The Data Pyramid

November 6-8, 2023

At the Rise8 Prodacity annual symposium, Melissa Sayers, as an Operations Research Systems Analyst (ORSA), shares her innovative approach to effectively communicate complex data science concepts to government leaders. Utilizing the Data Science Pyramid, Melissa demonstrates how to make technical projects accessible to non-technical senior leaders, focusing on practical steps to empower decision-making and resource allocation. This talk provides valuable insights into tailoring communication strategies to bridge the gap between data science experts and government leadership, ensuring successful project implementation and strategic alignment.

Timestamps & Highlights:
0:18 - Introduction to Melissa Sayers and her role as an ORSA in the Army.
1:00 - The challenge of communicating with non-technical government leaders.
2:23 - Flipping the script: Guiding leaders in data science initiatives.
3:04 - Refreshing the concept with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
4:35 - Introducing the tailored Data Science Pyramid for government projects.
5:45 - Breaking down the pyramid: Secure environment, structured data collection, data connections, data literacy, and advanced data analytics.
16:13 - Applying the pyramid to real-world scenarios: Identifying and addressing specific project needs.
19:50 - Utilizing the pyramid for resource and hiring decisions.
20:34 - Empowering leaders at every level of the pyramid: From securing the environment to enabling predictive analytics.