Roger G. Francis, MBA, Ed.D.

PHILOSOPHY

The world continues to be faced with experiences, decisions and contexts that pivot around data handling, data management, and data interpretation. The "digitology" construct that is the data kaleidoscope, is a space that is overflowing with data silos that are fluid, varied, complex, multi layered and multi faceted, with aspects that are technological and also sociological.

The technological aspects of digitology are self evident, however, the sociological aspects that impact are not easily evident. For example, certain aspects of our identity that we may hold private, are often discernible by our behaviours and digital imprints that we leave behind intentionally or unintentionally. And so, with this illustration, privacy and safety are examples of sociological concerns emerging from digitology. Additionally, any aspect of technology breathes changes, where change is a constant factor within digitology.  Resistance and change are further illustrations of additional sociological concerns. And so, an efficient management of change, and other related sociological factors, are important and inevitable for all areas in digitology.

The Internet of Things (IOT) causes us to leave behind digital footprints (and data). IOT is increasing the volume of data created globally, and in turn increasing our volumes of digital footprints. Digital footprints are a precursor to big data congestion. This big data congestion and the resultant changes stemming from technological advancements, have caused all to elevate the dialogue around data.

My career as an e-Discovery paralegal specialist has catapulted into big data management, and all that comes with working intimately with data. The change management that stems from the three dimensional approach of paper, to the virtual dimensional approach of all things digital, has been and continues to be a struggle. Transitioning into a data specialist identity has been a natural progression for me, where the related skill sets are transferable into any organization that creates and uses data.

The fluidity, complexity and changes stemming from IOT, along with the related realities around data congestion, thrusts our world towards a heightened paradigm of lifelong digital learning. And so, data and the technologies that create data, are conduits of ongoing education and lifelong learning, in a world where we all are digital citizens. Digital citizens who are multi layered and complex identities, amidst the ongoing technological transitions of a broad, multi faceted and complex data kaleidescope.

I look forward to conversations and an ongoing dialogue around data, digital lifelong learning, data education change management education.

Please strike up a conversation!