R&D journal focuses on business analytics

Business and computers go back a long way. As far back as the 1950s, computers were solving logistics and planning problems, and VisiCalc, an early spreadsheet program, is often credited with driving the adoption of personal computers. Today, ever-cheaper computing power and the spread of the Internet has made the business-computer bond even tighter.

“We are seeing a rapid growth in the use of computers for solving decision problems arising in business. In part, this growth is due to continuing advances in computer hardware and software. Not only can we solve much larger problems than previously, but we can solve them much more quickly’” said William R. Pulleyblank, vice president, Center for Business Optimization, IBM Global Business Services.

Many businesses face a wealth of information, but struggle to extract value from it. The latest edition of the IBM Journal of Research and Development examines how advanced analytics can be used to solve a range of business problems. Analyzing data, as the papers in this journal show, can aid businesses in everything from managing staffing to minimizing risk. One even examines integrating dynamic data mining with computer simulation so that the what-if program reflects reality as much as possible.

“It is exciting to see such a broad spectrum of research and development activities in this rapidly growing area,” said Pulleyblank.