WASHINGTON, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A blurring blizzard of complex data could soon overwhelm many federal decision makers who rely on the quality of insights they glean from massive information streams, according to Darryl McDonald, Executive Vice President, Applications, Business Development, and Chief Marketing Officer of Teradata TDC, the analytic data solutions company. At a hearing earlier today, McDonald urged the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources to adopt 'big data analytics' tools to:

• help decision makers extract actionable insights and deliver the right information to the right people in time to make a difference
• harness the growing masses of new data types: structured and unstructured
• maximize resource efficiency and improve secure collaboration and productivity
• avoid data redundancy, improve data quality and re-use data efficiently
• increase credibility and confidence in the data that is used for decision-making
• improve end results for both users and those who rely upon them.

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Referring to the analytic concepts in the popular film and book Moneyball, McDonald said that data integration and big analytics can help assure decision-makers that their important decisions are fact-based – and not weakened by errors – because all data is integrated and available for analysis. This approach cuts analysis time from weeks to near-real time and enables continuous improvement to meet constantly changing technology, regulatory and mission needs. 

The State of Michigan is using a large Teradata analytic platform to produce a return on investment of one million dollars a day. McDonald told the subcommittee to imagine what could be accomplished at the scale of the federal government, using the State of Michigan as the example. He said that this approach works well everywhere it is deployed, and encouraged federal agencies to take note. He commented that advanced analytics produces powerful results for scientific research projects; and the parallel practice of big data analytics offers great opportunities for many agencies' day-to-day operations.

McDonald also offered other noteworthy cases where big analytics technology has clearly helped business and government improve decisions, performance and services.

"We'd like to express our deep appreciation for the leadership of Chairman Geoff Davis in championing the use of Big Analytics in government," said McDonald. "We hope that others in Congress will build on the chairman's important work and encourage government adoption of H.R. 3339, the Standard Data and Technology Advancement Act.

"Teradata strongly supports this bill and respectfully requests Congress to pass this much-needed legislation as quickly as possible," McDonald added. "Not only would this legislation improve cost-effective delivery of essential services to millions of Americans, but it would also serve as a stepping stone for other government agencies to understand and acquire the benefits of big analytics."

Today's hearing was organized by Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, and held at the 1100 Longworth House Office Building at 10 am. Witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as other public and private sector experts on the current status of and the potential for technology to improve the administration of public benefits.

Relevant news links

• State of Michigan Realizing ROI of $1 Million a Day with Teradata
• Report to the President: Every Federal Agency Needs a 'Big Data' Strategy
• Get Started in Big Analytics: Teradata Tells How - video, Teradata Labs president
• The explosion in data growth, a podcast interview with Stephen Brobst - Listen
• When data overload can become deadly in Federal institutions
• Teradata PARTNERS Conference in DC showcases the power of big data analytics

About Teradata

Teradata Corporation TDC is the world's leading analytic data solutions company focused on integrated data warehousing, big data analytics, and business applications. Teradata's innovative products and services deliver data integration and business insight to empower organizations to achieve competitive advantage.  Visit teradata.com for details.

Teradata is a trademark or registered trademark of Teradata Corporation in the United States and other countries.

SOURCE Teradata