\u2018Big data\u2019 is a hot topic around the virtual boardroom table, but navigating statistical information and analytical tools can be a daunting task.<\/p>\n
An upcoming webinar will offer an introduction to big data analytics, including how to handle high-dimensional data and build predictive models that control for bias.<\/p>\n
Ejaz Ahmed, Dean for the Faculty of Mathematics and Science at Brock University, will lead \u2018Big data analytics: Wisdom or folly\u2019 on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. as part of the free weekly Business Breathers<\/a> webinar series facilitated by the Goodman School of Business\u2019 Goodman Group.<\/p>\n Business Breathers feature 30 minutes of live industry and faculty expert-led discussions, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period. Topics focus on leadership, management and innovation, as well as the financial and social impacts of trending topics.<\/p>\n Ahmed said it’s important for business professionals to understand how analytics can be used to advance business practices.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to predict financial, operational and transactional information is a lucrative skill,\u201d he said. \u201cModel selection, post-estimation and prediction is imperative for anyone conducting an analysis. For example, to best target customers through email, the analytics team must collect and analyze data to monitor consumer behaviour. Based on their customers\u2019 purchasing history, the retailer can predict their next purchases and provide them with personalized offers.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahmed is an internationally known scholar and an established researcher who focuses on big data, predictive modelling, data science and statistical machine learning. His book, Big and Complex Data Analysis<\/em><\/a>, has become a globally respected publication for data scientists and statisticians.<\/p>\n