about what has succeeded and failed, the book is true to its title as it takes you through the tough lessons, worthy risks, and core imperatives of life competing in the Big Data future. This is a book that should be required reading across C-suites and boards, because if they don't read it, they will be overrun by those who did.
—Dave Edelman, former chief marketing officer, Aetna; former lead, McKinsey's Digital Marketing Practice
Randy Bean has written the quintessential book for organizations striving to become data-driven. While many books often cover the technology aspects of Big Data and AI, Bean uniquely strikes at the heart of why so few have been able to capitalize on their investments in data: culture and people. Bean covers the complex but critical topic of data and AI ethics. Fail Fast, Learn Faster is both inspiring and cautionary, weaving case studies, data, and best practices, making it a must-read for CEOs, CDOs, and all data and analytics leaders.
—Cindi Howson, chief data strategy officer, ThoughtSpot; host of The Data Chief podcast
Randy Bean is the preeminent writer on the modern data revolution. In this book, he explains in straight-talking business terms why data is foundational to success and how to develop a strategy to seize value from data. The data journey is continuous, full of twists and turns, as he outlines in his case studies. Ultimately companies that understand the value of data and work purposefully, collaboratively, and iteratively to sharpen their capabilities will reap outsized rewards. As Randy shows, you have to take the steps to make the leap, and he gives actionable examples to accelerate your journey.
—Allison Sagraves, one of Corinium Intelligence's 2020 Global Top 100 Innovators in Data & Analytics; named to CDO Magazine's 2020 Global Data Power Women
In his new book Fail Fast, Learn Faster Randy Bean has delivered a compelling summary of the why, what, and how companies must become data-driven to compete in the coming decades. Randy's mix of strategic perspective and pragmatic know-how is truly unique and clearly articulated in Fail Fast. I consider Randy's new book to be required reading for all of my employees, customers, and partners who are working hard to become data-driven.
—Andy Palmer, co-founder and CEO, TAMR; investor and founding board member, Vertica, VoltDB, CloudSwitch
Randy Bean's book Fail Fast, Learn Faster takes the reader past the hype of Big Data and AI to the core business lesson: being data-driven is at its heart the art of basing business decisions on a continual cycle of experiment and assessment. Randy's excellent book will help readers understand this simple-sounding idea and helps them take the steps required to create a data-driven organization.
—Alex Pentland, author of Social Physics; Toshiba Professor at MIT; director at MIT Media Lab
Among the data and analytics strategists who can capture and articulate the essence and lessons of enterprise initiatives, Randy Bean stands alone. His new book, Fail Fast, Learn Faster, gives us not only sage guidance but also hope for the future of data's preeminence as a corporate asset.
—Douglas Laney, author of Infonomics; Innovation Fellow, West Monroe
Randy Bean has been an intimate witness to the explosion of data use in business—first as a data geek, and then as a chronicler for the Wall Street Journal and other business publications. In this lively book, he explores how data has become an essential element of business strategy in the twenty-first century. He teaches how to make effective use of the modern role of chief data officer and to think about data not as a source of revenue but as a driver of successful business outcomes.
—Cameron F. Kerry, Ann R. and Andrew H. Tisch Distinguished Visiting Fellow, The Brookings Institution
A terrific guide that tells the compelling story of the first generation of data management practices and how a range of skills are needed to realize data's powerful future.
—JoAnn C. Stonier, CDO Magazine 2020 Global Data Power Woman; co-chair, World Economic Forum Data Policy Council of the Future
In Fail Fast, Learn Faster, Randy Bean brings to life the rise of the chief data officer and the importance of data management in today's economy. The CDO has gone from humble beginnings to a dominant C-suite executive. Randy chronicles this journey in a way that the importance of this role is easy to understand and necessary to appreciate.
—John Bottega, president, EDM Council; former chief data officer, CitiGroup, Bank of America, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
People, machines, and pathways, from healthcare to commerce, are generating data at a rate unparalleled in history. Fail Fast, Learn Faster is the story of how organizations must adapt to this proliferation of data or face inevitable disruption. Randy Bean draws upon his experience as a participant in the rise of Big Data and his role in helping companies learn to think differently and adopt new approaches to grow and compete in a data-driven world. Fail Fast, Learn Faster is an illuminating tale about the power of data, the cultural impediments to data success, the need for data responsibility and ethics, and lessons in data-driven leadership. Highly recommended for business executives and general readers seeking to understand the data phenomenon and why we must embrace data, science, and facts, to achieve and sustain success in this new era.
—Michael Skok, founding partner, Underscore VC; Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Harvard Business School
A great read, chock-full of insights! Randy Bean transcends the bits and bytes and digs in on what it really takes to manage and lead in the age of Big Data.
—George Overholser, vice chancellor, Northeastern University; founding team member, Capital One
The Information Age is upon us and changing the ways that we live and work. Fail Fast, Learn Faster is a journey into this Big Data revolution. Randy Bean's cogent narrative and insightful storytelling deliver practical lessons in how to avoid the pitfalls that come with creating a data-driven organization. Most importantly, Fail Fast, Learn Faster shines a light on the human and cultural challenges that organizations face. Information is power, and now more than ever, those who ignore data do so at their peril.
—Richard Mucci, former president, Group Protection Business, Lincoln Financial Group; former chairman and CEO, New York Life International
Fail Fast, Learn Faster
Lessons in Data-Driven Leadership in an Age of Disruption, Big Data, and AI
Randy Bean
Foreword by Thomas H. Davenport
Copyright © 2021 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or
