Foreword
In 2002, Steven Spielberg released the film Minority Report. I watched mesmerized as the lead detective swiped and shifted data midair from one holographic screen to another. He used this technology to find the would-be killer before he committed the crime.
Obviously, this was science fiction, but the film's premise left me wondering: can the speed of technology allow businesses to prevent potential disasters before they happen?
I began my career providing technical training. As I worked with more and more organizations across the United States and globally, I realized that software skills training was helpful and important but didn't really solve what I saw as the larger problem: employees needed a way to make data-based decisions that would drive positive outcomes. The data needed to be current and easy to access.
As a solution, I created the “efficiency audit,” which helped teams look at information in fresh ways. We identified what data was important now and what might be important in the future. We located and eliminated inefficient duplications of effort. Data warehouses were built. Using customized dashboards, users accessed fact-based analysis from this shared treasure trove of up-to-date data, tailored to their needs. Decision-making became easier, faster, and more accurate.
This is when I first met Tom Fragale. Introduced by a mutual friend, we quickly connected over our shared passion for all things tech and teaching. It was an easy decision to collaborate ...