of existing models built on traditional data.
Trend #4: Skills and Literacy Shortfall. Through 2025, the majority of CDOs will have failed to foster the necessary data literacy within the workforce to achieve their stated strategic data-driven business goals. Organizations must foster broader data literacy and digital learning, rather than simply delivering core platforms, datasets and tools.
Trend #5: Connected Governance. Connected governance provides a means to connect disparate governance efforts, including D&A governance, across different organizations, both physical and virtual, as well as geographies.
Trend #6: Expansion to the Edge. Data, analytics and the technologies supporting them increasingly reside in edge computing environments, closer to assets in the physical world and outside IT’s traditional purview.
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight to executives and their teams. Our expert guidance and tools enable faster, smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities. To learn more, visit gartner.com.
Meghan Rimol
Gartner
Meghan.Rimol@Gartner.com
