Category: dark data

  • Rethinking Data Systems: A Call for Accountability

    Rethinking Data Systems: A Call for Accountability

    Pip: Good Strategy Rebellion — where the sacred cows of Silicon Valley come to be skewered, preferably with footnotes.

    Mara: Today we’re in the territory Martyn Jones has been carving out: a full-scale critique of data architecture hype, the case against fashionable frameworks, and a defence of the unglamorous systems that actually work.

    Pip: Coherence over chaos, basically. Let’s start with the bonfire.

    (more…)
  • CEO BRIEFING: What Every CEO Needs to Know About Big Data – Revisited – 2026/01/26

    CEO BRIEFING: What Every CEO Needs to Know About Big Data – Revisited – 2026/01/26

    Martyn Richard Jones

    New York City, 18th January 2017

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
    Blue sky for professional data architecture and management

    Scope

    I’ll make this short, sweetish and to the point.

    These are the arguments that CEOs need to know about Big Data.

    It was written for CEOs and those who provide independent advice to CEOs.

    If you are someone who wants to be prepared for CEOs who are armed with the realities of Big Data, then maybe this is for you too.

    Point One: Big Data is bullshit

    (more…)
  • DATA WORLD: The Future of Data: Embracing Cognitive Liquidity- 2026/02/03

    DATA WORLD: The Future of Data: Embracing Cognitive Liquidity- 2026/02/03

    The End of the Fortress: Why the Future of Data is “Liquid”

    By Martyn Rhisiart Jones | Madrid, 3rd February 2026

    In a landmark session at the Welsh Academy, Sir Afilonius Rex sat down with Martyn Rhisiart Jones. They aimed to dismantle our outdated obsession with “data management.” The verdict? The era of the digital fortress is dead. In its place, a new paradigm of Cognitive Liquidity and Data Autonomy is emerging, redefining how we integrate global knowledge.

    (more…)
  • DATA WORLD: Big Data: The Art of Bullshit – 2026

    DATA WORLD: Big Data: The Art of Bullshit – 2026

    Bertxin Galestara and Sir Afilonius Rex,  based on an  opinion piece written by Marty Rhisiart Jones

    Mountain View, 19th January 2017 – Bandoxa Thursday 15th January, 2026

    “I’ve been accused of vulgarity. I say that’s bullshit.” – Mel Brooks

    If you enjoy this piece or find it useful, then please consider joining The Big Data Contrarians on LinkedIn. (more…)

  • Understanding Data-Less Apps: The Future of IT

    Understanding Data-Less Apps: The Future of IT

    Dublin 9th May 2017 –  revised 21st December 2025

    (more…)
  • Reality Check: Data Mesh and Data Warehousing  

    Reality Check: Data Mesh and Data Warehousing  

    To begin at the beginning

    A few days ago, I published a blog piece that contained the following paragraphs:

    I am quite a fan of many aspects that sit under the Data Mesh umbrella. However, when it comes to a proper fact-based understanding and analysis of the history, place and architecture (business, data and technical) of Data Warehousing the leading exponents of data mesh have it woefully wrong.

    Therefore, the purpose of this blog article is to set the record straight.

    However, it seems to be that denial and specious arguments, are the preferred weapons of choice, over simply and honestly engaging in a professional discourse about these concerns.

    Fast-forward to the future

    Pages: 1 2

  • DATA WORLD: Why I called bullshit on the data lakehouse nonsense

    DATA WORLD: Why I called bullshit on the data lakehouse nonsense

    Why I called bullshit on the data lakehouse nonsense

    I wrote an article that took to task purveyors of the data lakehouse nonsense. It got plenty of positive reactions and quite a few negative opinions. But what surprised me the most were the number of people who had already swallowed their pitch. Hook, line and sinker.

    So why did I bother to express my opinions on the subject?

    (more…)
  • THE TEN BIG DATA COMMANDMENTS

    THE TEN BIG DATA COMMANDMENTS

    HOW TO SUCCEED WITH BIG DATA

    Here are the ten golden rules of belief for surefire big data success:

    (more…)
  • REVEALING WEALTH: USING BIG DATA TO FIGHT TAX EVASION – MARTYN JONES

    REVEALING WEALTH: USING BIG DATA TO FIGHT TAX EVASION – MARTYN JONES

    REVEALING WEALTH: USING BIG DATA TO FIGHT TAX EVASION – MARTYN JONES

    If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper-middle class should even probably be cut further. But I think that people at the high end – people like myself – should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we’ve ever had it.

    Warren Buffett

    (more…)
  • A Brave New World?

    A Brave New World?

    Martyn Richard Jones

    Brussels, 10th July 2019

    The other day, I heard the aimless, timeless and fatuous claim that data is like an onion, and as you peel away the data-layers of the data-onion the data-onion-detail will become clearer.

    Is it me, or is this someone who has never ever chopped up an onion in their life?

    (more…)