Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®)

Certification Program

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TDWI Presented by

Jeff Devon, CAP

March 6, 2014

Agenda

• Background

• Benefits of CAP® certification

• Details of Becoming Certified

• Maintaining the certification

• Questions

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• Institute for Operations Research and Management Science

• Mission: lead in the development, dissemination and implementation of knowledge, basic and applied research and technologies in operations research, the management sciences, and related methods of improving operational processes, decision-making, and management.

• 10,700 members - mix of academic (80%) and practitioner (20%)

• Highly educated (51% earned PhD, 96% earned or pursuing MS or higher)

• Global (79% North America, 10% Europe, 7% Asia)

• Partner with CORS (www.cors.ca)

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Who is INFORMS?

•Analytics is the scientific process of transforming data into insight for making better decisions.

•Analytics-Related Initiatives– Analytics Certification– Continuing Education Courses– Research– Analytics Maturity Model– Engagement with Industry, Government, and

Academia

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INFORMS and Analytics

To fill a certification gap in an important and growing field

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CAP® Program Goals

• Advance the use of analytics by qualified professionals• Ensure quality of profession• Identify individuals with appropriate breadth of knowledge• Ensure continued competency• Be software and vendor neutral

Who is a CAP?

6How could this grocery store improve average wait time?

The “Shape” of Analytics Certification

• Initial certification will assess across the breadth of knowledge needed in analytics (i.e. the “top crossbar of the T”)

• Evaluation of more detailed knowledge can be done later in “add-on” certifications, pending the successful development and deployment of CAP.

• Want to ensure that CAP does include some level of depth across the broad range of tasks performed and knowledge required by analytics professionals

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Benefits of Certification

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• Advances career potential by setting you apart

• Personal satisfaction---key career milestone

• Demonstrates continuing prof. development and commitment to the field

• Boosts salary potential

• Shows competence in the principles and practice of analytics

• Proves your organization follows industry-standard analytics practice

5 E’s: Components of CAP® Certification

• Education:

• Experience:

• Exam: Tests skills and knowledge in the 7 domains of the Job Task Analysis

• Effectiveness: Soft skills validated by current or former employer / client

• Ethics: Must agree to a Code of Ethics

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Degree Level Degree Area Experience

MS/MA or higher Related Area 3 years

BS/BA Related Area 5 years

BS/BA Non-Related Area 7 years

- Scott Nestler, CAP, US Army (Chair)- Polly Mitchell-Guthrie, SAS (Vice Chair)- Tom Davenport, Babson College- Bill Franks, Teradata- Jeanne Harris, Accenture- Terry Harrison, CAP, Penn State University- Lisa Kart, CAP, Gartner- Kathy Kilmer, Disney- Don Kleinmuntz, Kleinmuntz Associates- Jack Levis, UPS- Paul Messinger, CAP, University of Alberta- Jonathan Owen, General Motors- Melissa Moore, INFORMS Exec. Director

Analytics Certification Board

•Semi-independent governing body; assumed responsible for development of the certification program in July 2013.

•Members include:

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Domain

Task

Knowledge

Job Task Analysis

Developed by people who are:

•Highly regarded in their field

•Diverse in geography, sector, organization type, and application area

•Representative of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive segments

Domains of Analytics Practice

• Business Problem Framing• Analytics Problem Framing • Data• Methodology (Approach) Selection

• Model Building

• Deployment • Model Lifecycle Management

(15%)

(17%)

(22%)

(15%)

(16%)

(9%)

(6%)

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Exam Format

• 100 multiple choice test questions (examples on website & in Candidate Handbook)

• Only 1 correct response• 3 Hours to complete• Paper and pencil format (for now; Computer-

Based Testing begins in 2014)• 4 function calculator provided• Delivered in proctored environment

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How to Prepare

• Candidate Handbook– Review the sample questions -- familiarize yourself with the exam question

format• Includes rationale for correct and incorrect answers

– Review and use the list of key references

• Continuing Education classes– List can be found on website

• (Draft) Study Guide – On website for review/comment

– Complete Study Guide due soon

ALL are available online at:http://www.informs.org/Certification/

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Maintaining the CAP® Designation

• Certification requires that knowledge be kept current

• Recertification every 3 years • Based on earning at least 30

PDUs • 1 Professional Development

Unit (PDU) = 1 hour of activity • PDUs can be maintained

online at INFORMS

PDU Category PDUs Allowed

Education/Training programs

1 PDU/hour of activity: must earn 8

Self-directed learning

1 PDU/hour of activity:maximum of 10

Creating new analytics knowledge

1 PDU/hour of activity:maximum of 10

Volunteer service 1 PDU/hour of activity:maximum of 10

Analytics professional work experience

5 PDUs/year of employment

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Questions?

Web: www.INFORMS.org/certification

Certification Manager: Louise Wehrle

Email: certification@INFORMS.org

Phone: 443-757-3500

Presenter: Jeff Devon

Email: jdevon@torontohydro.com16