Analytics Magazine Analytics Magazine, November/December 2014 | Page 35

– and why building a structure without sound design and blueprints is likely to fail? • Politics: What is the make-up of the overall team that will contribute to or be impacted by analytics? Has each member been interviewed for their role, experience, objectives, motivations and concerns? Are there competing interests? Threats? For example, are traditional statisticians firmly resistant to shifting their mindset to a more strategic and agile model-building focus? Likewise, without the oversight of experienced modelers, will egregious errors be made in data preparation and results interpretation? • Alignment of objectives: Has each team member impacted by the analytic process been asked about their individual goals? Have you drilled at least two or three levels deep? Often the surface issue expressed is not the true underlying concern. • Performance projections: Have baselines for current performance been Analytics Professionals: Regardless of where you work, let INFORMS help you connect with others in your field. Blogs www.informs.org/Connect-with-People/Social-Networking 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 | 35