Datafication is a trend in technology in which data is converted into information and realized as a new form of value. The term was introduced to the wider lexicon by Kenneth Cukier in 2013.
While ratification is a powerful method for creating novel densities, it can also lead to substantial insights. Indeed, ratification has already created new business opportunities for businesses. However, despite the promise of ratification, it is important to remember that novel densities are not generated out of data alone. Sense-making is essential for this. In ratification, novel densities are not generated out of data alone; they must be created through the application of human-centric principles.
One way to think about ratification is as a continuation of colonialism, and as a form of domination in cognitive and social domains. Both the United States and China are currently fighting a battle in the social quantification sector, employing an arsenal of quantification weapons, from facial recognition to artificial intelligence. Chip manufacturing is also used to create multinational agreements that regulate intellectual property. As these technologies have historically allowed for the administration of colonized territories, they have also legitimized extractive practices.
As the name implies, ratification is a process by which data is converted into information and realized as a new form of value. This process combines technology and business workflows to develop an organization’s data-driven culture. In many ways, ratification is the first step in building the organization of the future. Datafication is more than a technology challenge, as it touches on every aspect of an organization, including the company’s strategy and business workflows.
