Big Data Governance: Controlling and Handling Data
Accountancy within organizations has been around practically since the existence of organizations itself. As long as we can recall, we have kept track of what happened within an organization, or in the old days while farming or herding. The earliest records of accounting data back 7.000 years ago, from the ruins of Babylon, where the growth of crops and herds were recorded. Since then, accountancy has evolved into an entire industry that helps organizations understand their resources and determine the correct value of their assets and liabilities.
With the new era of big data, a new era of accountancy is required; data accountancy or data governance. One that is able of handling high volumes of a variety of data that has to be checked and controlled whether it is correct or not, with extensive and smart algorithms that perform incredible analyses within a fraction of a second and that provide predictions and visualizations that are used to define the course of an organization that will affect many stakeholders.
With so much data within an organization it is extremely important for organizations that the data they generate, store and analyze is 100% correct. With information-centric organizations that base their decisions on algorithms, it is fundamental that the algorithms and their (predictive) analyses are accurate. But who is qualified of checking and controlling thousands of Petabytes of data or extensive and really complex algorithms that improve over time? How do we ensure that consumer data is kept secure, private and is not abused? How do we ensure that the predictions made are based on the right variables? How do we know that green is really green and not perhaps red?
The era of big data will oblige a new form of auditing and control, of checks-and-balances and perhaps as well of quality labels for organizations. An ISO for big data? It could result in a completely new industry being developed next to and part of the global big data industry that is being formed in the coming years. Especially when organizations start to place big data on the balance sheet after they have determined the ROI, auditing or regulating organizations will pay very close attention to how the data is stored, collected, analyzed and visualized as it could make or break an organization.
There are three pillars belonging to big data governance: the data itself, the algorithms and the auditors responsible for the checks and balances. In the next post, I will discuss these in more detail and give insight in how organizations have to deal with big data governance.
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Dr Mark van Rijmenam
Dr. Mark van Rijmenam is a strategic futurist known as The Digital Speaker. He stands at the forefront of the digital age and lives and breathes cutting-edge technologies to inspire Fortune 500 companies and governments worldwide. As an optimistic dystopian, he has a deep understanding of AI, blockchain, the metaverse, and other emerging technologies, and he blends academic rigour with technological innovation.
His pioneering efforts include the world’s first TEDx Talk in VR in 2020. In 2023, he further pushed boundaries when he delivered a TEDx talk in Athens with his digital twin , delving into the complex interplay of AI and our perception of reality. In 2024, he launched a digital twin of himself offering interactive, on-demand conversations via text, audio or video in 29 languages, thereby bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds – another world’s first.
As a distinguished 5-time author and corporate educator, Dr Van Rijmenam is celebrated for his candid, independent, and balanced insights. He is also the founder of Futurwise , which focuses on elevating global digital awareness for a responsible and thriving digital future.
