Competing+on+analytics+I

=Competing on analytics I= Thursday, March 20

**Topic overview:**
In //Competing on Analytics//, Davenport and Harris build a compelling case that organizations that have successfully developed the ability to capture, analyze, and act on data in innovative ways can use their analytic capabilities to powerful advantage. This should not be a surprising revelation to Tepper students, as quantitative analysis is one of the foundations of the Tepper MBA program. Collecting and storing lots of data, however, is not sufficient to make a great analytic competitor. Organizations need to figure out how to transform their data into better, faster, and more accurate business decisions. As the authors discuss, there are many different ways for companies to do this.

In today's class we will look at some of the important challenges and issues facing organizations that want to make the jump from storing lots of data to being effective analytic competitors.

Specific topics that we will cover include:
 * Key characteristics of successful analytics-driven companies - what makes an 'analytic competitor'? what makes a good one?
 * Different techniques and approaches that successful analytics-driven companies have used to take advantage of their analytic capabilities
 * Choosing which parts of an organization are likely to benefit the most from an analytics-driven approach

Slides:

**Preparation for class:**
We will be discussing and doing in-class exercises based on part I of Competing on Analytics. Prior to class, you will need to have read chapters 1-3 of the book carefully. You will also benefit in the discussion and exercises from having read chapters 4 and 5, though they are not required prior to class.
 * [DH07] Davenport, Thomas H., and Harris, Jeanne G., Competing on Analytics – The New Science of Winning, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4221-0332-6 (course textbook)
 * Required: Chapters 1, 2, 3
 * Suggested: Chapters 4, 5

Come prepared to apply the concepts in part 1 of the book in class discussions to analyze how some well-known organizations might be able to improve their business by aggressively pursuing the principles of analytic excellence described in the book. Feel free to suggest organizations to discuss prior to class: I’ll be taking requests as I spin your favorite on-the-fly cases. If you have an organization you would like us to analyze, post your suggestions for organizations to discuss in class below, along with a brief description of why they would be an interesting to discuss. I can't guarantee that we will cover all of the organizations proposed but I'll try to incorporate a subset of those that are posted by 5:00pm Wednesday (3/19).