Case | HBS Case Collection | January 2018

Viacom: Democratization of Data Science

by Shane Greenstein and Christine Snively

Abstract

In two short years, Viacom’s Data Science & Advanced Analytics team built a web platform called Science Central that allowed employees from Viacom’s 20+ cable networks to access television audience insights through three data science apps. In the past, employees would have approached the team to carry out these requests. Vice President of Data and Audience Development Fabio Luzzi, who oversaw the 10-person team, believed that making data science instantly available in accessible formats would allow teams to make better-informed decisions. By June 2017, the platform had 600 regular users, but Luzzi wanted to expand its reach. He considered whether the team should focus on strengthening the platform or devote more resources to custom analytics requests that would allow the team to explore new problems and develop new insights.

Keywords: data science; big data; Technology Platform; Data and Data Sets; Expansion; Strategic Planning;

Language: English Format: Print 28 pages EducatorsPurchase

Citation:

Greenstein, Shane, and Christine Snively. "Viacom: Democratization of Data Science." Harvard Business School Case 618-016, January 2018.

About the Author

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Shane M. Greenstein
Martin Marshall Professor of Business Administration
Technology and Operations Management

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