The Elements of Data Science

Now that we have defined data science within the context of managing a business, we can start describing the elements of data science. The best way to unpack the art and craft of data science is Drew Conway's often-cited Venn diagram, as shown in Figure 1.3. (Conway, D. (2010). (The data science Venn diagram—http://drewconway.com/zia/2013/3/26/the-data-science-venn-diagram). Downloaded 27 January 2019)

Conway defines three competencies that a data scientist, or a data science team as a collective, need to possess. The diagram positions data science as an interdisciplinary activity with three dimensions: domain knowledge, mathematics, and computer science. A data scientist is somebody who understands the subject matter under consideration in mathematical terms and writes computer code to solve problems.

Figure 1.3: Conway's data science Venn diagram

Domain Knowledge

The most significant skill within a...