This is so fucking random. But I guess it couldn't hurt to ask. My mom has to do a project and interview someone who uses statistics in their job - anyone here fit that description?

1/28/2007 7:22:50 PM

the otehr day, i put a linear trend line on my excel data plots

1/28/2007 8:08:58 PM

I do all sorts of statistical analyses on some of the data I collect from my research. Granted I automate most of the stuff, I still have to know how to do it

Chi Squared PDF FTW

1/28/2007 8:52:22 PM

I'm starting a new job where I'll use some statistics, but I'm not sure to what extent. If you don't mind my asking: Is your mother in school? This doesn't sound work-related.

1/28/2007 10:03:20 PM

Quote :

"This is so fucking random."

I found this funny, considering the topic.

1/28/2007 10:07:36 PM

I doubt my work's inventory tracking would be of any interest or pertinence for this sadistics-speak.

1/28/2007 10:24:33 PM

yes, she's in school Taking a statistics course!

1/28/2007 10:28:43 PM

She should totally interview the professor of the course.

1/29/2007 12:18:45 AM

I do nothing but statistics all day in grad school and in my job as a research assistant.

1/29/2007 2:21:03 AM

^^ ftw

1/29/2007 9:13:15 AM

durbin-watson FTW!

1/29/2007 12:57:32 PM

Talk to some project managers or six sigma folks out in industry. Its not "pure" statistics per say but it definitely would be an interesting interview. Start with GE ... IIRC, >25% of their folks are green belts and almost every area is required to have a master black belt on site.

1/29/2007 7:29:37 PM

six sigma is so 2 years ago - hell, when we had layoffs at home depot last fall, they let the entire six sigma team go. it's a good theory, don't get me wrong, but companies are moving away from it more and more

1/29/2007 7:44:48 PM

^
Ok, point taken into consideration. Whats the new hotness / what would you recommend?

1/29/2007 7:48:12 PM

Quote :

"Talk to some project managers or six sigma folks out in industry. Its not "pure" statistics per say but it definitely would be an interesting interview. Start with GE ... IIRC, >25% of their folks are green belts and almost every area is required to have a master black belt on site. "

my company requires all engineers/financials/legal etc to be six sigma gb certified, with black belt training required for corporate promotability above career level.

its lame.

i start green belt training in 3 weeks.

also, ive just moved into a role using tons of statistical process control elements in my project design work.

essentially moving into process by product and designing quality control elements around paeretos, cusums, xbars, and other graphical processes analyzing defect data

1/29/2007 9:48:43 PM

Ahoy, matey. There be management fads ahead!

1/29/2007 11:27:25 PM

i had to cancel my feb snowboarding trip out west for that bullshit

1/29/2007 11:35:19 PM

Well - I'll give it a shot, here's what she needs. If anyone is willing to answer this, do it here, send me a pm. Whatever. I'll totally owe you one!

Name:
Occupation:
1) What was your first Statistics course like?
2) Did you like the class or not?
3) Do you have any suggestions to help me succeed in this class?
4) What tools, if any, did you learn in that class that you use in your present job today?

[Edited on January 29, 2007 at 11:48 PM. Reason : la]

1/29/2007 11:48:17 PM

1. Either online or one that I skipped all the time. I don't remember being in class a lot, though.
2. No
3. Don't get lost in the forest. Find some way to understand the big concepts without getting lost in all the little tests and tables. Since stats is a use it or lose it kind of thing, learning how to find the information about what to do is more important than learning details.

Class certainly won't take this approach. There might be some book on Amazon with good reviews that takes this approach.

4. I forget what they used in class. MATLAB is what I use.

1/29/2007 11:59:08 PM

Your mom goes to college!

2/3/2007 10:26:19 PM

Quote :

"Whats the new hotness / what would you recommend?"

I know that my company right now is big on the entire Lean concept. Given that our current CEO, who's been around for about a year now, was one of Jack Welch's proteges, I'm not too surprised. Lean puts a large emphasis on waste reduction and is based off the entire Toyota Production System.

I'd say my employer's pretty serious about it too. We've promoted a new VP for Lean Initiatives. While I'm not sure this is a national trend, the fact that we're Fortune 50 with about 150,000 employees and we're pressuring our suppliers to fall in line, people in our industry at least are paying attention.

EVM is also a big deal for performance management. I think its gone from fad to established practice here.

3/8/2007 1:44:29 PM

a little, but thankfully I don't really do that part...

3/8/2007 3:23:12 PM

i use statistsics, but I have no idea how they are formulated.

3/8/2007 6:04:38 PM

oh god, a jack welch prodigy? run the fuck away from that shit. unless you're a start-up, six sigma is a fucking joke. I will never work for another welch offspring again - 6 months under nardelli at home depot was murder. there is a reason why we fired the entire six-sigma team last fall

3/9/2007 3:09:42 PM

Quote :

"and is based off the entire Toyota Production System."

I just realize what TPS reports are.

3/9/2007 3:56:31 PM