Harnham

Data Innovation Summit 2018

our consultant managing the role
Author: Alex Hutchings
Posting date: 5/1/2018 2:59 PM

This year’s Data Innovation Summit was both bigger and better, but why?

Harnham have had the pleasure of sponsoring and exhibiting at the annual Data Innovation Summit in Stockholm for two consecutive years and we have seen some interesting changes in the market over the last twelve months.

Last year the summit was all about barriers to data innovation, which at the time felt like a very relevant and accurate topic to address based on how the market was feeling, experiencing and dealing with the new challenges faced in a more data-driven landscape. Working innovatively with data was still new for many and the eagerness to learn was fascinating, even if our research poll during the 2017 summit clearly demonstrated that the major barriers to data innovation were stakeholder buy-in, budget, and availability of data and technology. So, what changed?

This year was more sophisticated, and people were ready for it!

Data-Driven Innovation, Data Management, implementation of Analytics and Data Science capabilities, Artificial Intelligence, IOT insight, and technology – all hot topics that attendees were ready to explore in greater depth than ever. People came with higher expectations, questions and more clearly defined challenges from their own workplaces that required new insights to help drive solutions. So how did we get there?

The importance of investing in data and analytics recourses has proven not only to be something stakeholders talk about, but a strategy that has actually been executed after all. Harnham Nordics had the pleasure of consulting and growing the analytics teams of numerous organisations across a wide range of industries and the fact remains that data teams are developing into key hubs within organisations steering business innovation. Data Engineers, Data Scientists, BI Developers and Analysts are working closely together in agile environments and creating value not individually, but together as a unit.

For Harnham to continue supporting the successful growth of the Data and Analytics community, we gathered further insights during the 2018 summit on how to Engage, Motive and Retain the best talent in the field! We are delighted to be able to share those results with you.

Results from the Data Innovation Summit Survey 2018

ENGAGE. MOTIVATE. RETAIN.

Which relationships do you value the most?

Which has been the most important reason for the successful execution of data projects at your company?

Related blog & news

With over 10 years experience working solely in the Data & Analytics sector our consultants are able to offer detailed insights into the industry.

Visit our Blogs & News portal or check out the related posts below.

Harnham's Brush with Fame

Harnham have partnered with The Charter School North Dulwich as corporate sponsors of their ‘Secret Charter’ event. The event sees the south London state school selling over 500 postcard-sized original pieces of art to raise funds for their Art, Drama and Music departments. Conceived by local parent Laura Stephens, the original concept was to auction art from both pupils and contributing parents.  Whilst designs from 30 of the school's best art students remain, the scope of contributors has rapidly expanded and now includes the work of local artists alongside celebrated greats including Tracey Emin, Sir Anthony Gormley, Julian Opie, and Gary Hume.  In addition to famous artists, several well-known names have contributed their own designs including James Corden, David Mitchell, Miranda Hart, Jo Brand, Jeremy Corbyn, and Hugh Grant.  The event itself, sponsored by Harnham and others, will be hosted by James Nesbitt, and will take place at Dulwich Picture Gallery on the 15th October 2018.  You can find out how to purchase a postcard and more information about the event here. 

Simon Clarke

17. September 2018

Breaking Code: How Programmers and AI are Shaping the Internet of Tomorrow

Data. It’s what we do. But, before the data is read and analysed, before the engineers lay the foundation of infrastructure, it is the programmers who create the code – the building blocks upon which our tomorrow is built. And once a year, we celebrate the wizards behind the curtain.  In a nod to 8-bit systems, on the 256th day of the year, we celebrate Programmers’ Day. Innovators from around the world gather to share knowledge with leading experts from a variety of disciplines, such as privacy and trust, artificial intelligence, and discovery and identification. Together they will discuss the internet of tomorrow.  The Next Generation of Internet At the Next Generation Internet (NGI), users are empowered to make choices in the control and use of their data. Each field from artificial intelligent agents to distributed ledger technologies support highly secure, transparent, and resilient internet infrastructures. A variety of businesses are able to decide how best to evaluate their data through the use of social models, high accessibility, and language transparency. Seamless interaction of an individual’s environment regardless of age or physical condition will drive the next generation of the internet. But, like all things which progress, practically at the speed of light, there is an element of ‘buyer beware’, or in this case, from ‘coder to user beware’. Caveat Emptor or rather, Caveat Coder The understanding, creation, and use of algorithms has revolutionised technology in ways we couldn’t possibly have imagined a few decades ago. Digital and Quantitative Analysts aim to, with enough data, be able to predict some action or outcome. However, as algorithms learn, there can be severe consequences of unpredictable code.  We create technology to improve our quality of life and to make our tasks more efficient. Through our efforts, we’ve made great strides in medicine, transportation, the sciences, and communication. But, what happens when the algorithms on which the technology is run surpasses the human at the helm? What happens when it builds upon itself faster than we can teach it? Or predict the infinite variable outcomes? Predictive analytics can become useless, or worse dangerous.  Balance is Key Electro-mechanical systems we could test and verify before implementation are a thing of the past, and the role of Machine Learning takes front and centre. Unfortunately, without the ability to test algorithms exhaustively, we must walk a tightrope of test and hope. Faith in systems is a fine balance of Machine Learning and the idea that it is possible to update or rewrite a host of programs, essentially ‘teaching’ the machine how to correct itself. But, who is ultimately responsible? These, and other questions, may balance out in the long run, but until then, basic laws regarding intention or negligence will need to be rethought. Searching for a solution  In every evolution there are growing pains. But, there are also solutions. In the world of tech, it’s important to put the health of society first and profit second, a fine balancing act in itself. Though solutions remain elusive, there are precautions technology companies can employ. One such precaution is to make tech companies responsible for the actions of their products, whether it is lines of rogue code or keeping a close eye on avoiding the tangled mass of ‘spaghetti’ code which can endanger us or our environment. Want to weigh in on the debate and learn how you can help shape the internet of tomorrow? If you’re interested in Big Data and Analytics, we may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies. To learn more, contact our UK team at +44 20 8408 6070 or email us at info@harnham.com.

Eoin Pierce

13. September 2018

View all blogs