Summary of Philip Evans: How data will transform business

An utter failure in communication, I am afraid. This is the hurdle that the analyst position in business, today, is about - learning to communicate. Would of loved to have studied under Philip Evans, certainly would have been an honor. But I've had to watch this a dozen times in order to be capable of relaying the message (often, a deliberate reaction by genius to TED time limitations). 

Full Disclosure: I am involved in data. 

EDIT: Listening at x0.5 speed helps (this is a paradox - just keep reading). 

Summary: 

• Data accrual happens, identification is essential, 
• An organisation's data collection methodology is what is proprietary; or rather, the differentiator over the short term;
• This and any derived advantages, erode over the medium-term,
• Stated strategy is what precipitates from what is communicated downward, therefore data in a usable form is the secret now; 
• And since secrecy is scarce and fragile, And if secrecy is unattainable, competitors must be considered equals in terms of knowledge. 
• There is too much data for secrecy and it comes in too many different forms. 
• Certainty about business requires competitor analysis (to be prudent) is now more elusive,
• Organisations are thus best served chasing game-changing ideas without guiding principles (strategy). 
• "The very small can substitute for the corporate scale" 
• His disclaimer: "it is curious that the future is so much more predictable than the present." 
• He uses the DNA example because progress was measured and that the capital involved was big, 
• But it should be noted that this phenomenon is manifesting everywhere. 
• Simply put: stratification is what is required, not consolidation. 
• Competition will likely fall away and success will accounted for in terms of quality of relationships. 

What a delightfully organic process!

Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust...