Seasons

An audience’s reception to data science may depend on the mood or climate surrounding the use of or investment in data and analytics. In RDADA we will consider moods using the simple theme of the four seasons. We will learn about and model each mood as we progress through the course.

End of Winter

Prologue

We begin at the end of the “winter” of RDADA. We weary data scientists are seeking refuge from the cold, bitter, and irrational world of data-dismissive decision “faking”. We are eager to transform the status quo through the power of data science, but we are also worried about which opportunities are promising and which are dead ends. When mission-critical issues are at stake, stressed-out managers either militate against our crackpot schemes, or on the contrary, they fuel the hype by making promises we don’t know how to keep.

Week	Perform	Compose	Review
1		100%

Spring

Act I: Decision Making

In the “spring” of RDADA, we thaw stilted preconceptions about data science by introducing the decision-making principle as an archimedean point to leverage the unrealized potential of data. With some organizational committment to data science, whether as good-will or actual investment, stakeholders and data scientists alike engage in brainstorming around pressing problems and exciting data science proposals. Great things are possible and we are eager to realize the potential of data.

Week	Perform	Compose	Review
2	50%	25%
3	100%	50%
4		75%	33%
5		100%	66%

Summer

Act II: Research Design

In the “summer” of RDADA things heat up as we roll up our sleeves to make good on the promises of the spring. Here we devise the science solutions to the business problems developed previously. One idea survives the brain-storm, and the data scientists must face the heat, put their axes to the grindstone, and build a working prototype. Here the energy and creativity of the spring meets with the actual capabilities of the team. This is the season of blood, sweat, and tears.

Week	Perform	Compose	Review
6	50%	25%	100%
7	100%	50%
8		75%	33%
9		100%	66%

Fall

Act III: Conveying Findings

In the “fall” of RDADA, seemingly with the brunt of the work behind us, we focus on how the solutions of the summer can actually be realized in their business contexts. A chill creeps back in as our ambitions are put to the test against stark organizational and ethical realities. With the summer’s prototype in hand, the team turns to the details of implementation and deployment at scale. The actual fit of the product with the functioning of the organization and product’s markets are tested. As the product gains exposure, challenges mount. Winter is coming.

Week	Perform	Compose	Review
10		100%	100%
11	100%
12		33%
13	50%	66%

Beginning of Winter

Epilogue

At the start of the next “winter” of RDADA, as the accomplishments of last year begin to wane in the face of new challenges, the seasonal cycle begins again. We prepare to strike out to bring fire to the frigid conditions of a world without data science, this time with the skills necessary to survive!

Week	Perform	Compose	Review
14	100%	100%	100%