How do Data Scientists fit into an organization? How is the role of a Data Scientist different from the role of a Data Engineer? How should the Data Science team be organized to create the most value for the business? Those are questions companies are struggling with as they begin to incorporate Big Data, Analytics, […]
Data Science Education at Carnegie Mellon University: Demand for Analytics Skills
The wide acceptance and demand for Data Science education is reflected in the variety of graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon University. There are nine degree programs offered through four schools, emphasizing different aspects of analytics. Two degrees, the Master’s in Machine Learning and Master’s in Computational Data Science emphasize the computer science elements; the Master’s […]
Creating a Data-Driven Organization Depends on a Data-Driven Culture
Data Strategy and Business Intelligence aren’t really about data; they’re about the way data is used. The end goal isn’t more silos, with a team that owns the data, the process, and its value. The end goal is a data-driven culture where everyone sees the value in data, understands the importance of collecting good data, […]
Triplestores 101: Storing Data for Efficient Inferencing
Relational databases are the workhorses of many corporate analytical and reporting applications, but the rise of Big Data has led to the rise of alternative, NoSQL database models. They are better suited for the nature of the data and the kinds of questions that will be asked against that data. Triplestores are a kind of […]
Advanced Analytics 101: Beyond Business Intelligence
Trying to make sense of data is nothing new. Companies have been applying analytical methods since before the computer was invented. Once computers and storage became reasonably cheap and powerful, in the late 1980s, companies started using Business Intelligence (BI) software to try to find meaning in their data. Today’s Advanced Analytics go beyond the […]
An Overview of University and Non-Traditional Programs in Data Science Education
In 2011, McKinsey Global Institute forecast an enormous shortage of Data Science and Analytics professionals by 2018. Academia responded by developing a host of Data Science education programs, primarily allowing graduates with mathematical and technical backgrounds to earn a master’s degree. Since the first programs started, they have now spread to dozens of universities, and […]
Predictive Analytics Route Planning Algorithm at UPS Followed a Long Path to Success
The traveling salesman problem has been known as a tough problem to solve since it was first discussed in the 19th century. Multiply it by the 55,000 routes, more than 100 stops on each, add in additional constraints like time commitments, and it goes beyond being tough to becoming seriously challenging. But, there’s a big […]
Big City, Big Data: Data Science Education at Columbia University
Columbia University’s Data Science education programs are fairly new, with the Data Science Institute founded in 2012. The program seeks to take an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on more than 200 faculty from the nine schools that make up the university. The classes were intentionally designed especially for these programs, not pulled from existing courses. Research […]
Hadoop Overview: A Big Data Toolkit
Big Data isn’t new. Forbes traces the origins back to the “information explosion” concept first identified in 1941. The challenge has been to develop practical methods for dealing with the 3Vs: Volume, Variety, and Velocity. Without tools to support and simplify the manipulation and analysis of large data sets, the ability to use that data […]
Data Science Education at NCSU: Education with a Mission
The Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) at North Carolina State University (NCSU) is one of the oldest Data Science degrees in the country. The program began in 2007, with the school’s Institute for Advanced Analytics focused on supporting the success of its students. A presentation about the program at the school sets its ambitions […]