The document discusses challenges with hiring data scientists and suggests alternative approaches. It recommends empowering small cross-functional data-oriented teams explicitly tasked with delivering measurable business benefits. This builds internal data capabilities rather than just hiring expertise. It also stresses the importance of making data science a cultural value throughout the organization so that all employees understand basic principles and practices of data science.

1. SEARCHING
FOR THAT
ELUSIVE DATA
SCIENTIST

2. INSIGHTS: “Stop Searching for
That Elusive Data Scientist” -
Michael Schrage

3. INSIGHT #1. Stop
hunting for that data
science unicorn and/or
silver bullet.
Odds are poor that you’ll
be able to find and hire
really good data
scientists.

4. • Surveys say there
simply aren’t enough
people with the unusual
blend of software skills
and statistical savvy to
go around.
• For many organizations,
a mediocre data
scientist may be worse
than none at all.

5. • Big organizations can
afford — or think they can
afford — to throw money at
the problem by hiring laid-
off Wall Street quants or
hiring big-budget analytics
boutiques.
• More frugal and prudent
enterprises seem to be
taking alternate
approaches.

6. INSIGHT #2.
Empowering small
cross-functional data-
oriented teams
• The teams must be explicitly
charged with delivering
tangible and measurable data-
driven benefits in relatively
short periods of time.
• The emphasis is on building
greater data capability than
better digital infrastructures.

7. • Data science must be a
cultural value, not just a
functional expertise.
• The goal is to make all of the
organization more
conversant in how to align
probability, statistics,
technology and business
value creation.

8. Even baby steps in analytics could yield large strides
in outcome.

9. “You must cultivate
internal capability, not
just hire it.”

10. Employing the Insights into the life of a
Manager.

11. Better Collection Understanding of the Employees
Better the
opportunities
to the team
Better
Relations
between the
staff.
Better learned
the workforce
will be

12. COST-SAVING FOR A
COMPANY
• Big savings deal for the
company by investing in small
teams, rather than hiring the
savvy quants.
• Limited ambition could do a
better job attracting credibility
and support than BHAGs.(Big
Hairy Audacious Goal)

14. People don’t need to
become data scientists, but
they do need to understand
and appreciate key
principles and practices of
data science.

15. The temporary fix of
data science teaming
doesn’t solve the
problem, but it
creates the cultural
and organizational
context for the
necessary hires to
follow.

16. Presented By: Charanjeet Singh Ahluwalia
Connect with me:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charanjeet-singh-ahluwalia-
b47aa2125/