Lessons Learned
The following are typical reasons for big data project failures.
- Many of the big data failures can be directly linked to the planning stage (The Big Data Playbook).
- Business problem not clearly defined.
- Focus only on technology rather than business opportunities.
- Lack of participation of business users.
- Unclear idea of who your users are.
- Creating a team consisting primarily of IT experts.
Success requires a blend of talent (Building Off Best Practices).
“According to Rich Katz, CTO of Elemica, creating a cross-functional team including operations, engineers, technology, sales, logistics, finance, etc. is instrumental in tying analytical efforts back to specific business objectives.
By creating a collaborative environment of intelligent, cross-enterprise decision-making, and a pervasive data-driven culture, executives are able to make more informed decisions that drive positive change in their businesses, he says (Building Off Best Practices)."
- Lack of expertise to connect the dots.
- Not making the required people investments.
- Not training staff.
- Vendors do not have required qualifications and expertise.
“There are hustlers and charlatans who promise the world but don’t produce results. These vendors realize there’s a lot of hype around big data and behave accordingly. Many legacy consultants and systems integrators have positioned themselves as experts despite their lack of qualifications (The Big Data Wild West: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly).”
- Not understanding the technology, such as not using the right tools, not understanding the platforms, etc.
- Success metrics not determined.
- Lack of access to the data due to data silos for sales, marketing, HR etc., each restricted to meet compliance.
- Not using the basic data they already have in a way that engages consumers.
- Not knowing how to separate useful information from the myriad of data.
- Lack of business context around data.
About Patti Gilchrist

Patti Gilchrist is a Sr. Technical Manager with 25 years experience implementing strategic enterprise initiatives.
Patti has a reputation for effectively translating business problems into innovative solutions and creating strategic roadmaps to achieve business goals.
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See Also
Setting Up a Big Data Project, An Interview with Cynthia M. Saracco
A Checklist to Evaluate Your Environment
Selecting Your First Big Data Project
How to Successfully Implement a Big Data Project in 8 Steps
8 Proven Steps to Starting a Big Data Analytics Project
The Big Data Wild West: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Three Reasons Why Big Data Projects Fail
Why Most Big Data Projects Fail - How to Make Yours Succeed
5 Ways CIOs Can Save Time and Dig Deeper On Big Data Projects