The final stage of the eight-day executive education programme was a two-day sprint to develop a feasible business project using data analytics, a challenge thrown down by RSM’s centre of expertise, the Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics. Accepting the challenge were programme participants from Heineken, ABN AMRO, parking controls company Agendum, mortgage company NHG, National Oilwell Varco, the Dutch central bureau for statistics CBS, Rotterdam public transport company RET, and the City of Rotterdam, among others.
Best proof of concept
The judges agreed that the team from the city of Rotterdam, RET and CBS had put together the best proof of concept. The team demonstrated their visualisation and development of a data science system (DSS) that supports policy makers, investors and building owners in the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives, by making predictions based on future urban travel patterns, population growth dynamics, and socioeconomic data about travel and living patterns. They included the potential for transitioning to city heating networks and heat pumps. The team was awarded the Quint Erasmus Data Analytics award.
Jury member Mireille van Kol, from digital strategy and transformation consultancy Quint, said: “Conquering a challenge using big data and analytics requires a holistic view, and a combined multi-hierarchical and multidisciplinary approach has proven to be the best way forward. This team demonstrated that the use of data analytics concerns indeed every individual in an organisation. Using each individual’s strength within the framework of the programme, it has structured the challenge, scoped the problem, and analysed the available data to reach an applicable solution. It presented its conclusions with clear and understandable visuals and added logical next steps to its recommendations. The jury unanimously elected this team for having met the criteria; a good understanding of the learning from the RSM programme, a well-defined proof-of-concept with proper data analyses that will have a clear impact on the organisation, and a well-defined and structured presentation.”
Real business potential
Also on the jury were three academic coaches; Dr Jan van Dalen, Prof. Eric van Heck and Prof. Peter Vervest; two expert business coaches from Quint, John Nas and Edwin Eichelshem; and CEO of big data consultancy DAIN Studios, Ulla Kruhse-Lehtonen. They used three criteria to judge the teams on content, learning curve, and presentation. The teams were expected to convincingly demonstrate a feasible implementation with real business potential using the application of proper data science analysis, and using data from their own organisations. The teams wrote pitches and plans for implementation that would convince an audience of senior management. They included initial prototypes, results of analytics studies, business case calculations, videos, and addressed many of the topics they learned during the programme.
The next programme Leadership challenges with big data and analytics from RSM Executive Education starts in March 2019. Follow the link to find out more.
