Use big data for building strategic initiatives – Morshidi

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Morshidi (seated, sixth left) and Campbell (seated, sixth right) in a group photo with the masterclass participants.

KUCHING: Strategic initiatives require a solid understanding of current or similar situations and improving impactful areas, be it in terms of targeting internal staffs or procedures or in handling external communications and project management.

State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani said this is where the recognition of big data as a valuable resource for building strategic initiatives comes in.

“For instance, gathering data on customer satisfaction does not begin with collecting surveys but studying the right survey question, which requires an understanding of what ‘customer satisfaction’ means to a ministry, department or agency.

“Once the right question is asked, we have the quality response that can then be quantified and translated to actionable improvements through the use of big data analytics techniques,” he said when officiating at the Digital and Data Driven Masterclass at a leading hotel here yesterday.

In order to improve products or service delivery in a ministry, department or agency, he said civil servants must embrace the use of data analytics and build capable teams to turn big data into a competitive advantage.

“As directors and heads of departments in our own ministry, department or agency, we should be able to transfer this skill to various areas such as human resource, finance, operation, project management and many more.

“This is important in building and sustaining a competitive advantage by implementing analytic capabilities in your own ministry, department or agency.”

On the masterclass, which was attended by heads of government departments and business executives, Morshidi hoped that participants will gain knowledge that will serve as turning point for the exercise in becoming a data-driven organisation.

With Prof Dennis Campbell of Harvard Business School serving as the speaker, he expects participants to benefit from the two-day programme, particularly in regards to the implementation of data strategies and innovation.

“Leverage on the knowledge and experience from our speaker Prof Campbell as well as each other during the session and plan something that is not only actionable but also sustainable in your ministry, department or agency.

“It is our responsibility as leaders to continuously improve our products and services to our stakeholders,” he remarked.

A collaboration between Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (Scope), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and The Center of Applied Data Sciences (CADS), the
masterclass focuses on how organisations in Sarawak can turn big data into their competitive advantage.

It is held for the first time in Sarawak to kick start the state’s digital transformation journey as among the programmes under the Sarawak Talent Development initiatives.