Where Should the Analysts Live: Organizing Analytics Within the Enterprise (University of Alberta)
Date:
Enterprises use analytics to support decision making at all levels of the organization. But the potential of analytics in driving decisions can lead to conflict between the business units and the analytics champions in the organization. This talk focuses on common management structures—centralized, decentralized, and matrix organizations—and how they impact the success of analytics projects. We will discuss common pitfalls that lead to project failures and examine how different management structures can address these challenges. By evaluating these structures, we will explore criteria related to long-term project success, including the development of subject matter expertise, fostering relationships between analysts and business partners, maintaining technical proficiency, and ensuring professional development for both analysts and business partners. Finally, we will emphasize the importance of sustainability and retention in building a robust analytics team that benefits the enterprise as a whole.