Dynamics ERP and the 4th Patadigm of Science

While at Convergence 2010 this year, which took place last month, as part of the closing keynote, Microsoft Reseach was a heavy focus.

One of the key terms that we saw in this, for the future of Dynamics ERP, and beyond Dynamics, is it's a: "Data Centric World"

In this data driven, data centric review of the future, all the Convergence attendees were pointed to the "Fourth Paradigm in Science" free ebook.



Microsoft research is really into this data centric approach, and how we are entering into the fourth paradigm of science, which is all about data.

From a Dynamics ERP point of view, this applies directly. Taking the closing keynote, and looking back and what all was learned from Convergence, with Context Aware UI and BI, push into self service BI, and increased productivity, the underlying theme behind all of this is the 'data centric world'.

Look at models for example. We see models being used in SQL Server Modeling, WF with Business Process Modeling, in AX 6, with it's layers containing models for working with objects, in Master Data Services, part of SQL Server 2008 R2, and even with the new focus being put on by Microsoft with the "Modeling the world" site, recently launched.

This also plays right into the NUI, or natural user interface we see with Microsoft Surface, Apple's iPad / iPhone, with taking NUI and helping those interfaces make a data centric world become more modeled on the actual workflows and natural usage of applications and devices.

Now that's a very high level statement, but with Dynamics ERP this is very much a guiding design princple of Microsoft. Therefore it's important, I believe, to understand this fourth paradigm, in order to prepare for the future, and also to help get inline with the vision of Dynamics ERP for the future.

The Fourth Paradigm of Science is a free ebook, and Microsoft has a Research home page for the book, with extra information, that can be found here.: The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery

From the page.:
"In The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery, the collection of essays expands on the vision of pioneering computer scientist Jim Gray for a new, fourth paradigm of discovery based on data-intensive science and offers insights into how it can be fully realized."

For me, this is just not some geeky pdf, that is cool and all theory. It's about taking this insight, understanding Microsoft's focus with it, and helping to build out how Dynamics ERP will be influenced by this, as well as how Business Domain issues can be solved better, faster and cheaper because of this understanding.

So, I would recommend reading it, and then ask you to step out into a bigger world, and tie what's taking place at Microsoft research into Dynamics ERP, and business software in general.

I also believe this helps show how Microsoft research is really leveraged across all the great Microsoft products.

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