The 5 levels of Big Data maturity

Big Data is a term that's mentioned more often than it's understood, but it's not a difficult concept to grasp, at least broadly speaking: on a general level it means tapping into the massive sets and feeds of data available in the digital age and using them to spot trends, make predictions and inform business decisions.
It's helping to transform the business landscape in the same way that FW Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management helped transform the business landscape; a century ago, Taylor's idea of an organisation running like an efficient machine was a major influence on Henry Ford and other innovators of the mass production age.

While Taylor didn't have databases of statistics or data-crunching software to hand, he was a proponent of using scientific study and rules as founding principles of business. Today's revolution is similar in that managers are switching from using experience and anecdotes to Big Data to drive their decision making.

It's not always an easy process though:  an imbalance of resources, a lack of clear goals, poorly thought-out data structure and badly managed reports can all negate the positive effects of Big Data, as the Harvard Business Review reports. Data-driven decision making should be a slow and careful process, and we'd like to highlight what we think are the five levels of Big Data maturity.

1. No Data — Quite simply, data isn't being collecting or the business decision makers don't have access to it. This is where companies unaware of the benefits of Big Data sit.

2. Data, But Inadequate Tools — One step forward;
   data is being collected, but the associated tools are either not able to cope with the volume, or they're too difficult for decision makers to use.

3. Data And Tools, But Inadequate Understanding of Statistics — Another step forward, but in this case business decision makers don't have the required understanding of statistics to be able to interpret the results that the tools are showing, so it's still largely redundant.

4. Limited Data, Tools and Insight — A small group of key individuals within an organisation have the data, tools and insight, but they are few in number and isolated. The organisation as a whole lacks the ability to challenge and debate the findings.

5. Big Data Maturity — At this stage many of the issues above are resolved. Multiple people have the data, tools and insight required, and the company has a culture of using data to support business decisions. Not only that, proposals are analysed and challenged before being adopted.

Reaching the fifth stage can have significant and long-lasting benefits for a business looking to get ahead in the age of Big Data. Which level is your company up to — and how can it move forward to the next one?