Getting started with your data analytics team: what you need to know.

I have come across this question many times? People ask me this:

“I am interested in setting up a data team for my company, I know how important this thing is to our current market.”

“What do I need to do and who should I have on my team.”

In my attempt to answer I normally try as much as possible to learn what the person knows about what this process entails because then I can better advise them.

The team to be able to do analytics well you need some components to be intact.

1 – A statistician: this role plays a major role in decision making. The whole ecosystem of data science revolves around building some mathematical models that in turn help us to answer questions. Statisticians have an edge in this process.

2 – The team needs a domain expert: by domain expert, I mean someone who is knowledgeable in the area that you are intending to work on. Let’s say we are going to build some products in health care, we need some doctors on the team. Domain experts are a must.

3 – Data person: this can take the role of data scientist/analyst who helps build algorithms, these are people that merge statistics and computer science in order to make solutions. You need database guy: this person helps put together the technicalities of data structures and how they behave in the organization.

4 – A developer: this is a person that helps in translating all the necessary ideas into software.

I think some of these roles are not really necessary in the beginning because sometimes the resources to hire them are constrained. In that regard — I know for a fact that the “data guys” normally can double up on what is necessary for the development area to function.

It should also be known well that it’s a good idea to work with an already set up team because it reduces mistakes, how long you will wait before seeing results and other factors.

When push comes to shove, I really know that venturing into this process without some sort of guidance can waste a lot of your resources. One of the services we provide at the climbers is some advice on how to get up and about in such circumstances.

Feel free to leave us a note or a comment below in order to get some great advice.