Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

How to Tame the Big Data Beast It is one of those topics we can't escape -- and with good reason.

By Bernard Marr

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

LinkedIn Influencer, Bernard Marr, published this post originally on LinkedIn.

'Big Data' is one of those topics we can't escape - and with good reason. With the increasing amount of data available to us today, understanding and leveraging big data has become more important than ever.

Among all the hype it is sometimes useful to step back and reflect on what exactly is Big Data, and how do we leverage it so that we can glean insights about business and society?

I have picked three slide decks that anyone interested in big data should read to make sense of it all.

Big Data 101

Get your bearings with this great introduction to big data. It's a nice selection of visual slides that help to put big data into context, and highlight the importance of big data for business and society. It starts by defining big data and then illustrating how "big' big data really is.

Related: Big Data For Small Business - Why It Matters! (LinkedIn)

Turning Data Into Value

In this deck, I break big data down into its simplest terms. I give examples of the different types of data we can now collect and analyse, and then provide practical real world examples of how big data is being used by companies today to turn data into value. For example, you can better understand your customers, optimize your business processes or even improve sports performance and national security.

The Future of Big Data

Big data is not just about data - it's about opportunities. SAP's Timo Elliott looks at big data trends in this deck, and covers the opportunities of data for business, including empowering employees and leveraging business networks.

Related: One Simple Trick To Have Successful Conversations (LinkedIn)

Bernard Marr

Author, Keynote Speaker and Consultant in Strategy, Performance Management, Analytics and Big Data

Bernard Marr is a best-selling author, keynote speaker and consultant in strategy, performance management, analytics, key performance indicators (KPIs) and big data.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Career

Is Consumer Services a Good Career Path for 2024? Here's the Verdict

Consumer services is a broad field with a variety of benefits and drawbacks. Here's what you should consider before choosing it as a career path.

Business News

'Creators Left So Much Money on the Table': Kickstarter's CEO Reveals the Story Behind the Company's Biggest Changes in 15 Years

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor explains the decision-making behind the changes, how he approaches leading Kickstarter, and his advice for future CEOs.

Business Ideas

87 Service Business Ideas to Start Today

Get started in this growing industry, with options that range from IT consulting to childcare.