What exactly is “big data”? What are the goals for an organization to use big data? - What is HR’s role in working with big data, also known to HR professionals as workforce analytics/metrics? What are the challenges for HR? - What are the common data sources - both internal and external - that are relevant to the HR function? - What is the difference between structured and unstructured data? - Why are standards and definitions so important to have in place in order to use big data effectively across the organization? - How are social networking sites being used as sources for data mining? How are companies like Juniper, Thrivent, and FedEx using social networking sites? - What are predictive models, and how can big data be used effectively for them? - How can the HR function position itself as a strategic player to an organization by working with big data relevant to the workforce in a way that is clearly aligned with business strategy, mission, and goals?