This is really more of an introduction to data for people who are unfamiliar with the world of data. It includes interesting anecdotes, and shows how data can be leveraged for large corporations to small businesses. I think it would be something great for small business owners to read, since so few of them utilize this tool that could give them more advantage. And while it doesn't really get into details, it does provide some good sources to readers to learn more if they would like. It emphasizes that these things are more accessible than many might believe.

The books obvious has a pro-data approach, but doesn't completely ignore how data can be used for good and evil. On the plus side, it addresses these issues without using scare tactics, but I would have liked to have seen examples not only of data being used explicitly for good or evil, but even how sometimes when data is used with the best intentions, our biases may cause it to continue to perpetuate group disparities.

Marr's mantra in Data Strategy: How to to Profit from a World of Big Data, Analytics and the Internet of Things is straightforward: "Every company is a data company."

In this wide-ranging book, written for business executives, Marr spends most of his time looking at the 'how' of data: how it's being used by a wide range of industries, from health care to aerospace, how business leaders can marshal data plans to suit their needs, how data itself is a product that can be sold by innovative companies.

I'm someone just entering the field of Data Strategy, and I found Marr's final chapters on the "why" of data to be fascinating. He puts the return on investing in data analysis at 13/1, and shows how the burgeoning need for data scientists matches the burgeoning number of uses (and sources) of data.

Data Strategy is a comprehensive and insightful look at a dynamic field of business--well worth the time to read for everyone from business leaders to those curious about the field.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kogan Page Ltd for an advance copy of this 2nd Edition. This book is a good foundation book to those trying to understand data and analytics from the ground up and how it is used in our world today, but really this book is really for executives that need to understand how to make their data work in line with their overall business strategy It sets out by explaining the concept of how data, how it is collected and how analytics inform so much in our world, from the healthcare industry/the fight against COVID to how elections are being driven by collective intelligence and predicting how we will vote based on Facebook likes. This book also provides insights to AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).

This book explains the explains the process for selecting key data use cases, questions to ask yourself, how to achieve buy in , what data governance issues need to be addressed, developing a data culture and transitioning through to a becoming a data driven organisation. For me, I believe planning and defining a good data strategy can be tricky at the best of times and I think may be difficult for companies on the beginning of their data maturity journey to look at some of the examples provided in the book and apply them subjectively, as the examples provided appear to be from a more advanced maturity stage. However the author provided a widespread view on all the enablers and elements of a good data strategy, so from that perspective I do believe this book is a good reference point and provides the reader with the questions to ask themselves and others when defining a data strategy.

So interesting. Full of facts I didn’t know before and so great for me to read in anticipation of my next university module.

Very interesting read and makes you very aware of the use of data and it’s business involvement.