Analytics Magazine Analytics Magazine, May/June 2014 | Page 14

ANALY ZE T H I S ! You are unlikely to do any of this great work totally on your own, so developing the skills needed to work effectively with others is too important to be left to chance. With all this as background, I suggested that the students pursue one of the following: • An M.S. degree in analytics that focuses on preparing students for effectively working across the analytics project cycle, which in addition to content found in traditional O.R. programs also includes training in problem discovery and framing, data capture, preparation and analysis, predictive modeling, business communication, teamwork and project skills. • A Ph.D. program in an academic area of interest (economics, biology, physics and psychology were all discussed), which would include additional rigorous technical training, require them to combine the experience of acquiring deep domain knowledge with challenges in data acquisition and analysis, and help them to more deeply develop their ability to learn independently while working in collaboration with an advisor (and i