Apr 29, 2014

The p Value is Not One Number to Rule Them All

I have just seen an article that is too good not to be shared. It is published by Scientific American and discusses issues with the statistical significance and its effect on scientific results. It also lays out the alternative statistical methods that need to be taken into account. It is written in an a readable manner and has lots of links for the curious ones. I recommend it to everyone in data and analytics-related fields as well as everyone else interested in application of scientific methods. Find the article here: Statistical significance and its part in science downfalls. Enjoy!

Apr 28, 2014

Where Are We on the Big Data/Analytics Hype Curve and What Does It Mean?


We are all familiar with the new technologies hype-cycle curve as described by GartnerGroup. The question now is where are we on this curve and what would be a good strategy for development in both personal career plan and business-wise.

Apr 17, 2014

Tips for Training Co-Workers in Excel

A friend of mine said yesterday that knowing Excel was everything you need to know these days. It was a joke of course but it had an ounce of truth in it. It made me think again about the role of this application in the office life and even more on the way we acquire the skills. In my opinion the workplace is where we get the most of it and it is in the best interest of organizations to provide better environment for that. External Excel trainers are good only to an extent as they are usually far from the business context, not that flexible, do not have enough time outside the classes and are expensive. A better alternative is the in-house training by an employee with proven expertise. Another is hiring a trainer that comes from or still is in a business similar to yours to do a customized class. I would like to share with you some tips from my experience for a successful in-house Excel class. It is assumed that the class will be held by a non-professional lecturer. 

Apr 9, 2014

So You Think You Are THAT Good with Excel?


So you think you are an Excel guru with a ninja black belt skills? I hope you are! The good news is you could challenge the world and test your worth! There are few Excel contests that would give you the opportunity to do just that.

Apr 2, 2014

Things to Consider When Selecting a Data Mining Software

Data mining software package is not something we usually choose. It either already in place in the company or taught in the university or the decision is made on corporate level. However with the growing number of companies tapping into the power of analytics the question probably is asked a lot. I have recently been asked for an advice for a good data mining software and I came up with some points I would like to share with you.