Data Analytics: Effective Methods for Presenting Results

Georgia State University business analytics professors and active INFORMS members Subhashish Samaddar and Satish Nargundkar are the editors of a new book, “Data Analytics: Effective Methods for Presenting Results,” that many professionals in the worldwide analytics community will find not only informational but beneficial to their careers.

The editors spent the past two decades teaching and consulting in the field of analytics, where they noticed a critical shortcoming in the communication abilities of many analytics professionals. Specifically, analysts have difficulty in articulating in business terms what their analyses show and what actionable recommendations are needed. When analysts make presentations, they tend to lapse into the technicalities of mathematical procedures, rather than focusing on the strategic and tactical impact and meaning of their work. As analytics has become more mainstream and widespread in organizations, this problem has grown more acute. This book tackles the issue head on with easily actionable solutions.

Samaddar and Nargundkar used their experience as both presenters and audience members (who have become lost listening to other presentations) in compiling the book. Over the years, they experimented with different ways of presenting analytics work to make a more compelling case to top managers. In the book, they share tried-and-true methods for improving presentations, and present insights from other analysts and managers who share their own experiences. It is truly a collection of experiences and insight from academics and professionals involved with analytics.

The book is not a primer on how to draw the most beautiful charts and graphs or how to perform any specific kind of analysis. Rather, it shares the experiences of professionals in various industries about how they effectively present their analytics results. The editors tell their stories on how to win over audiences. The book spans multiple functional areas within a business, and in some cases, it discusses how to adapt presentations to the needs of audiences at different levels of management.

Subhashish Samaddar, Ph.D., Certified Analytics Professional (CAP), is a professor of business analytics and operations management in the managerial sciences department of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he was the founding academic director of the master’s degree program in analytics. He served on the INFORMS team that created the CAP certification examination administered globally and co-edited its first guide book. A multiple award-winning researcher, teacher and speaker, he specializes in business analytics, operations and organizational knowledge management and decision-making. A veteran of more than 25 years and a consultant in analytics, he has helped many U.S. organizations – Fortune 100, privately held and governmental agencies with their analytical needs. Samaddar currently teaches business analytics and research methods to undergraduates, MBA and executive master’s and doctoral students, as well as corporate clients.

Satish Nargundkar, Ph.D., is also a professor of business analytics at Georgia State. Over the past three decades, he has helped large and small companies improve their decision-making through analytics. A recipient of multiple awards for teaching and research, he has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of analytics, process improvement and decision support. His research interests are multidisciplinary and include supply chain management, quantitative methods and the improvement of teaching methods. Nargundkar is passionate about excellence in teaching and is sought after as an instructor in executive programs. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, traveling and photography.