A Career in Statistics Beyond the Numbers

by Hahn, Gerald J.; Doganaksoy, Necip

• ISBN13: 9780470404416
• ISBN10: 0470404418
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-06-28
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This book serves as an excellent companion to its predecessor, The Role of Statistics in Business and Industry. In this volume, the authors help readers decide whether a career in statistics is appropriate for them and what to expect once in it. They provide insights into the work environment and how students and entry-level statisticians can best prepare themselves to succeed, offering hints for success in training, career paths, and lifelong learning. This book is a must-have for anyone considering a career in statistics, as well as for faculty who prepare students for such a career.

Author Biography

Gerald J. Hahn, PhD, worked at the GE Global Research Center for 46 years, where he managed its statistics group for 28 years and was elected a Coolidge Fellow, the organization's highest honor, in 1984. A Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA) and American Society for Quality (ASQ), Dr. Hahn is the author of numerous papers and the coauthor of Statistical Models in Engineering; Statistical Intervals: A Guide for Practitioners; and The Role of Statistics in Business and Industry, all published by Wiley. He has received many professional awards and served as adjunct professor at various universities. Necip Doganaksoy, PhD, is a Statistician and Principal Technologist at the GE Global Research Center, where he has worked for over 20 years; he is also an Adjunct Professor at Union Graduate College. A Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Fellow of ASA and ASQ, Dr. Doganaksoy has written more than 60 articles on quality, reliability, and productivity improvement and coauthored The Role of Statistics in Business and Industry (Wiley). He received ASQ's William G. Hunter Award in 2009.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
Prologue: A Career In Statistics	p. 1
About This Chapter	p. 1
What is Statistics?	p. 1
Who is a Statistician?	p. 2
Who Employs Statisticians?	p. 3
The Statistical Thought Process and What Makes it Special	p. 4
Many Skills Required	p. 7
Beyond the Workplace	p. 8
Some Downsides of a Career in Statistics	p. 9
The Excitement of a Career in Statistics	p. 10
Embarking on a Career in Statistics	p. 11
Accreditation	p. 15
Professional Societies	p. 16
A Preview	p. 16
Further Reading	p. 17
Major Takeaways	p. 18
Discussion Questions	p. 19
The Work of A Statistician	p. 21
What Statisticians Do In Business And Industry	p. 23
About This Chapter	p. 23
Manufactured Product Applications	p. 23
Service Business Applications	p. 28
Process Improvement	p. 30
Further Applications	p. 31
Major Takeaways	p. 32
Discussion Questions	p. 32
What Statisticians Engaged In Official Government Statistics Do	p. 35
About This Chapter	p. 35
The Scope of Official Statistics	p. 36
Examples of the Work	p. 39
Challenges of the Work	p. 41
Research Opportunities	p. 45
Some Major Employers in the U.S. Federal Government	p. 46
Required Credentials	p. 47
Integration of U.S. Government Statistical Activities	p. 49
Local Official Government Statistics Activities	p. 50
Government Statisticians Outside The United States	p. 51
Compensation and Other Considerations	p. 52
Sources of Further Information	p. 53
Major Takeaways	p. 53
Discussion Questions	p. 54
What Statisticians Do: Some Other Application Areas	p. 57
About This Chapter	p. 57
Regulatory Activities	p. 57
Health	p. 59
National Defense	p. 61
Other Scientific Research	p. 62
Social and Behavioral Sciences	p. 65
Teaching (in Nonacademic Settings)	p. 71
Some Further Institutes for Research in the United States	p. 71
Major Takeaways	p. 73
Discussion Questions	p. 73
The Work Environment And On-The-Job Challenges	p. 75
About This Chapter	p. 75
Receptiveness to Statistics and Statisticians	p. 75
Where do Statisticians Fit into the Organization?	p. 79
Two Modes of Operation	p. 80
Grading Systems	p. 82
Globalization	p. 83
Hail to Our Managers!	p. 84
Some Challenges	p. 86
Women in Statistics	p. 90
Major Takeaways	p. 93
Discussion Questions	p. 94
Preparing For A Successful Career In Statistics	p. 97
Characteristics Of Successful Statisticians	p. 99
About This Chapter	p. 99
Analytical and Technical Skills	p. 100
Communication and Interpersonal Skills	p. 100
Ability to Size Up Problems and See the "Big Picture"	p. 101
Flexibility	p. 102
A Proactive Mindset	p. 102
Persistence	p. 103
A Realistic Attitude	p. 104
Enthusiasm and Appropriate Self-Confidence	p. 105
Ability to Prioritize, Manage Time, and Cope with Stress	p. 105
Team Skills	p. 106
Leadership Skills	p. 106
Ability to Properly Apply and Adapt Knowledge	p. 107
Passion for Lifelong Learning	p. 108
Further Reading	p. 108
As Others See It	p. 108
Major Takeaways	p. 111
Discussion Questions	p. 111
Education For Success	p. 113
About This Chapter	p. 113
The Statistics Advanced Placement Course and Other High School Programs	p. 114
Degrees in Statistics: The Numbers	p. 114
How Far To Go: Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. Degree?	p. 116
Selecting the Right School and Program	p. 120
Statistical Education: Setting the Foundations	p. 125
Coursework in Statistics	p. 126
Statistical Computing and Software	p. 131
Some Other Recommendations	p. 134
Internships and University Consulting	p. 138
Entering Statistics from Other Fields	p. 141
Further Resources	p. 142
Concluding Comment: The Limits of Formal Statistical Education	p. 142
As Others See It	p. 143
Major Takeaways	p. 145
Discussion Questions	p. 146
Getting The Right Job	p. 149
About This Chapter	p. 149
Defining Career Goals	p. 149
Identifying Opportunities	p. 151
Resume Writing	p. 154
The Job Interview	p. 157
Follow-Up	p. 164
Providing References	p. 165
Some Further Hints	p. 165
Assessing Job Offers	p. 166
Major Takeaways	p. 170
Discussion Questions	p. 171
Building A Successful Career As A Statistician	p. 173
On-The-Job Strategies: Project Initiation And Execution	p. 175
About This Chapter	p. 175
Project Initiation	p. 175
Project Execution	p. 184
As Others See It	p. 190
Major Takeaways	p. 194
Discussion Questions	p. 194
On-The-Job Strategies: Communication, Publicizing, And Ethics	p. 197
About This Chapter	p. 197
Communication, Communication, Communication	p. 197
Publicizing Statistics (And Statisticians)	p. 205
Ethical Considerations	p. 207
Major Takeaways	p. 216
Discussion Questions	p. 216
Getting Good Data: A Key Challenge	p. 219
About This Chapter	p. 219
Designed Experiments	p. 220
Census and Random Sampling Studies of Human and Other Populations	p. 221
Systems Development Studies	p. 224
Observational Studies	p. 225
Hints for Getting the Right Data	p. 233
A Process for Data Gathering	p. 240
Major Takeaways	p. 247
Discussion Questions	p. 248
Career Paths	p. 251
About This Chapter	p. 251
Some Roles for Applied Statisticians	p. 251
Other Major Roles to which Applied Statisticians Might Aspire	p. 253
Some Career Paths	p. 256
More on Statistical Leadership	p. 258
Contributions Beyond the Workplace	p. 259
Some More Career Examples	p. 261
Putting It All Together	p. 264
Major Takeaways	p. 265
Discussion Questions	p. 265
Further Perspectives: Careers In Academia And Professional Development	p. 267
Careers In Academia	p. 269
About This Chapter	p. 269
What Statisticians in Academia do: An Overview	p. 270
Types of Positions	p. 273
Location within the Institution	p. 277
More on Tenure	p. 277
Life Beyond Tenure	p. 279
Teaching Challenges	p. 280
Research Challenges	p. 286
Consulting Challenges	p. 292
Administrative Service Challenges	p. 294
Professional Service Challenges	p. 295
More on the Academic Environment	p. 296
Training to Become an Academic Statistician	p. 298
Career Paths	p. 300
Downsides of a Career as an Academic Statistician	p. 303
Bright Sides of a Career as an Academic Statistician	p. 304
A Career as a Statistician in Academia: A Summary Comparison	p. 305
Major Takeaways	p. 305
Discussion Questions	p. 307
Maintaining The Momentum	p. 309
About This Chapter	p. 309
Some Internet Resources	p. 310
Formal Education	p. 311
Technical and Professional Journals	p. 312
Technical Conferences	p. 315
Future Opportunity Areas	p. 318
Major Takeaways	p. 319
Discussion Questions	p. 319
References	p. 321
Index	p. 331
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