White House Unveils Big Data Projects, Round Two

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WKash,
User Rank: Author
11/13/2013 | 7:17:22 PM

re: White House Unveils Big Data Projects, Round Two

Todd Park's foundation of big government data "DataPalooza's" are now becoming "Data4Uzzuh's"

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William Terdoslavich,
User Rank: Author
11/15/2013 | 6:35:59 PM

Half the solution...

Big Data holds the promise of delivering more efficient, effective government services. By developing solid, reliable insights, one can craft effective solutions to vexing problems.

But there is the potential that the Federal government could "self-hobble" its own solutions. Convuluted, byzantine acquisition rules make it difficult for Uncle Same to develop and deliver "Big IT". Obamacare is just the latest nightmare illustrating this common problem.

Anything the federal government does will have a political dimension. Do a big project badly and you will generate needless opposition, creating a process problem where none need be while a real problem goes unsolved.

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Tom Murphy,
User Rank: Author
11/15/2013 | 8:08:53 PM

4.4 Million Jobs?

My eye brow is arched high over the claim that big data will create 4.4 million jobs between now and 2015. Source, please?

My trusty old calculator reckons that's about 314,000 jobs a month. Even if you meant between now and the end of 2015, that would be 169,000 jobs.

To put that into context, the US created 193,000 jobs during August and 148,000 jobs during September -- in all economic sectors. So the claim suggests big data would create as many jobs as the entire US economy.

Does anyone else find that claim a bit dubious?

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Tom Murphy,
User Rank: Author
11/15/2013 | 8:11:48 PM

Re: Half the solution...

Why Bill, you sound a bit skeptical! I'm shocked, shocked to hear you suggest that politics could influence the success of a US government technology project. Afterall, we got Healthcare.gov without any problems, didn't we?

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William Terdoslavich,
User Rank: Author
11/15/2013 | 9:14:34 PM

Re: 4.4 Million Jobs?

Perhaps a tad over-optimistic?

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Brian.Dean,
User Rank: Ninja
11/15/2013 | 9:51:19 PM

Re: 4.4 Million Jobs?

@Tom, even if we assume that the source is directly from the department of labor, the question becomes where is the reasoning behind such a bold statement as 4.4 million new jobs is roughly 39% of the current 11.3 million unemployed. That's 39% of the unemployment problem that big data as a silver bullet is going to solve.

Yes however, say that the current workforce of employed at around 92.5% will produce an output that is equivalent to that of if 95% were employed and then everything will be a little more believable. Factor into the mix NSA and someone else can enjoy these benefits.

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Tom Murphy,
User Rank: Author
11/16/2013 | 1:39:09 AM

Re: 4.4 Million Jobs?

Brian: Good points. My guess is that they are speculating that big data will "touch" 4.4 million jobs. For example, healthcare workers, retail workers, financial workers, and many others will be "affected" by big data. But I sincerely doubt that big data will not create 4.4 million new jobs, even globally, over the next year or two.

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Brian.Dean,
User Rank: Ninja
11/16/2013 | 1:56:40 AM

Re: 4.4 Million Jobs?

Tom: you are 100% right and maybe I am missing a big variable but last I checked technology destroys jobs while at the same time it increases the efficiency of an economy. So, if someone tells me that Big-data will destroy 4.4 million jobs I will be a bit more agreeable.

Of cause, I am not trying to be pessimistic here, as I can be optimistic as well. Big-data can create 50 million jobs but only when those 11.3 million people use big-data to create their own jobs as well as a surplus of 38.7 million jobs, next the world can think about ways to finish its shortage in human resources.

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Tom Murphy,
User Rank: Author
11/16/2013 | 11:33:58 AM

Re: 4.4 Million Jobs?

Brian: Technology both creates and destroys. The increase in "efficiency" of which you spoke relates to fewer people doing the work of many. But the technology is designed, manufactured and distributed by people, too, which creates jobs. On a social perspective, it is important to find the right balance.

For example, if manufacturing jobs in the US are replaced by robotic machines, unemployment rises, wages fall, and the overall economy will suffer. The manufacturer may see reduced costs and higher profit, but demand may suffer because there are fewer people who can afford the finished product. So the company may suffer, too.

With big data, it may create new jobs for data analysts, software makers, and sales pesonnel among others. On the other hand, it may reduce the need for market researchers, demographers and other specialists. The net effect on local economies in the US, Europe or Asia is difficult to estimate at this point because the field is still so new, but it is extremely hard to believe it will generate 4.4 million jobs by 2015 because that is about how many jobs the US would hope to create in total during that period.

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aditshar,
User Rank: Apprentice
11/16/2013 | 3:53:01 PM

Re: 4.4 Million Jobs?

I am not sure about how many Jobs Obama has created but yes this project will definately help in creating next generation of data scientists and engineers, which is much required seeking today limitation od data anylyst and data engineers.

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