UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
LTC Bobby Saxon
Division Chief, US Army G-3/5/7
Twitter: @BobbySaxon
LinkedIn: Bobby Saxon
THE 2013
COMPUTERWORLD HONORS
LAUREATE
2013 Top 20
Innovations that Mattered
INNOVATION AWARD WINNER
2013 Federal IT
Program of the Year
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
EMDS Mission
Mission
Manage the retrieval and integration
of disparate data & processes to
create an automated common access
point for holistic and detailed Army
data in order to enhance
understanding and decision making
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
Why EMDS?
• Stove-piped / legacy systems with vast data
• Near real-time access required
• Lack of standards = inaccuracies / inconsistencies
• Not all systems are “total Army”
• One Question = One Answer
• Evolving Strategic Predictive Analysis needs
This led to a requirement for an IT system (EMDS)
that evolved into a Big Data system
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
What is Big Data
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Source: Datameer.com
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UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
What is Big Data
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Source: Jeffhurtblog.com
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UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
What makes Big Data Possible
• Moore’s Law - Computing power doubles every
two years
• Kryder’s Law - Storage capacity increasing /
cost decreasing faster than Moore’s Law
• Butter’s Law – Amount of data coming out of
optical fiber is doubling every nine months
• Nielsen’s Law – Network connection speeds
for high-end home users increase by 50% yearly
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5
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
A collection of data sets so large
and complex that it becomes
difficult to process using on-hand
database management tools or
traditional data processing
applications. (SAS)
Big data is more than simply a matter
of size; it is an opportunity to find
insights in new and emerging types of
data and content, to make your
business more agile, and to answer
questions that were previously
considered beyond your reach. (IBM)
A situation where the volume,
velocity and variety of data
exceed an organization’s storage
or compute capacity for accurate
and timely decision making (SAS)
“Expert” definitions of Big Data
A new generation of technologies and architectures
designed to extract value economically from very
large volumes of a wide variety of data by enabling
high-velocity capture, discovery, and/or analysis. (IDC)
Describes the exponential
growth, availability and use of
information, both structured and
unstructured. (Wikipedia)
High volume, velocity and variety
information assets that demand costeffective, innovative forms of information
processing for enhanced insight and
decision making. (Gartner)
Big Data is an organization’s ability to store,
process, and access all the data it needs to operate
effectively, make decisions, reduce risks, and serve
customers. (Forrester)
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
A collection of data sets so large
and complex that it becomes
difficult to process using on-hand
database management tools or
traditional data processing
applications. (SAS)
Big data is more than simply a matter
of size; it is an opportunity to find
insights in new and emerging types of
data and content, to make your
business more agile, and to answer
questions that were previously
considered beyond your reach. . (IBM)
A situation where the volume,
velocity and variety of data
exceed an organization’s storage
or compute capacity for accurate
and timely decision making (SAS)
EMDS definition of Big Data
A new generation of technologies and architectures
designed to extract value economically from very
large volumes of a wide variety of data by enabling
high-velocity capture, discovery, and/or analysis. (IDC)
Describes the exponential
growth, availability and use of
information, both structured and
unstructured. (Wikipedia)
High volume, velocity and variety
information assets that demand costeffective, innovative forms of information
processing for enhanced insight and
decision making. (Gartner)
Big Data is an organization’s ability to store,
process, and access all the data it needs to operate
effectively, make decisions, reduce risks, and serve
customers. (Forrester)
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
EMDS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
•
•
•
•
•
•
EMDS Overview
Senior Leader decision support tool
Retrieves and integrates disparate data
Common access point for holistic/detailed data
SIPRNet based and web-enabled
Readiness, Resourcing, and ARFORGEN
Total Army – 10K / 70K, 1.1M, 3600+ IT
Access
+ Understanding =
UNCLASSIFIED
Discovery
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
G-35 SS
Data Access
G-37 FM HQDA Leaders
G-4
FC
G-33 OD
AMC
G-8
Resourcing, Trending
& Projections
CDRs
ARFORGEN
Readiness
ARNG G-3
Joint Staff
SRUs
Decision Support
Capability
Common
Operating Picture
Force Structure
(AOS)
G-1
(COPS,
DMDC & PAM XXI)
G-3 FM
(SAMAS /
DRRS-A)
G-3 TR
G-3 OD
G-4 (incl. AMC)
(TAMIS)
(DRRS-A & MDIS)
(LEXIS)
UNCLASSIFIED
G-8
ACSIM
(AE2S)
(RPLANS / ISR /
ASIP)
In Progress
ARNG & USAR
(ITAPDB-G /
TAPDB-R, & AREM)
Other
(LIW & AST)
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
Data Understanding
• Snapshot of historic, current, and projected force structure
• Visual portrayal of previously difficult to access and understand data
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
Data Discovery
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
Lessons Learned
• “Traditional data skills” are not “Big Data skills”
• Technology is important… People are critical
• Manage expectations
• Push back
• Embrace agility
• Be Visionary
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
Way Ahead
• Predictive Analytics
• Department of Defense / Army
• Strategic Readiness
• Intelligence
• Suicide Mitigation
• Commercial Examples
• eHarmony
• Money Ball
• Progressive Insurance
UNCLASSIFIED
“The potency of prediction is
pronounced – as long as the
predictions are better than
guessing”
Eric Siegel
Predictive Analytics
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
I’ll leave you with…
“Getting value from Big Data is like
mining for Gold. You go through a lot
of dirt to find the Nuggets”
@BobbySaxon
UNCLASSIFIED
15
UNCLASSIFIED
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
DECISION SUPPORT (EMDS)
LTC Bobby Saxon
Division Chief, US Army G-3/5/7
Twitter: @BobbySaxon
LinkedIn: Bobby Saxon
THE 2013
COMPUTERWORLD HONORS
LAUREATE
2013 Top 20
Innovations that Mattered
INNOVATION AWARD WINNER
2013 Federal IT
Program of the Year
UNCLASSIFIED