Strategy Issues in Data Analysis

The word “strategy” — literally: the leading of the army“ — inevitably evokes military associations. One is reminded of Clausewitz’ famous treatise ”Vom Kriege“, the first systematic and comprehensive treatment of the subject, published in 1832 after the author’s death. In data analysis, strategy is a relatively recent innovation. A decade ago, in a talk on ”Environments for supporting statistical strategy“ I had quipped that it was difficult to support something which did not exist (Huber 1986). Today, the joke might no longer be appropriate, but we still are far away from a Clausewitz for data analysis.