Essentials of Modeling and Analytics ─ Retail Risk Management and Asset Protection

Essentials of Modeling and Analytics illustrates how and why analytics can be used effectively by loss prevention staff. The book offers an in-depth overview of analytics, first illustrating how analytics are used to solve business problems, then exploring the tools and training that staff will need in order to engage solutions. The text also covers big data analytical tools and discusses if and when they are right for retail loss prevention professionals, and illustrates how to use analytics to test the effectiveness of loss prevention initiatives. Ideal for loss prevention personnel on all levels, this book can also be used for loss prevention analytics courses.

‧ David B. Speights, PhD, Chief Data Scientist, The Retail Equation – Dr. Speights has been with The Retail Equation leading the loss prevention analytics efforts for more than 15 years. He built the loss prevention analytics team from one person to a team of 12 with 6 PhD researchers on staff. Prior to joining The Retail Equation, Speights was first vice president of Mortgage Credit Risk Modeling at Washington Mutual and chief statistician at HNC Software. Speights holds a Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of California, Los Angeles and has many publications and patents in the area of loss prevention analytics.

‧ Daniel Downs, PhD, Senior Statistical Criminologist, The Retail Equation - Dr. Downs has worked in the loss prevention analytics field for over 6 years and has a PhD in Criminology from the University of Illinois. Prior to joining The Retail Equation, Dr. Downs spent 2 years working for the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) based out of the University of Florida. He has numerous publications in the area of loss prevention.

‧ Adi Raz, MBA, Senior Director of Data Sciences & Modeling, The Retail Equation - Has been with The Retail Equation for more than 10 years as a senior member of the loss prevention analytics team. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics from James Madison University and her MBA from Pepperdine University graduating at the top of her class from both programs. She has over 15 years of professional data handling, analytics, and modeling experience.