When I read some of the predictions or trends for 2008 by
analysts, columnists and even a few vendors I am struck by both the hype and
blatant technology/product promotion! I feel there should be a counterweight to
the hype. But if I suggest it I am sure some (those promoting the hype) will
say that I just can’t see how their product is the answer to information
nirvana.

I do feel the technology and product trends being hyped are
valuable tools for some customers,
for some projects, for some business users and for some data.

However, I don’t see any of them “solving world hunger.” None
are THE solution to everyone’s information problems. In fact, I don’t feel any
of them are a solution unto themselves, but are just enabling technologies that,
coupled with data governance, meeting business requirements, following good
software engineering practices and utilizing solid project management (to name
a few non-product oriented ingredients) may help businesses leverage
information better than they do today.

For anyone who has experienced the hype cycle before, you
know there are initial successful projects by companies who are innovators
(maybe exaggerated?), followed by a large growth rate (this is off a small
customer base to begin with) and then the pundits extrapolating these high
growth rates out forever until the trend becomes pervasive.

Sometimes the growth rate happens, most times it does not.
But even when it happens it usually takes longer than anticipated. Remember, we
are dealing with the real world of limited IT budgets, installed applications
and business people who are trying to run the business (to make the profit that
then will support salaries and the IT budgets.) Even if the technology is
terrific it takes companies a while to catch on and then implement.

My 8 most  overly
hyped trends for 2008:

1. Ÿ Real-time BI
2. Ÿ The death of the independent BI/DW firm or "software
   titans take over the world"
3. Ÿ Data warehouse appliances
4. Ÿ On-Demand
5. Ÿ Companies that standardize on single BI suites
6. Ÿ MDM/CDI software products will become pervasive
7. Ÿ SOA has a business ROI
8. Ÿ BI will become pervasive

 Stay tuned – each week we’ll discuss one of the hyped
trends.