As a forward-thinking business leader, do you know how to make best use of data and AI, to improve your business and act strategically and decisively? This fully updated second edition of Data Means Business is a comprehensive and pragmatic guide for leaders that sets out a proven approach for developing the mindset and strategies required to generate value from data and AI. Jargon-free and packed with the latest practical advice, examples and real stories, Data Means Business will help you start or scale successfully and deliver positive impact. Read this book to: Understand the impact and value delivered by data and AI Define a data, AI and technology strategy that is aligned to your business Build robust foundations for data and AI Create a culture of using data and AI to drive decision-making Have an approach that focuses on scaling results
Jason Foster: Jason is a best-in-class data strategist who has helped hundreds of organisations to activate their data and technology to drive change. He is host of the 'Hub and Spoken' podcast, Founder and CEO at Cynozure and has been recognised as one of the most influential people in data. Barry Green: Barry is a future thinking transformation leader who is passionate about using data, AI and technology to drive digital efficiencies in both our business and personal lives. He has undertaken a number of CDO roles with a strong belief that resilience, cognitive diversity and people are the keys to successful change and transformation.
Foreword - Introduction - Part One: Thinking Differently - 1 A New Approach - Part Two: Getting Off The Ground - 2 Establish The Agenda - 3 Prove Value - Part Three: Growth And Impact - 4 Scale - 5 Accelerate - 6 Optimise - Part 4: Defining And Delivering Your Strategy - 7 Plotting And Tracking Your Journey - Acknowledgements - The Authors
'It is time to remove the fog. This book is a simple and practical guide on how to approach and harness data and AI, supported by clever humans, to create better outcomes for your business.' - Dr Beatrice Lafon, ex CEO Claire's, Pimkie, Kondor, Etam Group, T J Hughes, Founder The Business Intelligence Network, Chair/ NED in the Consumer Sector, Founding Member of the Leadership Council at causaLens 'In today's world, harnessing the power of data is not just key to driving successful business strategies, but sustainable ones too. Data Means Business provides practical advice and clear frameworks for achieving this, and is a must-read for business leaders looking to harness the power of data to drive positive change.' - Adam Elman, Director of Sustainability - EMEA, Google 'A valuable read for data leaders and learners, providing insightful and pragmatic guidance.' - Susie Moan, Chief Data Officer, Currys Plc 'There is nothing more important in the world of data than using it to drive commercial outcomes - whatever those might be for your organisation. Data Means Business is the guide both data and commercial professionals need in order to understand how they can best collaborate and support each other so they can use data for exactly those outcomes. A must-read for all senior leaders!' - Greg Freeman, CEO, Data Literacy Academy 'Many companies talk about data and AI, but then struggle to deliver. This book gives readers the tools they need to make data and AI a core focus of their growth strategy. A must-read for senior business leaders looking to understand the approach and work required to make this happen.' - Kim Gray, Non-Executive Director and Executive Coach 'Whilst there are no shortage of "data books" on the market, this one is unashamedly focused on driving commercial outcomes from your business. It sounds obvious, but in this book Jason and Barry manage to stay laser-focused on delivering actual value and using data in practical ways to do so. It is an unpretentious and well-described handbook of tools, examples and questions we should all be using to utilise our data assets to their full potential.' - Barry Panayi, Partner and Chief Data and Insight Officer, John Lewis Partnership 'In developing our technology strategy that enables our business outcomes, we realised the need to include data. Like technology, articulating the impact of data on business results as an input to drive strategic decisions is difficult to most business leaders. We therefore used business capabilities to translate not just the technology and data capabilities but all key components of our business. Having a common way to describe our organisation has helped facilitate the necessary conversations. These conversations not only educate everyone but help build on the cultural change needed to support a digital journey. This book provides all the stimulus to help facilitate the conversation and make data part of the Business DNA.' - Jeroen Akkermans, Head of Digital Innovation and Enterprise Architecture, DSM-Firmenich 'As the Tech and Data world continues to introduce more jargon, the CDO faces the perpetual challenge of demystifying their value and aligning perspectives from almost everyone in the business on what they should be doing on any given day! Data Means Business provides the reassurance and frameworks to help the CDO win by providing practical guidance to focus their efforts on enhancing critical capabilities that matter to the enterprise, unlocking proven approaches to quantify the CDO impact.' - Chris Wyard, Chief Data Officer, Beazley Group 'I loved this book, so much of it resonates with me and is an articulation of my own journey of data discovery over the years. This is not just a book for chief data officers and data management leads as it says in the intro, this is a handbook for any and all CXOs who have responsibility for or an interest in data - and that is all of them.' - Lorraine Waters, Chief Data Officer, Global Compliance, HSBC and Top 100 Global Data Power Women 2020 'Intelligent, witty and insightful. Barry and Jason eloquently discuss the challenging nature of business with the complexity of organisational culture to beautifully illustrate a framework to release value and create advantage from data that you may already hold. A must-read for all navigating change and innovation.' - Dr Johanna Hutchinson, Group Chief Data Officer, BAE Systems Plc 'A great guide which I would highly recommend to all Chief Data Officers, future Heads of Data and business leaders to help them on their data journey. Unlike some guides which use technical jargon readily, Data Means Business instead offers simple steps to deliver an effective data-led organisation.' - Katie Hevey, Digital and Data Practice Leader, Leathwaite 'Data, like money and people, is an organisation's most precious resource. While finance teams have generations of established practice, the data profession has quickly matured from newborn into an AI-powered infant. As organisations grapple with both data and AI capabilities, only the most adept are seizing the full potential. Jason and Barry's influential book continues to be the North Star for the profession, now modernised for the AI era. Their practical framework is levelling the playing field for leaders who need to build data and AI capability but don't know what excellence looks like. Read this and you will.' - Omid Shiraji, Portfolio CIO, Advisor and Non-executive Director
