The answer to this question is straightforward within the context of quantitative disciplines like mathematics in which “linear” and “non-linear” are well defined and differentiated. The answer is less obvious in reference to data management and analysis. The industry acknowledges that a traditional, strictly linear IT-centric approach is ineffective in view of today’s evolving data landscape. Many organizations advocate bypassing IT altogether with non-linear solutions emphasizing self-service data discovery, preparation and analysis in order to accelerate the transition from raw data to insights.