The world is drowning in data. Technological breakthroughs like artificial intelligence, machine learning and the expansion of analytics has led to an exponential growth in data. All of this raw information is almost impossible to keep up with, and many organisations find themselves in the novel position of having too much information to make informed business decisions!

That’s why data management is one of the disciplines getting a lot of attention regardless of the industry. Without a solid framework for how to crystallise wisdom out of raw data, it’s completely useless. That’s why the International Data Corporation (IDC) thinks that the data management market is poised to hit $203 billion in 2020.

Always in Demand

Data management is a very in-demand field nowadays. Because of this, there are many ways to begin learning about data management. Unfortunately, it has developed a reputation as a complicated discipline, only accessible to insiders and those gifted mathematically.

This isn’t true! Many of those students that find themselves struggling with statistical analysis in a traditional classroom environment may just not be using the learning strategies that they are best suited towards. eLearning provides novel opportunities to, for example, study a mathematics of data management course from your home through e-Learning.

Many institutions, such as the Ontario Virtual School (OVS) specialise in providing quality online education allowing you to learn at your own pace, and provide comprehensive teacher support, so you can always reach out for personalised assistance.

Foundational Learning is Key

It’s key to develop a foundational knowledge of data management and to apply methods of organizing and analysing large amounts of information in high school, so that these foundational skills can be applied in post-secondary studies.

It doesn’t matter what field you want to work in — the truth is you’re going to be working with data. Journalists wrestle with the metrics of how their readers engage with their articles to create more relevant, useful content. Businesses struggle with data from a myriad of discrete sources, and have the challenging task to make actionable intelligence out of a sea of data.

Of course, if you’re thinking about entering the social sciences like psychology or sociology, a lot of your time will be spent collecting, structuring and analyzing research data.

So, you’re going to need to develop some familiarity with the principles of data management, statistical analysis and modelling to truly succeed in your career. If you’re planning to be an entrepreneur, getting raw data is not enough. To be able to develop your business, you’re going to need to form it into business intelligence — that is what’s going to attract venture capital funding.

If you’re considering entering into a field like business of the social sciences, or are just planning to use data in your career, early preparation is essential. If in high school you can become familiar with data management principles, you’re going to be well prepared for higher education, where you’re going to be dealing with these topics day in and day out.

Later, when you’re entering the workforce, an early familiarity with data management ensures that you’ll be able to analyze data and provide insights with ease, a commanding lead over the competition.