Data Mining for Managers ― How to Use Data (Big and Small) to Solve Business Challenges

The purpose of the book is to provide insights and knowledge which can be actioned by both business people who are end users of data mining, as well as the hands-on data mining practitioner. The perspective here will focus on the actual business practice of data mining, as the author has over 30 years of experience in this area.

Data Mining for Managers is organized along the four-step process which is the approach used in undertaking any data mining project. These four steps are:

1) Identification of the Business Problem/Challenge
2) Creation of the Analytical Environment
3) Application of Data Mining Tools
4) Implementation and Measurement/Tracking

Not all business problems require solutions that can be built using data mining. Yet, the intention of the book is to help the reader develop a perspective that better enables him or her to identify issues that relate to data mining. Once data mining is identified as the key discipline to solve a given business problem, the book conveys how the data mining process should be undertaken to solve a given business problem. Within each step, the practitioner will be shown specific things they need to consider when building solutions. At the same time, the business users will be shown what things they need to look at in terms of results and output from data mining but more importantly how to interpret results into actionable learning.

Although the overall flow of the book will stem from the above 4-step process, specific topics such as conducting business sensitivity analysis to determine the viability of certain initiatives as well as customer segmentation will be explored.

Data Mining for Managers does not attempt to convert all readers into data mining specialists. Instead, it makes data mining accessible and comprehensible to a wide audience. The book provides a good starting point for those just beginning to explore data mining but is also complex enough to be extremely useful to a more seasoned miner. Boire focuses on imparting insights and knowledge related to data mining strategy. He demonstrates, through case studies and casual anecdotal evidence, how his strategies that can shift the key levers of your business—and drive ROI. Although data mining technology is becoming more sophisticated and complex in terms of providing additional targeting capabilities, no one—Boire asserts—should doubt that there will always be an element of artistry—of business and intellectual understanding—to building data mining solutions. Boire demonstrates how a clear understanding of data without any deeper understanding of what could be driving the results will generate potentially misleading conclusions and recommendations. He engagingly outlines methods for combining technological expertise with a conceptual vision and understanding of the business in order to achieve optimal results. Data Mining for Managers advises managers about the investment in intellectual capital required for effective data mining. In fact, Boire states, successful organizations will prioritize their investment on the intellectual side rather than on the technological front.

The book uses various case studies to illustrate its message, including this one about American Express:

AMEX built conceptualized and constructed models that would allow the company to predict net response as well as profitability. This allowed the Amex marketing team to select prospects not only on ROI but also on net response (as one of their key performance measures was cards in force). In effect the use of this decision tool allowed marketers to demonstrate the impact of optimizing ROI versus lost cards opportunity. This case study demonstrates how an organization evolved their overall acquisition strategy based on data mining.

Richard Boire's experience in database marketing and predictive analytics dates back to 1983, when he received an MBA from Concordia University in Finance and Statistics. His initial experience at organizations such as Reader's Digest and American Express allowed him to become a pioneer in the application of predictive modelling technology for all direct marketing programs. This extended to the introduction of models which targeted the acquisition of new customers based on return on investment. With this experience, Richard formed his own consulting company back in 1994 which is now called the Boire Filler Group, a Canadian leader in offering analytical and database services to companies seeking solutions to their existing predictive analytics or database marketing challenges. Richard is a recognized authority on predictive analytics and is among a very few, select top five experts in this field in Canada, with expertise and knowledge that is difficult, if not impossible to replicate in Canada. This expertise has evolved into international speaking assignments and workshop seminars in the U.S., England, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Richard was Chair at the CMA's Customer Insight and Analytics Committee and sat on the CMA's Board of Directors from 2009-2012. . He has chaired numerous full day conferences on behalf of the CMA (the 2000 Database and Technology Seminar as well as the 2002 Database and Technology Seminar and the first-ever Customer Profitability Conference in 2005. He most recently chaired the Predictive Analytics World 2013 conference held in Toronto.