Bright Future For Analytics

If you’re publishing an online magazine called Analytics and you’re interested in launching a column called “Executive Edge” written for and by tech-savvy executives and leading “thought leaders” in the business analytics arena, who better to write the inaugural column than the person who literally wrote the book on the subject? That’s what we were thinking when we asked Tom Davenport, co-author (with Jeanne Harris) of “Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning,” to pen the first EE essay.  

The 2007 book, a best-seller, crystallized for many the enormous power and potential of business analytics to transform the way companies compete … and win. The book caught the attention of analysts and executives around the world as it chronicled the shift of business analytics from, as Davenport puts it, “the backroom to the boardroom.”

So where does Davenport think business analytics will go from here? You’ll have to read his column, “The Rise of Strategic Analytics” (page 4). Hint: the future looks bright.

This issue also marks the debut of another column, “Profit Center,” written by Andrew Boyd (page 6). Andy’s column strives to answer the question that’s at the editorial heart of Analytics: How to make analytics work for your organization?

Andy, who earned his Ph.D. in operations research from MIT in 1987, served as chief scientist and senior vice president of Science and Research at PROS (Pricing and Revenue Optimization Solutions) in Houston for 11 years. Prior to joining PROS, he was a tenured faculty member at Texas A&M University, where he remains an adjunct professor. Andy’s book, “The Future of Pricing: How Airline Ticket Pricing Has Inspired a Revolution,” was published by Palgrave in 2007.

Today, in addition to his teaching, Andy is a weekly contributor to “Engines of Our Ingenuity,” a nationally syndicated program produced by Houston’s National Public Radio Affiliate, KUHF, and is active in community service.

As always, I look forward to your feedback. Analytics is an interactive exercise. Contributed editorial ideas, articles and columns are welcomed.