4

WHAT GREAT DATA ANALYSTS DO

by Cassie Kozyrkov

The top trophy hire in data science is elusive, and that should be no surprise: A “full-stack” data scientist has mastery of machine learning, statistics, and analytics. When teams can’t get their hands on a three-in-one polymath, they set their sights on luring the most impressive prize among the single-origin specialists. Which of those skills gets the podium?

Today’s fashion in data science favors flashy sophistication with a dash of sci-fi, making AI and machine learning the darlings of the job market. Alternative challengers for the alpha spot come from statistics, thanks to a century-long reputation for rigor and mathematical superiority. What about analytics?

Analytics as a Second-Class ...

Get Strategic Analytics: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.