Why Companies Have To Trade “Perfect Data” For “Fast Info”

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - MIT Sloan Management Review

Ali Riaz and Sid Probstein (Attivio), interviewed by Michael S. Hopkins

Companies have been trained to think about data all wrong, say Ali Riaz and Sid Probstein, CEO and CTO of Attivio. "Some topics require complete accuracy, but in many cases analytics don't have to be based on super-precise data," they say. "Some reports don’t have to be perfect. They need to capture the essence of behavior, not the totality of it, but you do need to get them fast – faster than your competitors."

Riaz and Probstein spoke with MIT Sloan Management Review editor-in-chief Michael S. Hopkins about the stifling downside of the quest for perfect data, why “eventually consistent” is a concept every company should take to heart, and how to deal with the need for speed.

Click here to read the full interview of Ali Riaz and Sid Probstein on the MIT Sloan Management Review website!