TWO I/O PSYCHOLOGY ALUMNI NAMED AMONG TOP INFLUENCERS IN BIG DATA
Here’s a piece of data on Big Data: two alumni of BGSU’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology program have been named by Onalytica among the Top 100 Influencers in the realm of Big Data.
Dr. Bob Hayes, chief research officer at Analytics Week and president of Business over Broadway, and Dr. Evan Sinar, chief scientist at Development Dimensions International, were also quoted in a recent blog post by the company.
Hayes, a 1992 alumnus, commented that rather than a profession, data science should be thought of as a way of thinking, using a scientific method to extract insights. This requires three types of skills, he said: subject matter expertise, technology/programming, and statistics/math. Since no one data scientist typically possesses all those skill sets, Hayes recommends employing teams with complementary skills to gain insight from data.
Sinar, who graduated in 2001, was also featured in a sampling of 12 of the top 20. He cautions companies about using workforce data, noting it must be used carefully so as not to lose credibility and damage morale. He especially cautions against using data gathered through such devices as trackers and biometric sensors to try to improve productivity. Tempting though it may be, this approach will only lead to employee resentment and turnover, he said. Companies must also use extreme care in using data for making decisions on hiring, promotions and discipline.
Onalytica delivers social network analysis and insights reporting into digital communities and key influencers, and also has an Influencer Relationship Management software platform, allowing customers to systematically time, manage and scale their relationships with key influencers and influential stakeholders such as journalists, analysts, thought leaders and bloggers.
“Our doctoral program in industrial-organizational psychology has always focused on using rigorous quantitative methods to provide advice to business leaders,” said Dr. Michael Zickar, chair of the psychology department and an I/O psychology faculty member. “Given the growth of the Internet and computer technology, the amount of data that can be used to help managers make better decisions has grown significantly. I’m delighted that several of our alumni have been cited for their influence in this important area!”
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