A motivational article by Mark Cecchini
I recently had the pleasure of attending a seminar on Quantum computation, an area that South Carolina is investing in as a state. The Faculty and Researcher Learning Series was hosted on USC’s campus and provided a great presentation on the resources and applications for quantum technologies. While I don’t see any Quantum Power BI coming soon, it is a great motivator for me to continue my learning. If you will bear with me, I’ll do my best to explain why.
I’m climbing the ladder through middle age (sigh!) so I see some repeating patterns in the world of information technology. For example, I recall the Dot-Com Bubble, I’ve seen AI hype followed by disappointment, followed by hype again. I remember when ERP systems were cutting edge, strategic investments, and now they are table stakes. What I’m learning today is that Quantum computation is so different from classic computation that entirely new microchips need to be designed to make it work. Those chips are just being developed now. The brilliant scientist Dr. Denny Dahl explained that quantum computers aren’t ready to disrupt just yet because they haven’t developed fault tolerance. I won’t bother trying to explain fault tolerance for two reasons. First, I don’t understand it. I guess I could have stopped there. And second, it’s not that important to this story. The takeaway is that this fault tolerance is the only thing holding quantum computers back from disrupting classical computers. Once fault tolerance is worked out, these new systems will be off to the races.
So, what does all this have to do with having the efficient execution of funds and getting soldiers reimbursed for travel expenses? Quantum is on the disruption curve but hasn’t reached the inflection point yet. Often when I say goodbye to Army students at the end of a course, you are also just below the inflection point too in your analytics journey.
Let’s look at the traditional disruption curve.
Disruption Curve
The inflection point is where these curves meet and where the new technology takes off and the old technology slowly fades away. This is a well-accepted model that we have seen over and over again from VHS to DVD, from DVD to streaming, from mainframe to the PC, and so on.
Now, let’s look at the inflection curves for Quantum and Analytics.
Quantum Disruption Curve
Analytics Disruption Curve
So how do you get past the inflection point with your analytics journey?
Practice…practice…practice (no matter what Allen Iverson says).
There is a moment when you suddenly realize that it makes more sense to grapple about in the dark with Power BI using Google searches, YouTube instructional videos and chat rooms to get where you want to go. It happens when you realize that all this effort will lead to something better. Sure, your manual methods are tried and true, but they don’t move the needle in a big way. You don’t build any efficiencies from doing the same task the same way over and over in Excel. This isn’t really about Excel either as you can make Excel more powerful with VBA and Power Query. But let’s face it, Excel is a security blanket for most. I have taught long enough in Army programs (10 years now!) to see that.
If you start employing more advanced data tools you enter a world of self-improvement. As with all new advancements, you go two steps forward and one step back. But once you get on the path, your momentum will carry you forward. This is why we are so anxious to facilitate small victories in class. It’s more about your learning journey and your confidence than it is about the product. Through this exercise, your data delivery process will suddenly go from mind numbing and rote to interesting and challenging. This is the inflection point for analytics!
There is a bright world ahead of you. One day you will look back at how you considered Excel or even Power BI sacred. Once you get past the inflection point, these names won’t even matter anymore. It will be about getting the result you need and the mix of software that you use will be the tools to get you there. Ultimately, nobody cares about the drill, they only care about the holes it puts into your wall.
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