Big Data Opportunities – Are We There Yet? (Part 2)

Decision making based on the data from the social media can be biased, because the data do not capture what the decision makers need to minimize their own biases. The Big Data is biased and noisy. This is a source of big mistakes, risks and uncertainties.

By Olena Denysyuk

(for part 1, see here)

There is a new and big buzz-word is bubbling in many diversities of blogosphere, academics, forums and journalism, social influencers. The big word is BIG DATA (not just data, but BIG data). And the thinking is that the big data can give us BIG OPPORTUNITIES, and even visions to revolutionize the way we “stare” into the future. To me, there is a slight risk that we are moving towards wishful thinking, once again. Why wishful thinking? Well, the risks and uncertainties around big data are being underestimated, once again. We always had and will have a need in socially- sharing -thinking about something positive:  a belief that there is something that will bring us new opportunities; a new era towards a better future. And now all stare at big data bright future.

I have already mentioned, that the big data makes us even blinder to something potential, different, and not recorded (forecasting and technical uncertainties), so no matter which angle I would like to focus on when writing about big data, something else data had/has/will always have on its challenging side: the uncertainty generated by the human factor and by….big data itself.

But first allow me to mention what are these big opportunities I would like to focus on.

Strategic Improvements

The Uncertainties of Big Data (Part 1)

We might be on the beginning on the big data “epoch”. There are certainly great opportunities not only for business decision makers, but also for those, who like to work with big analytics. But the forecasting uncertainties are NOT eliminated by big data. In fact, the big data makes us even blinder to something potential, different, and not recorded.  This is a source if big boundaries, limits and diminished opportunities.

By Olena Denysyuk

Isn’t fun to be able to predict the future and change the direction of a business? Not the way the clairvoyants do, but like economists/ data analysts do. There are no big differences in these 2 groups, some would say. Maybe, it’s right. Nobody can see the next 10 years.  A 10-year business forecast is a good structuring tool, but as seeing- into-the- future tool, there is not so much value in it. Sadly.

But there should be some underlying reasoning, which these two groups share, since they share the idea of prophecy.

The later one predict the future (form the opinions, make the decisions) basing any judgment on data, technical/statistical/accounting/graphical. The former one predicts the future…well… I guess they have their own access to data they need: social media, Google among others.  No matter what analytics you go after in the realm of predicting the future, data is the central component.

So the word” data” is not new…     

Not only democratic values should be promoted, they should be helped to get implemented!

The successful resolution of the severe political crisis requires simple and clear goals and rules that everyone understands. Unfortunately, Ukraine doesn’t have them - authoritarianism has taken over. And we are the Ukrainians and cannot keep quite. This letter is a call to Europe for help, because Ukraine is in tragedy. It should no longer be a collective television watching only!

By Olena Denysyuk and Anastasia Erichsen

Photo by Olga Starostina

The uprising of Ukrainians during the last three weeks has been a moment of celebration. It’s the celebration of individual rights and democracy, the celebration of hope and values, which Europe stands for. Hundreds of thousands of people have peacefully protested against the remnants of the totalitarian regime of the last century. The people’s dream and hope of being a truly European and democratic country for the upcoming 10th year anniversary of the Orange Revolution was about to become true.

How To Be More Creative?

Creativity is part of our mind, our meaning, and our personal dynamics. Creativity is what we need, if we are to flourish in our well- being, including physical, environmental, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health. It’s a way to find meaning in all what we do, how we live and where we go.         

By Olena Denysyuk

  I think it is a well-known statement that creativity combined with rationalization and reasoning, adds more value to everything. It is a way for a product to stand out in a crowded market. Be it design, a story, a play. Be it something that provokes feelings. Be it something unique and beautiful, but meaningful. And for creativity to give meaning, it should be enhanced by rationalization and reasoning. Does it give meaning? If not- it doesn’t matter- creativity doesn’t always make sense. But actually, how do you find logic in creativity?

For many years I crafted my logical and analytical abilities, the left side of the brain, but not the right one. But actually, as long as I progress these analytical (L-sided abilities), I am becoming better and better in my creative (R-sided) abilities as well. What are the reasons?

Can creativity be synthesized? Or explained logically, and can it be learned at all? Where do creative ideas come from? What I have noticed, is that my good ideas to my creative hobbies (design, photography) come when I am relaxed; when I am very much motivated; when I notice details and its “new connections”; when I push myself into creative thinking; and when I have a dream. But I am sure there is more to the story.

Den unikke Riga

Den unikke Riga

Rigas DNA gemmer en sammensætning af nordiske og russiske gener. Historisk set var Riga altid været under vestlig og russisk indflydelse, hvilket har resulteret i kulturelle sammenstød. Sammenstødet gør Riga til en meget unik en by på verdens plan. Den russiske dominans særligt under Sovjet har nødvendiggjort skabelsen af en særlig hjælpsomhedskultur.  Men i dag er Riga i høj grad under indflydelsen af vesten. Hvordan har det påvirket folkets vilje til at hjælpe hinanden, under de nye muligheder som murens fald har åbnet for?

Af Olena Denysyuk

Kultursammenstød kan føre mange ting af sig. Det kan føre til politiske og samfundsmæssige diskussioner om indvandring, tørklæder og religiøse hensyn. I værste fald kan det ende i krig. I bedste fald kan det skabe berigende oplevelser og åbne anderledes tilgange til livet.

 Mit sidste kultursammenstød var i Riga, sidst i august til et bryllup. Sammenstødet var af den positive slags. Fredeligt. Behageligt. Lykkestimulerende. 

 Et sammenstød mellem det ”fredelige og harmoniske” nordiske og den ”vilde og kaotiske” russiske kultur. Det gav mig følelsen at have et ben i hver banehalvdel.

Historier om de psykologiske mekanismer, der styrer dit arbejdsliv (”Livsfarlig Ledelse” af Christian Ørsted) Del 2

”De historier vi fortæller om vores travle liv er afspejlet i vores virksomhedskultur. Derfor er det vigtigt, at vi hver især, individuelt, i vores teams, i vores virksomhed og som nation skaber andre historier, der kan supplere de gamle”, siger Christian Ørsted i sin ny bog ”Livsfarlig Ledelse”. Og ”de andre historier” skal, for eksempel, vise vej til bæredygtig ledelse.

Af Olena Denysyuk

Vi får ansvar og glæde, vi anerkender, at vi kan godt lide at have mange jern i ilden, for det betyder, at ens liv er fyldt op med vigtige ting. Vi elsker at fortælle, at vi er alt for travle.

Men kan det også være en årsag til psykiske lidelser, udbrændthed, stress, dødsfald.

Så hvordan kan vi ”skabe” en bæredygtig ledelseskultur ved hjælp af ”andre” nye historier, der supplerer de gamle, når vi ”ligefrem SKAL! brænde for vores job”?

Christian Ørsteds bog er et bud på ”de andre” historier, som kan være en årsag til livsfarlige ledelse, om dem, der er farlige for vores psykiske helbred.

Her er nogle af hans opmærksomhedsvækkende tanker, som vi alle sammen burde forstå essensen af.

Historie No. 1: Frideden er falsk

Strategisk ledelse eller mytteri? (”Livsfarlig Ledelse” af Christian Ørsted, Anmeldelse) Del1

Det er ikke længere godt nok, at være en STRATEGISK LEDER, som i det skjulte kan være utopisk. I dag skal ledelse være BÆREDYGTIG, fordi vores psykiske helbred er i ledernes hænder.

 

Af Olena Denysyuk

I den ideelle virksomhed vil jeg forvente, at strategisk ledelse styres på baggrund af STRATEGISKE mål, som en virksomhed forholder sig til, dvs. dens vision, mission, markeds situation, konkurrence, resurser. Traditionel eller hierarkisk, økonomisk, innovativ, kreativ ledelse er ”bare” en proces, der hjælper til at gennemføre målet. Men i sidste ende bliver ledelsesbeslutninger taget til gavn for  virksomhedens indtjening, med effektivisering i fokus.

 

Her kommer motivation, anerkendelse, personlig udvikling og teamwork ind i billedet. Det er de strategiske ledelsesværktøjer, der hjælper ledere og medarbejdere med at komme tættere til målet, eller overleve på den konkurrencemæssige slagmark, eller styre organisatoriske ændringer eller opnå fordele ved vidensdeling.  Derfor får vi også friheden til at udføre vores arbejde, fordi ”det rummer værdier, som ordentlighed, arbejdsmoral, socialt ansvar og effektivitet”, der også hjælper med at komme til målet.

 

Men noget kan gå helt galt: på tidspunkt brænder vi simpelthen ud, selvom vi bliver glade og tilfredse for vores arbejde. “Ofte brænder vi netop ud, når vi er mest tilfredse og føler os på sporet. Det er nemlig der, vi bliver dødmotiverede”, siger Christian Ørsted, som har arbejdet med coaching i 15 år. Og det er virkelig farligt for vores helbred, vores innovative kompetencer, vores familier og liv…