,From the Foreword: “This book depicts a 40‑year journey beginning when
Doug changed his undergraduate major from computer science to mathe‑
matical sciences to today where we fnd Doug as a data science director at
Walmart Global Tech, as the co‑author of the book Why Data Science Projects
Failv: The Harsh Realties of Implementing Analytics without the Hype, and teach‑
ing practitioners and leaders how to apply analytical science within a busi‑
ness environment. For the duration of his career, Doug has worked at the
intersection of mathematics, statistics, computer science, large amounts of
data, and real‑world problems for both the private sector and the public sec‑
tor. His journey has had many twists and turns along the way, but the best
practices and critical lessons learned that Doug has gleaned from his experi‑
ences are invaluable for anyone even tangentially involved with Analytics,
Data Science, and Artifcial Intelligence today.”
Stephen M. Clampett, Owner of SM Clampett Group LLC, Senior Airline and
Travel Technology Executive, Former President Sabre Airline Solutions
,
, The Art of Data Science
Although change is constant in business and analytics, some fundamental
principles and lessons learned are truly timeless, extending and surviving
beyond the rapid ongoing evolution of tools, techniques, and technologies.
Through a series of articles published over the course of his 30+ year career
in analytics and technology, Doug Gray shares the most important lessons
he has learned – with colleagues and students as well – that have helped to
ensure success on his journey as a practitioner, leader, and educator.
The reader witnesses the Analytical Sciences profession through the mind’s
eye of a practitioner who has operated at the forefront of analytically inclined
organizations, such as American Airlines and Walmart, delivering solutions
that generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually in business value, and
an educator teaching students and conducting research at a leading univer‑
sity. Through real‑world project case studies, frst‑hand stories, and practical
examples, we learn the foundational truth underlying successful analytics
applications. From bridging theory and practice, to playing a role as a con‑
sultant in digital transformation, to understanding how analytics can be eco‑
nomically transformational, identifying required soft skills like leadership
skills, and understanding the reasons why data science projects often fail, the
reader can better visualize and understand the nuanced, multidimensional
nature of Analytical Sciences best practices, projects, and initiatives.
The readers will gain a broad perspective on where and how to fnd suc‑
cess with Analytical Sciences, including the ability to ensure that we apply
the right tool, at the right time and right place, and sometimes in different
industries.
Finally, through the author’s own career synopsis on becoming a practitio‑
ner and leader, and his distilled insights, the reader is offered a view into the
future that analytics holds, along with some invaluable career advice regard‑
ing where to focus, how to make good choices, and how to measure success
individually and organizationally.
Doug changed his undergraduate major from computer science to mathe‑
matical sciences to today where we fnd Doug as a data science director at
Walmart Global Tech, as the co‑author of the book Why Data Science Projects
Failv: The Harsh Realties of Implementing Analytics without the Hype, and teach‑
ing practitioners and leaders how to apply analytical science within a busi‑
ness environment. For the duration of his career, Doug has worked at the
intersection of mathematics, statistics, computer science, large amounts of
data, and real‑world problems for both the private sector and the public sec‑
tor. His journey has had many twists and turns along the way, but the best
practices and critical lessons learned that Doug has gleaned from his experi‑
ences are invaluable for anyone even tangentially involved with Analytics,
Data Science, and Artifcial Intelligence today.”
Stephen M. Clampett, Owner of SM Clampett Group LLC, Senior Airline and
Travel Technology Executive, Former President Sabre Airline Solutions
,
, The Art of Data Science
Although change is constant in business and analytics, some fundamental
principles and lessons learned are truly timeless, extending and surviving
beyond the rapid ongoing evolution of tools, techniques, and technologies.
Through a series of articles published over the course of his 30+ year career
in analytics and technology, Doug Gray shares the most important lessons
he has learned – with colleagues and students as well – that have helped to
ensure success on his journey as a practitioner, leader, and educator.
The reader witnesses the Analytical Sciences profession through the mind’s
eye of a practitioner who has operated at the forefront of analytically inclined
organizations, such as American Airlines and Walmart, delivering solutions
that generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually in business value, and
an educator teaching students and conducting research at a leading univer‑
sity. Through real‑world project case studies, frst‑hand stories, and practical
examples, we learn the foundational truth underlying successful analytics
applications. From bridging theory and practice, to playing a role as a con‑
sultant in digital transformation, to understanding how analytics can be eco‑
nomically transformational, identifying required soft skills like leadership
skills, and understanding the reasons why data science projects often fail, the
reader can better visualize and understand the nuanced, multidimensional
nature of Analytical Sciences best practices, projects, and initiatives.
The readers will gain a broad perspective on where and how to fnd suc‑
cess with Analytical Sciences, including the ability to ensure that we apply
the right tool, at the right time and right place, and sometimes in different
industries.
Finally, through the author’s own career synopsis on becoming a practitio‑
ner and leader, and his distilled insights, the reader is offered a view into the
future that analytics holds, along with some invaluable career advice regard‑
ing where to focus, how to make good choices, and how to measure success
individually and organizationally.
