Data science | Staff Interviews | KKE

Giving back to society the best
business ‘solution’ I have found.

Data science

OHTA, Yuta
Joined KKE in 2012.
Graduated from Graduate School / School of Economics,
the Department of Business Administration,
Nagoya University.

Supporting human decision-making

In the Innovative Information Technology Department where I belong, we model human decision-making process which involves enormous factors to consider and complicated social events with a mathematical method and try to find the best ‘solution.’ Our clients vary from major private companies to research institutes and the fields where we offer solutions are also extensive. For instance, in data utilization consulting for infrastructure companies, we construct a behavior model based on location information data and promote the improvement of service quality. In a project for consumer products manufacturers, we construct an evaluation model of marketing policy based on huge shopping history data and support the realization of a better policy. Another mission of mine is to think about business strategies of the data science field which KKE is operating. Since my college days, I had been studying the modeling of human consciousness and behavior and it is very rewarding for me to use my knowledge and skills I attained out of my curiosity for people and society.

Skills required other than expertise

I support the decision-making of companies mainly through utilization of big data, that is, marketing strategy utilizing customers’ purchase history or lifelog and infrastructural management support utilizing staffs’ worklog. Although some technical skills, such as statistics modeling, machine learning, and big data processing are needed, it is not only technical skills that I am asked for. I need ‘consulting skills’ where I think with my clients about issues to be solved and create an ideal model proposal, and ‘management skills’ where I realize the found ‘solution’ in a form which can be utilized in the client’s business. I am involved in a project as the PL (Project Leader). While I set a project goal as the PL, I also manage human resources, profit performance and build a schedule to achieve the goal, and also work as an engineer responsible for the KKE quality of the value we offer to society.

SCHEDULE

My ordinary day

9:00 a.m.

Arrive at work and check e-mails and materials at the office
10:00 a.m.

Go out of the office (meeting with my client on project progress)
12:00 noon

Lunch at free
space in the office
1:00 p.m.

Meeting (on organizing policy for new proposal)
2:00 p.m.

Texting for an inquiry
3:00 p.m.

Meeting (on project progress and organizing policy)
4:30 p.m.

Snack and tea break
5:00 p.m.

Analyze data and develop program
7:30 p.m.

Leave the office

Research environment not bound to business

KKE opens many in-house seminars by volunteers. We have specialists and doctors in various fields, and it is very stimulating to listen to their lectures. Another aspect of KKE is that we place emphasis on activities in academic fields. It is not unusual for KKE staffs to participate voluntarily in academic conferences or to write a thesis, and many members eagerly explore research themes which are not necessarily linked with business now. My research theme is machine learning and I am working on my presentation in the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence. KKE has an environment to satisfy intellectual curiosity and it also has an appeal that we can contribute our research result to society as a business. I want to package a part of data analysis approach which is my subject of research and provide it to various companies to actively deliver the value which comes out of KKE data science.

OTHER