Question

Present an example where data mining is crucial to the success of a business. What data mining functions does this business need? Can they be performed alternatively by data query processing or simple statistical analysis?

Answer 1

Answer:

Data mining refers to the ability of an organization to extract relevant information for a large reservoir of data that belong to its users for the purpose of increasing service/product efficiency.

One example of a company that requires data mining for the success of its business is Amazon. Amazon is categorized by many as an online retail giant. Their Customer-Centric approach to doing business is enhanced by their ability to leverage off historical data to reduce the time spent on resolving customer queries and/or complaints.

Generally, there are four basic data mining functions. They are:

• Prediction Function: This function allows for the owner to spot patterns in behavior and use this as a yardstick to predict for forecast other variables that will enable the increment in the quality of value offered/delivered.
• Function Description: This functionality highlights attributes of a set of data in the database
• Classification Function: This is very close to Function Description only that in this case, it helps in the creation of a model that describes the class or concept of data.  
• Association Function: This functionality highlights the relationship between data  

The above functions cannot be carried out by data query processing or simple statistical analysis because data mining involves the identification of patterns and relationships using algorithms whilst data query refers to the issuance of instructions in search of specific results.

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