Category: Insights

The Chief Data Officer – Adapting to life in a changed world

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the world for almost every business and individual, not least for Chief Data Officers (CDOs). In the new normal world no one can be sure what lies ahead, and those data strategies and plans that looked progressive and balanced a few months ago now require a radical overhaul to meet the…

Why organisations need intelligent forecasting

According to the Oxford Global Projects Database (OGPD), which holds data on nearly 12,000 different projects, almost every complex major project is destined to cost more and be delivered later than planned. Less than one in ten megaprojects are delivered on time and on budget, and full realisation of all project outcomes is rare. The…

Turning the Coronavirus threat into data driven opportunities

How should the COO and CDO use new technology to drive innovation post Covid-19 Their operations are currently running at different levels and, of course, they can’t ‘see’ everyone to assure, for example, that improvement programmes and projects are making progress.  It would be an easy option to put these initiatives on hold until better…

‘Big Data,’ Analytics and Statistical Process Control (SPC)

‘Big Data,’ Analytics and Statistical Process Control (SPC) “Poor little old SPC – with ‘big data’ and advanced analytics, we don’t need it anymore.” WRONG, VERY WRONG! Improving product quality by reducing process variation has always relied on data. However, SPC whilst being a long-established and powerful tool was developed over 70 years ago in…

What’s it like to work at The Oakland Group?

Hey! My name is Kevin and I am a Data Scientist working at the Oakland Group in Leeds. Having recently joined the development team at the beginning of October, I am excited to share my experiences as a new member of the Oakland team. Three facts about me: I have a PhD in Mathematics that…

Spark + AI Summit Europe 2019 – The Highlights

Last week I attended the Spark + AI Summit Europe 2019 in Amsterdam, whilst a few days in Amsterdam raised mentions of ‘jolly’ and ‘mini-breaks’ with the team this couldn’t have been further from the truth. With over 2,000 avid Spark users from all over Europe gathered together to get the latest updates and detailed…

Building an effective data team

We recently attended the Northern Data Forum where the big issue being discussed was what it takes to build an effective data team. Dave Naylor, CTO of ResearchBods and Heather Dawe, Lead Data Scientist at Hiscox UK talked about their experiences of doing just that. It was really insightful, so we thought we’d share some…

The key to unlocking your Oracle data

Data is nothing new. Long before the ‘Big Data’ explosion, businesses were producing and storing their data. The problem for those with large enterprise systems still in place is extracting that data so they can get the maximum benefit from it today. It can be a painful process. Having recently been set that challenge by…

Extracting maximum value from your data and analytics

Have you started on your data journey but struggling to break through the hype and fit the disparate parts of the data puzzle together to deliver the digital success you hoped for?  The Oakland Group’s Richard Corderoy delves into the real world of big data.   Are companies getting better at putting their data houses…

News from the CDO Exchange

So another year down. Another CDO Exchange attended. It was another great event hosted by IPQC, and as usual, most of it went without a hitch (apart from the accidental coffee spill over our table!). Many people we met have an increased level of ‘data maturity’ compared to only a year ago. It seems that the…

A tumultuous start to 2019

If the start of this year is anything to go by much change threatens (or promises) to lie ahead. No doubt you have been turning your minds to what 2019 will hold for you and your business. So what might we expect? 1. Given the latest Brexit bombshell and utter lack of clarity, business leaders…

Top Management Challenges in the 21st Century

Management Challenges in the 21st Century The rapid advancements in technology have the potential to both create opportunity and drive innovation. AI/machine learning is just scratching the surface of what can be achieved through process automation and advanced customer engagement. However, the hard facts are that most businesses live with a complex mix of technology…