How to approach and deliver on a big data or analytics project. Do you have a tough problem that begs a tough solution? We discuss why and how to complete the project without rockstars, ninjas, or unicorns. A few case studies will be presented for discussion. Attendee participation is encouraged as we discuss different vendor capabilities and technologies.

1. Pragmatic Steps to Implement
Big Data Analytics
Alton Alexander
@AltonDataSci

2. Thanks to our Sponsors!

3. About Alton
• Insights manager at MRM//McCANN
• B2B Marketing Analytics
http://venturebeat.com/20
15/03/17/why-data-
scientists-and-marketing-
technologists-are-the-
hottest-jobs-of-2015/

4. Agenda
• What to do before taking any steps
• The pragmatic steps to implementing big data
analytics
• Case studies with audience participation

5. Tom Post says:
- Have an idea of the story before the interview
- Provide value
- Everything is about storytelling

6. https://doubleclix.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/business-users-shouldnt-touch-hadoop-even-with-a-99-foot-pole/
What is the end goal?

7. What is the end goal?
• Increased clarity: Infer the essentials from an
onslaught of data
• Deliver actionable: Make a fundamental
succinct inference that matters
• Add value: The numbers themselves aren’t the
insight. Tell the story.

8. What universal skills will we need to
achieve the end goal?
• Hacker Behavior
• GRIT: Persevere, Flourish, Succeed
• Self-Awareness
• An aversion to distractions
• A drive to work better
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-
business/openforum/articles/5-traits-great-high-growth-hires

9. The Pragmatic Steps to Big Data Analytics
• Be a data scientist

10. The Pragmatic Steps to Big Data Analytics
With the end goal in mind:
• Collect
• Store
• Transform
• Model
• Predict
• Present results

11. http://horicky.blogspot.com/2013/08/six-steps-in-data-science.html

12. Becoming a Data Scientist –
Curriculum via Metromap
http://nirvacana.c
om/thoughts/bec
oming-a-data-
scientist/

13. Top 10 Steps to a
Pragmatic Big Data Pipeline
https://doubleclix.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/top-10-steps-to-a-pragmatic-big-data-pipeline/

14. http://www.computerworld.co
m/article/2899647/the-data-
science-ecosystem.html

15. From Dan McKinley’s must read article
http://mcfunley.com/choose-boring-technology
• Embrace boredom
• Optimize globally
• Choose new technology sometimes
• Just ship!

16. From Dan McKinley’s must read article
http://mcfunley.com/choose-boring-technology
The way you might choose technology
in a world where choices are cheap:
"pick the right tool for the job."
The way you choose technology in the
world where operations are a serious
concern (i.e., "reality")

17. http://www.
computerwo
rld.com/artic
le/2882819/l
earn-how-
to-crunch-
big-data-
with-r.html

18. Case Studies
• Discussion:
– Don’t feel intimidated
– Don’t try to impress
– Be realistic and sensible

19. What universal skills will we need to
achieve the end goal?
• Hacker Behavior
• GRIT: Persevere, Flourish, Succeed
• Self-Awareness
• An aversion to distractions
• A drive to work better
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-
business/openforum/articles/5-traits-great-high-growth-hires