Ted Cuzzillo

To hell with “guts,” Accenture’s survey gave a false choice

February 2, 2009 by Ted Cuzzillo

Forty percent of business executives trust their guts over data? I admit those survey results made me raise an eyebrow — but then I put it down again. False alarm.

Forty percent may be significant, but compared with what? Is that worse than last year? For all we know — at least from the press release, since I can’t seem to find the actual report — this could be a huge improvement for the analytics industry.

I’d like to know more about that 40 percent who prefer “guts” over data. How many used pure clairvoyance, and how many used aids like tarot cards, tea leaves and pig entrails?… Read the rest “To hell with “guts,” Accenture’s survey gave a false choice”

Insomnia, cure

January 27, 2009 by Ted Cuzzillo

Sid Adelman tells me that years ago he let his then-brother-in-law, an insomniac, read a chapter of his book on data warehousing. The guy fell asleep.

Some of us like to name things in BI

January 6, 2009 by Ted Cuzzillo

If you haven’t already, ask around: Exactly what is “business intelligence”? Some say it’s all about business decision making, and others seem to think it’s all about tools.

We struggle with definitions, but usually not in public. Perhaps that’s why the recent uproar on the weblog of eminent visualization critic Stephen Few felt like a refreshing breeze.

It all began with Few’s damning review of a product whose promoters tripped and gave it the now-sexy “visualization” label. Oops.

Usually, Few’s readers sit back and enjoy the show. He’s one of the few Bi writers with the courage to call out a stinker.… Read the rest “Some of us like to name things in BI”