Just One Word, Ben - "Data"
What advice would you give Benjamin Bradock in 2012? The attached infographic from EMC makes a compelling case for choosing a career as a Data Scientist.
The next generation of business leaders will use data very differently. Data is no longer just used to generate reports and guide decision making in financial management and supply chain management. Now the emphasis is to drive predictive strategies, and to guide activities in selling, marketing and operations. Ad-hoc spreadsheets are giving way to sophisticated solutions using machine learning and Big Data. The reliance on analytics is fundamental to the 21st century organization.
"Data" is the new "Plastics".
Further Reading
1) Saama SixthSense for a Saama's point of view presentation on Big Data and why you need to listen to your Big Data.
2) CIO Analytics: Managing Business Value of IT for a whitepaper on how to measure, Plan and Cost Business Value of IT using a Service Oriented Delivery Model.
3) Big Data is the Answer - What was the Question? for a recorded version of the webinar hosted on February 17, 2012