Hackathons have become a popular way for developers and data geeks with similar interests to connect and create problem-solving or entrepreneurial applications.But the creative process of locking like-minded professionals in a room to find valuable ways to combine datasets and user-friendly apps  can and should be used in business as well.Brandon Barnett, Intel's director of business innovation, has been studying what he calls the "data society," and how organizations from government agencies to businesses can create value for citizens and customers alike by enriching their personal data.Intel is sponsoring the National Day of Civic Hacking on June 1 and 2.  The national effort features 95 hackathons across the United States where developers and analytics experts can use government data to attempt to address local challenges. Barnett said that the National Day of Civic Hacking has several goals, including creating apps to aid in disaster recovery, youth enrichment and air quality reporting. But at its core, the event is using citizen power to help enrich lives locally through data.In this interview with Data Informed staff writer Ian B. Murphy, Barnett discusses his research into the data society and the value of an individual's data, what business leaders can learn from the creative process involved in events like the National Day of Civic Hacking, and what to expect from that event.Email Staff Writer Ian B. Murphy at ian.murphy@wispubs.com. Check out other Data Science podcasts from Data Informed. Related articles on Data Informed:Hack/Reduce Boston to Foster Big Data Talent Data Gotham and New York City's Data CommunityPhiladelphia Chief Data Officer Seeks Economic Growth via Open Data  //