Minding the Machines

Foreword xiii

Introduction xvi

Chapter 1 Prologue 1

For the Leader from the Business 5

For the Career Transitioner 6

For the Motivated Practitioner 6

For the Student 7

For the Analytics Leader 8

Structure of This Book 8

Why is This Book Needed? 9

Communication Gap 9

Troubles with Taylorism 10

Rinse, Report, Repeat 12

Too Fast, Too Slow 13

More Data, More Problems 14

Summary 15

Chapter 2 Strategy 17

The Role of Analytics in the Organization 20

The Analytics Playbook 20

Data and Analytics as a Culture Change 24

Current State Assessment 26

Readiness Assessment 26

Capability Modeling and Mapping 28

Technology Stack Review 32

Data Quality and Governance 34

Stakeholder Engagement 35

Defining the Future State 37

Defining the Mandate 39

Analytics Governance Model 40

Target Operating Model 42

Define Your Principles 43

Functions, Services, and Capabilities 43

Interaction Models 44

Organizational Design 48

Community of Practice 52

Project Delivery Model 55

Closing the Gap 57

Setting the Horizon 58

Establishing a Talent Roadmap 59

Consultants and Contractors 60

Change Management 62

Implementing Governance Models 64

Summary 65

Chapter 3 Process 69

Project Planning 73

Intake and Prioritization 73

Project Pipelines 77

Portfolio Project Management 80

Project Scoping and Planning 83

Scoping and Requirements Definition 86

Planning 92

Project Execution 96

Governance Structure and Communication Plan 99

Project Kickoff 102

Agile Analytics 103

Change and Stakeholder Management 106

Skeuomorphs 106

AI 101 and Project Brainstorming 107

Iterative Insights 110

Closeout and Delivery 111

Automation 112

Project Debrief 114

Summary 118

Chapter 4 People 121

Building the Team 122

Success Factors 123

Team Composition 128

Hiring and Onboarding 129

Talent Development 131

Retention 136

Departures 137

The Data Scientist Hierarchy of Needs 139

Culture 140

Innovation 145

Communication 147

Succession Planning 149

Potential Pitfalls 151

Dunning-Kruger Effect 152

Diderot Effect 153

Leading the Team 154

Data Scientists as Craftspeople 157

Team Conventions 160

Formal Meetings 162

Coffee Chats 164

Managing Conflict 167

Relationship Management 169

Owning the Narrative 175

Performance Metrics 177

Summary 181

Chapter 5 Future of Business Analytics 187

AutoML and the No-Code Movement 189

Data Science is Dead 192

The Data Warehouse 195

True Operationalization 196

Exogenous Data 198

Edge AI 199

Analytics for Good 200

Analytics for Evil 201

Ethics and Bias 203

Analytics Talent Shortages 204

Death of the Career Transitioner 206

Chapter 6 Summary 211

Chapter 7 Coda 213

Index 215