What's IT's Role in Analytics Adoption?
Ten years ago, executives looked to IT for technical solutions to support business units. Today, analytics has dramatically changed that function. As Monsanto Co. has pushed for analytics adoption throughout its organization, IT managers have become sought after for the answers they can provide to build competitive advantage and guide strategic decision making.
Beth Holmes' job is to answer questions for the company through exploratory analytics -- and to advance Monsanto's organizational strategy of embedding analytics more deeply into all corners of the company's operations. Using analytics, her group has scoped out high-value sales targets, done cost modeling, improved the accuracy of sales forecasting and used multiple methodologies to aid long-range planning. The "exploratory analytics" team routinely tests assumptions about such things as commodity prices and agricultural trends. Building an understanding of potential scenarios is a critical component of the company's ability to operate profitably.
Holmes spoke with MIT Sloan Management Review editor-in-chief Michael S. Hopkins about myth busting, why the simplest solution is often the smartest, and what it means to push for analytics adoption by using the IT function for leverage.
Beth Holmes' job is to answer questions for the company through exploratory analytics -- and to advance Monsanto's organizational strategy of embedding analytics more deeply into all corners of the company's operations. Using analytics, her group has scoped out high-value sales targets, done cost modeling, improved the accuracy of sales forecasting and used multiple methodologies to aid long-range planning. The "exploratory analytics" team routinely tests assumptions about such things as commodity prices and agricultural trends. Building an understanding of potential scenarios is a critical component of the company's ability to operate profitably.
Holmes spoke with MIT Sloan Management Review editor-in-chief Michael S. Hopkins about myth busting, why the simplest solution is often the smartest, and what it means to push for analytics adoption by using the IT function for leverage.