A “data first” approach must become the “North Star” of digital transformation, according to Hewlett Packard Enterprise President and CEO Antonio Neri. In an article written for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the HPE executive explores how, in his own words, organizations must align strategic, organizational, and technological choices with the overarching goal of leveraging data as a strategic asset. At a time when an enormous amount of decentralized data is being captured from numerous sources, including networked devices, machines, buildings, and infrastructures, unlocking its value offers opportunities for societal progress by using this data to take on geopolitical, economic, and environmental issues, said Neri. World governments are currently investing in data technologies, frameworks, and regulations in recognition of the transformative potential of data for economic and social progress, yet Neri believes many organizations are unprepared to capitalize on these opportunities. HPE conducted a recent survey of 8,600 executives that found the average organization’s data maturity score (the ability to create value from data) was only 2.6 on a five-point scale. Neri sees this as indicative of not only an inability to fully leverage data as a strategic asset, but also a lack of basic capabilities for doing […]