DATA ANALYTICS
LIFECYCLE
DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
Need
Key roles for successful analytic projects
Various phases of data analytics lifecycle –
Discovery
Data preparation
Model planning
Model building
Communicating results
Operationalization.
NEED FOR A DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
The Data Analytics Lifecycle provides a structured, repeatable process for managing data analysis projects from
start to finish.
It allows to better understand the factors that affect successes and failures in the business.
It ensures that analytics work is organized, efficient, and aligned with business goals.
Provides structured approach
Ensures process consistency
Improves accuracy & data quality
Optimizes resources
Enhances stakeholder communication
Manages risks effectively
Enables scalability
KEY ROLES IN ANALYTICS PROJECTS
Business Stakeholders – Define goals & outcomes
Project Manager – Manage timeline & resources
Data Engineer – Build & maintain data pipelines
Data Analyst – Explore data & create reports
Data Scientist – Build predictive models
SME – Provide domain expertise
IT/Admin – Manage infrastructure & security
BI Specialist – Create dashboards & visualizations
PHASES OF DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
Business Understanding
Discovery
Data preparation
Model planning
Model building
Communicating results
Operationalization
PHASES OF DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
Phase 1: Discovery
Define the business problem or objective to be solved.
Identify the scope of the data analytics project.
Determine the relevant data sources (internal and external).
Collaborate with stakeholders to clarify objectives and requirements.
Assess available resources, including data, tools, and team expertise.
Phase 2: Data Preparation
Collect data from various sources like databases, APIs, and spreadsheets.
Clean the data by handling missing values, removing duplicates, and correcting inconsistencies.
Transform and format data to make it suitable for analysis by moving into an analytic sandbox.
Ensure data is standardized and normalized where necessary to maintain consistency.
Conduct data profiling to understand data distributions, types, and patterns.
This phase is iterative: tasks may be repeated and performed in varying orders.
Common Tools: Hadoop, Alpine Miner, OpenRefine.
PHASES OF DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
Phase 3: Model Planning
Examines relationships among variables and selects important features for analysis.
Choose appropriate algorithms (e.g., regression, clustering, classification) based on the problem type.
Develop a roadmap for the modeling phase, outlining how the data will be used.
Create an initial hypothesis about how the model will behave with the chosen data.
Prepares separate datasets for training, testing, and production use.
Use exploratory data analysis (EDA) techniques like correlation matrices and scatter plots to understand relationships in the
data.
Common Tools: MATLAB, STATISTICA.
Phase 4: Model Building
Build models using the selected algorithms and the prepared dataset.
Train models by feeding them the training dataset to allow them to learn patterns.
Use a test dataset to validate model performance and avoid overfitting.
Iterate and refine the model by adjusting parameters for better accuracy.
Use cross-validation techniques like K-fold validation to ensure robustness.
Open-Source Tools: R, Python, Octave, WEKA.
Commercial Tools: MATLAB, STATISTICA.
PHASES OF DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
Phase 5: Communicating Results
Visualize results through charts, graphs, dashboards, and other visuals to make insights understandable.
Present key findings to stakeholders in a concise, actionable format.
Summarize the insights derived from the data and explain how they align with business goals.
Provide recommendations on actions based on the data analysis.
Prepare a comprehensive report that includes all aspects of the data analysis process, findings, and conclusions.
Phase 6: Operationalization
Deploy the model into production environments, integrating it into business processes.
Automate tasks like decision-making or predictions based on the model’s insights.
Continuously monitor model performance to ensure it remains accurate and relevant as new data becomes available.
Update or retrain the model as needed to accommodate changing data trends.
Document the deployment and maintenance processes to ensure long-term usability.
Open-Source Tools: Octave, WEKA, SQL, MADlib.
ROLE-TO-PHASE MAPPING IN THE DATA ANALYTICS LIFECYCLE
Lifecycle Business Project
Data Engineer Data Analyst Data Scientist SME IT/Admin BI Specialist
Phase Stakeholder Manager
Business
High Medium - - - High - -
Understanding
Data
Medium Medium High - - Medium Medium -
Collection
Data
- Medium High Medium Medium Medium Medium -
Preparation
Data
Exploration Medium - Medium High Medium Medium - -
(EDA)
Modeling - Medium Medium Medium High Medium - -
Evaluation &
Medium Medium - Medium High High - -
Validation
Deployment Medium High Medium Medium Medium Medium High High
Monitoring &
Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium High High
Maintenance