Building Analytics Teams

Harnessing analytics and artificial intelligence for business improvement

John K. Thompson

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781800203167
• eBook ISBN: 9781800205185
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Data Modelling & Design
• Index: Computer Science

Master the skills necessary to hire and manage a team of highly skilled individuals to design, build, and implement applications and systems based on advanced analytics and AI

Key Features

• Learn to create an operationally effective advanced analytics team in a corporate environment
• Select and undertake projects that have a high probability of success and deliver the improved top and bottom-line results
• Understand how to create relationships with executives, senior managers, peers, and subject matter experts that lead to team collaboration, increased funding, and long-term success for you and your team

Book Description

In Building Analytics Teams, John K. Thompson, with his 30+ years of experience and expertise, illustrates the fundamental concepts of building and managing a high-performance analytics team, including what to do, who to hire, projects to undertake, and what to avoid in the journey of building an analytically sound team. The core processes in creating an effective analytics team and the importance of the business decision-making life cycle are explored to help achieve initial and sustainable success.

The book demonstrates the various traits of a successful and high-performing analytics team and then delineates the path to achieve this with insights on the mindset, advanced analytics models, and predictions based on data analytics. It also emphasizes the significance of the macro and micro processes required to evolve in response to rapidly changing business needs.

The book dives into the methods and practices of managing, developing, and leading an analytics team. Once you've brought the team up to speed, the book explains how to govern executive expectations and select winning projects.

By the end of this book, you will have acquired the knowledge to create an effective business analytics team and develop a production environment that delivers ongoing operational improvements for your organization.

What you will learn

• Avoid organizational and technological pitfalls of moving from a defined project to a production environment
• Enable team members to focus on higher-value work and tasks
• Build Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AA&AI) functions in an organization
• Outsource certain projects to competent and capable third parties
• Support the operational areas that intend to invest in business intelligence, descriptive statistics, and small-scale predictive analytics
• Analyze the operational area, the processes, the data, and the organizational resistance

Who this book is for

This book is for senior executives, senior and junior managers, and those who are working as part of a team that is accountable for designing, building, delivering and ensuring business success through advanced analytics and artificial intelligence systems and applications. At least 5 to 10 years of experience in driving your organization to a higher level of efficiency will be helpful.

Index

Symbols

enterprise resource planning (ERP) 51

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). 210

A

adoption process

executing 310, 311, 312

advanced analytics 1, 20, 174

advanced analytics and AI team 58

analytics professionals

architecture/structure options 82

building 57

building, with Artisanal approach 83

building, with Factory approach 86

building, with Hybrid approach 88, 91

challenges

context and considerations 58, 59, 61

continual learning and data literacy 76, 77

disciplinary action 71, 72

diversity 65, 66, 67

engaging, with with functional teams 60

evolved leadership 75

example activities 101

experts 66, 67

fit to be found concept 74

fixed mindset people 106

improving, with innovation ideas 149, 61, 149, 150

interface 58

internships and co-op programs approach 64

internships and co-op programs approach, challenges 118, 120

junior data scientists 110

labor market dynamics 73

leadership 127, 128, 130

lifelong learning mindset 107

managerial focus and balance 95

managing 95

neurodiverse talent, hiring 70

neurodiversity 68

open-mindset people 106

optimism 142, 143

organizational culture 199, 200, 202

organizational maxims

people mindsets 104

personal project portfolio, developing 113, 115, 116

productivity premium 107, 108

senior data scientists 112

shortcomings 237

sponsor and stakeholder management 96

supportive and engaged team 144, 145, 146

talented and skilled individuals 121

talent pipeline 118

team cohesion, managing 147, 148

team dynamics, managing 116

team members 121

team members. qualities 123

working 108, 110

Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AA&AI) 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18

Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AA&AI COE) 5, 7

Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AA&AI COE)

8

advanced analytics projects 55

advanced analytics team , 177

downsides 56

AI models

training 326, 329

AI systems 34, 37

Alhamdoosh, Monther 158

analytical applications

used, for altering work of functional team 261, 262, 263

analytical applications and models

building, versus operation 291, 293, 294, 295

building, versus updating 295, 297, 298

analytical environments

building, individual characteristics 49, 51

analytical findings

translating 308, 30...

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• An Overview of Successful and High-Performing Analytics Teams
• Building an Analytics Team
• Managing and Growing an Analytics Team
• Leadership for Analytics Teams
• Managing Executive Expectations
• Ensuring Engagement with Business Professionals
• Selecting Winning Projects
• Operationalizing Analytics – How to Move from Projects to Production
• Managing the New Analytical Ecosystem
• The Future of Analytics – What Will We See Next?
• Other Books You May Enjoy
• Index