Analytics Magazine Analytics Magazine, November/December 2014 | Page 33

title “data scientist” will only live up to its label of a theoretical quantitative specialist and fail to have strategic or even operational impact. The majority of companies don’t realize that common business practitioners can leverage modern predictive modeling software that encapsulates the complexity of machine learning to quickly build “more than adequate models.” This can be done in conjunction with an analytic support team. Beyond IT and the business owner, the team should include strategic oversight from a seasoned senior consultant who can collaboratively develop an overarching optimized modeling process. The resulting process will follow the blueprints developed from the information amassed in the assessment. The process will not only ensure optimal deployment of the model, but roadmap and tailor all actions from operating within the sandbox, to data preparation, model development, deployment, validation, reporting and model lifecycle management. Which organization has the best O.R. department in the world? prize call for nominations DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 1, 2014 The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences annually awards the INFORMS Prize for effective integration of Operations Research/Management Science (OR/MS) and advanced analytics into organizational decision making. The award is given to an organization that has repeatedly applied the principles of OR/MS and advanced analytics in pioneering, varied, novel, and lasting ways. log onto: www.informs.org/informsprize for more information or contact Peter Buczkowski, 2015 Prize Chair voice: +1 407-560-2299 email: [email protected] 2015 Tell us why the title should be yours. a na l y t i c s n o v e m b e r / d e c e m b e r 2 014 | 33