Business Modeling and Data Mining

Rating:
Summary: Using data to solve busines problems
Review: A must have for any data miner that takes his profession seriously. Already a classic. Business modeling and data mining are carefully separated, as they should be. This crucial distinction has greatly enlightened my view on business problems. First discover the framework for the business problem, determine the leverage point, and then build and refine the best possible model.

All steps are described in practical detail, making the book extremely actionable, and tool independent. First, how to determine the appropriate problem to analyze? Then, what are the right data, and how do I get them? Only then does the data mining begin, and a groundbreaking, comprehensive methodology is put forward to come up with the best possible model in every circumstance. The business modeling and data mining methodologies explicate at every possible step in the process - what to do, and how to proceed. In addition, a lot of supporting material provides insight on topics like working with conditional probabilities, regression to the mean, visualizing model performance and errors in problem space, etc.

Mr. Pyle's previous book set the mark with regards to data preparation. This book is much broader in its scope and should actually be read before the previous one. It's pretty hefty, but more than worth the read. In my opinion it should also be mandatory for 'data savvy' marketers as well, for instance as textbook in contemporary MBA courses.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Business Modelling and Data Mining is an extremely clear and didactic work that explains and exemplifies business-oriented data analysis.
Its structure goes from general to particular, from theory to practice. It is a work about concepts and its applications.
In the so complex, uncertain and fast world of today, those is charge of making decisions in business need to discover which useful information is contained in their data bases to be able to take the necessary measures tending to achieve competitive advantages. This work explains how to be successful in that direction, integrating qualitative and quantitative analysis of concepts.
Dr. Pyle's added value is linking data mining to business. The reader with a previous knowledge of data mining will be able to understand its useful application in the world of business. The one already familiar with business will learn about new technologies to improve tactic and strategic decision-making.
It is evident from my words that I do not agree with Alphonse LaTuune's vision, who I think has misinterpreted this book's purpose. Whereas detailed explanations on how to work with data mining algorithms are not necessary, it is important to highlight how to add value to decisions in business. The latter is, definitely, Business Intelligence.
Whether you want to initiate learning, or deepen your understanding of the subject, do not hesitate to read this book. You will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Not a _practical_ introduction
Review: I selected Pyle's book, sight unseen, as an introduction for undergraduate students in an information science curriculum. A third the way through the course students are beginning to ask "where's the beef?", and understandably so. Even a business reader in search of an overview of the topic will likely find this discussion weighted with waffling wordiness.

The author devotes page after page to talking about models and mining in a style that is somehow both wordy and imprecise. A reader who is interested in the author's feelings about modeling and mining might find it illuminating; students who are interested in learning how it works and how to _do_ it find it unsatisfying.

I recommend the next edition edit the first 300 pages or so down to 30, and devote the word-count more to real life examples, specific mathematical explanations, and practical exercises.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: The translation of the business problem into a Data Mining problem is the key for successful data mining projects. Mr Pyle's book deals with this subject in a remarkable way. The book is organized in four parts. The first part provides an introductory material. It shows a broad view of the modelling and mining. This part allowed me to grasp the key concepts, connect them among themselves and have a "map of the territory" as Mr. Pyle says.

The second part shows many techniques for dealing with business situations and how to translate them into a data mining problem. Many of these topics were new for me and I was able to learn and apply a lot of these powerful methodology.

Part 3 is mainly about the data mining algorithms, different approach to solve data mining problems and how to improve the results. Although I knew about this subject, many topics are discussed in a very interesting point of view.

Finally, the part 4 provides a full interactive methodology which summarizes the previous parts. I have found this part very helpful in my work as business modeling consultant.

Summarizing, I think that this book is excellent and it would be read by anyone who wants to apply data analysis to the real world.