Finally, they must ensure that their big data strategy is not out there on its own, but is actually aligned with the overall strategy for the business.

FORBES: Now that data's going really big, what's next?

In the next 12 months we are going to see the same breakout moment when everyone has to have a big data strategy, doing an inventory of what data do we have, what data we should be collecting and we are not, and how we could use it.

FORBES: What's to be Done about Big Data?

Other companies have leveraged big data in sales strategy to improve selling, pinpoint customer motivation, and understand brand preferences.

FORBES: Now that data's going really big, what's next?

Over the next 3 to 5 years, Big Data will be a key strategy for both private and public sector organizations.

FORBES: The Big Cost Of Big Data

The CIO is never going to drive the customer experience, and the CMO is never going to drive the technology strategy to make sense of big data.

FORBES: Why CIOs And CMOs Could Be So Happy Together

"Gathering big data about human behaviors can be a sensitive topic, " says Dave Lathrop, director of workspace futures and strategy at Steelcase Inc.

WSJ: Tracking Sensors Invade the Workplace