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A CAP QUESTIONS
What is the first step in an analytics project? correct answer The first step is framing the business problem. What are the objectives of framing the business problem? correct answer The objectives are obtaining or receiving the problem statement and usability requirements, identifying stakeholders, determining whether the problem is amenable to an analytics solution, refining the problem statement and delineating constraints, defining an initial set of business benefits, and obtaining stakeholder agreement on the business problem statement. What are the components of a business problem statement? correct answer The components are describing a business opportunity or threat or an issue in broad terms, identifying language and key terms used by the client firm, and getting definitions of all terms used. Why is it important to consider the individual lenses used by client firm representatives in reporting problems? correct answer It is important because their views may have a good degree of variance regarding causes and effects, and thus may obscure the real issues. What is the five W's framework for framing a business opportunity or problem? correct answer The framework consists of the following questions: Who are the stakeholders? What problem/function is the project meant to solve/perform? Where does the problem occur or where does the function need to be performed? When does the problem occur, or function need to be performed? Why does the problem occur, or function need to occur? Who are the stakeholders? correct answer Stakeholders are anyone affected by the project, not just those in the initial meetings, and they may have different levels of input or involvement during the project. What does a stakeholder analysis help identify? correct answer It helps identify the interests of all stakeholders who may affect or be affected by the project, along with their constraints, potential issues that could disrupt the project, key people for information distribution during execution phase, groups that should be encouraged to participate in different stages of the project, communication planning and stakeholder management strategies during the project
planning phase, and ways to reduce potential negative impacts and manage negative stakeholders. Why is determining whether the problem is amenable to an analytics solution important? correct answer It is important to figure out if this problem is likely to have an analytics solution before more time and money is spent on solving it. What are the four criteria for determining whether the problem is amenable to an analytics solution? correct answer The criteria are whether the answer and the change process to get there lie within the organization's control, whether the requisite data exist or can be obtained, whether the likely problem can be solved and/or modeled, and whether the organization can accept and deploy the answer. What should an ethical analyst do if there isn't a feasible way forward? correct answer An ethical analyst will say so to the key stakeholders. What could be a solution for improving the Seattle plant's process? correct answer Using mathematical optimization software to improve the plant's process could be a solution. What is necessary for the mathematical optimization software to work in improving the Seattle plant's process? correct answer Data exist on inputs and outputs for each step in the plant process, and the stakeholders are willing to accept new ways of operating that won't necessarily match current work policies and procedures. Why might it be necessary to refine the problem statement? correct answer It may be necessary to refine the problem statement to make it more accurate, more appropriate to the stakeholders, or more amenable to available analytic tools/methods. What constraints could be present in a project? correct answer Analytical, financial, or political constraints could be present in a project.
What are the four criteria to determine whether a problem is amenable to an analytics solution? correct answer The answer and the change process to get there must lie within the organization's control, requisite data must exist or can be obtained, the likely problem must be solvable and/or modeled, and the organization must accept and deploy the answer. What should an ethical analyst do if there isn't a feasible way forward? correct answer They should say so to the key stakeholders. What should be considered when refining the problem statement? correct answer It may be necessary to make it more accurate, more appropriate to the stakeholders, or more amenable to available analytic tools/methods. What are some constraints that a project may operate under? correct answer They could be analytical, financial, or political in nature. What could happen if an optimization problem has a large number of constraints or a complex objective function? correct answer It may not be solvable within the capability of the available software/hardware combination. What is an example of a business problem that may not be amenable to an analytics solution? correct answer A problem that cannot be solved due to the characteristics of the problem or the limitations of the analytic tools/methods available. What is the importance of obtaining stakeholder agreement on the business problem statement? correct answer It helps ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page and are working towards the same goal. What is the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)? correct answer INFORMS is an international scientific society with over 11,000 members dedicated to applying scientific methods to help improve decision making, management, and operations in business, government, and academia.
Who can be members of INFORMS? correct answer Members of INFORMS include Nobel Prize laureates, operations research analysts, experts in analytics, consultants, scientists, students, educators, and managers, as well as their institutions. What is the main purpose of INFORMS? correct answer The main purpose of INFORMS is to serve the scientific and professional needs of operations research analysts, experts in analytics, consultants, scientists, students, educators, and managers. What is the definition of analytics according to INFORMS? correct answer Analytics is the scientific process of transforming data into insight for making better decisions. It is seen as an end-to-end process beginning with identifying the business problem to evaluating and drawing conclusions about the prescribed solution arrived at through the use of analytics. What was the Capgemini study commissioned by INFORMS in 2010? correct answer The Capgemini study evaluated the need for embracing the analytics community as a key membership strategy for INFORMS, and concluded that INFORMS should embrace the analytics community and develop a certification and training program to meet the needs of this market. What was the conclusion of Mike Hamm's market research on behalf of INFORMS in 2011? correct answer According to Mike Hamm's market research, everyone is interested in the potential composition and architecture of a future certification program, and he has never seen a candidate audience where there is such a high degree of political interest. What is the analytics certification program established by INFORMS for? correct answer INFORMS established the analytics certification program to advance the use of analytics by setting agreed-upon standards for the profession and providing a means for organizations to identify and develop qualified analytics professionals. What is the vision of INFORMS for the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) program? correct answer The vision of INFORMS for the CAP® program is to advance the use of analytics to transform the world by setting agreed-upon standards for the profession.
What is the purpose of INFORMS? correct answer INFORMS serves the scientific and professional needs of operations research analysts, experts in analytics, consultants, scientists, students, educators, and managers. What type of research did Capgemini Consulting do for INFORMS? correct answer Capgemini Consulting evaluated the need for embracing the analytics community as a key membership strategy for INFORMS. What was the conclusion of the Capgemini study commissioned by INFORMS? correct answer The Capgemini study concluded that INFORMS should embrace the analytics community and that one of the first initiatives should be a detailed study on the development of a certification and training program to meet the needs of this market. What did market research corroborate about the analytics community? correct answer Market research corroborated that there was a high degree of political interest regarding the potential composition and architecture of a future certification program. How does INFORMS define analytics? correct answer INFORMS defines analytics as the scientific process of transforming data into insight for making better decisions. What is the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) program? correct answer INFORMS established the analytics certification program to advance the use of analytics by setting agreed-upon standards for the profession. What is the vision of INFORMS for the CAP® program? correct answer INFORMS vision for the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) program is to advance the use of analytics to transform the world by setting agreed-upon standards for the profession. What is the mission of INFORMS for the CAP® program? correct answer The INFORMS mission for the CAP® program is to advance the analytics profession by providing a high-quality program of certification and by promoting continuing competence for practitioners.
How many multiple-choice questions does the CAP® exam contain? correct answer The CAP® exam contains 100 multiple choice test items. What type of testing method is used for the CAP® exam for the first year? correct answer The CAP® exam is being administered via paper and pencil for the first year. Who are the authors of the article "Steering Toward Analytics" in OR/MS Today, June 2013? correct answer The authors of the article "Steering Toward Analytics" in OR/MS Today, June 2013 are Gary Bennett and Jack Levis. What is a job task analysis (JTA)? correct answer A job task analysis (JTA) is a comprehensive description of the duties and responsibilities of a profession, occupation, or specialty area. What are the four elements of the JTA approach? correct answer The four elements of the JTA approach are domains of practice, tasks performed, knowledge required for effective performance on the job, and domain weights that account for the importance of and frequency with which the tasks are performed. What is the JTA for the CAP® program? correct answer The JTA for the CAP® program can be viewed as an outline of a partial body of knowledge, as it represents a delineation of common or typical tasks performed and knowledge applied by analytics professionals, grouped together in a hierarchical domain structure. How does the JTA serve as a test blueprint for exam development? correct answer The JTA serves as the test blueprint for exam development and links what is done on the job to what is measured by the certification examination What are the five pillars of the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer The five pillars are ethics, education, experience, examination, and effectiveness.
Who reviews and refines each test item or question in the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer A committee of subject matter experts in the field of analytics reviews and refines each test item or question in the Certified Analytics Professional program. What is the sole reason to use a test item in the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer The sole reason to use a test item is as a tool to determine who is knowledgeable. Are test items written based on proprietary data or sources that are known only to a select few in the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer No, test items are not written based on proprietary data or sources that are known only to a select few. What are the rules for item writing in the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer The rules for item writing are specific and few, such as avoiding negative stems or questions as much as possible, not using 'All of the above' or 'None of the above' as answer options, avoiding excess verbiage, etc. What is effectiveness in the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer Effectiveness is the art of applying your knowledge and skill in a way that enables the achievement of your organization's goals. What soft skills are required for the Certified Analytics Professional program? correct answer The soft skills required for the Certified Analytics Professional program are dealt with more fully in Appendix A: Soft Skills, but the skilled analyst must be diplomatic and aware enough to understand the context of the business problem and the stakeholder agendas involved while not allowing that understanding to bias the process or the truth thereby developed. Is the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) program the work of one person or one department? correct answer No, the CAP® program is not the work of one person or one department.
Who supported the development of the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) program? correct answer The CAP® program would not have been possible without the support of professionals in the field.
