16. Implications of big data for society.

Since McKinsey wrote a well-known report about Big Data in May 2011 and called it the next frontier for innovation, competition and productivity, we have come a long way. In the past year 12% of organisations have developed a Big Data strategy, while 70% of the respondents of a SASsurvey said that they were planning or already started a Big Data project. More interesting however, is that 21% don’t know enough about Big Data, while 15% did not understand the benefits of Big Data for their organisation. So, while slowly more organisations are implementing a Big Data strategy, there is still a large part that has no clue about Big Data. When organisations do not understand Big Data, there probably is a large part of the consumers that have no clue about Big Data either.

And that is scary, as Big Data will have a gigantic impact on society, the way organisations are managed and operated, the way the government is organized and subsequently the global economy.

Big Data, as is with most of disruptive technologies happening at the moment, has at first an impact on organisations. The innovators and the early adopters among the organisations are already embracing Big Data. According to the Technology Adoption Cycle this group represents approximately 16% and with 12% having implemented a strategy we are almost bridging the gap to the rest of the organisations. Only when the technology has crossed the chasm, the rest of the organisations, the early and late majority and finally the laggards, will implement a Big Data strategy.

Obviously, an impact on the economy will affect society. Big Data will bring many quantified-selfmovement, consumers are able to track and monitor their every move and thus gain a better understanding of their own lives. 

Datafloq.com. (2019). Big Data Impacts Society, But What Will Be The Impact Of Society On Big Data?. [online] Available at: https://datafloq.com/read/big-data-will-have-a-big-impact-on-society/212 [Accessed 18 Jan. 2019].