The results were surprising: We found that only 4% of companies are really good at analytics, an elite group that puts into play the right people, tools, data and intentional focus. These are the companies that are already using analytics insights to change the way they operate or to improve their products and services. And the difference is already visible. These companies are:

• Twice as likely to be in the top quartile of financial performance within their industries
• Three times more likely to execute decisions as intended
• Five times more likely to make decisions faster As we describe in a companion brief, “Big

Data: The organizational challenge,” achieving competency in Big Data is a three-part process that requires setting the ambition, building up the analytics capability and organizing your company to make the most of the opportunity. This brief looks more closely at the second step—building up the analytics capability—to see how leaders use Big Data to get ahead.