Although “big data” is being collected by businesses, researchers and governments, it is not often used very effectively. Organizational leaders have been sold expensive systems that gather huge amounts of data with no real strategic value. Big data by itself does not answer questions, it requires the human mind to pose a question. Even then, if it isn’t the right question, the answer may result in taking action that is a distraction from, or even actively harmful to, the purpose of the business.

Businesses are again falling for the hype that a new tool will solve your problems. But as Max Ernst pointed out, “It is not great telescopes that make great astronomers.”

This is where the idea of Galileo’s Telescope comes in – new big data analysis of cheap data can find a major competitive advantage long before traditional analytical approaches, but only if you know where to look and if you have a framework for interpreting the results.

This book shows how to build the architecture to align an entire organization to achieve its long-term goals in a step-by-step guide. To illustrate this implementation, you also follow along as a somewhat fictitious business does the same.