Data science can be overwhelming with various components, but the 80/20 rule offers valuable insights for high-impact steps in the data science workflow.
Avoidable issues leading to data science project failures include unclear goals, lack of project management, resource constraints, rushed timelines, misaligned incentives, and absence of executive champions.
Deployment planning should be considered from the project's inception to ensure the model's impact and usability are prioritized.
Conducting a thorough literature review before starting a project can provide inspiration, data sources, model types, and benchmarks for success.
When evaluating data sources, consider factors like availability, cost, utility, update frequency, and granularity to optimize data selection.
Checking data quality is crucial to prevent 'Garbage In, Garbage Out' scenarios, involving assessments for missingness, range, outliers, timeliness, and formatting consistency.
Dealing with missing data involves considering the amount missing, patterns, algorithm tolerance, and imputation options like mean/median, mode, or predictive imputation.
Identifying strong features for models requires using filter methods, wrappers, embedded methods, and domain knowledge to enhance model performance.
Data science blends art and engineering, emphasizing the importance of the 80/20 mindset for focused, impactful outcomes in projects.
Strategic planning, prioritization, and feedback loops play key roles in transforming data science projects from prototypes to successful productions.