The BAUG started Q1 at Bentley University on the rainiest of rainy days. However, we were able to illuminate the evening with presentations from the co-leaders, @MadisonD , and @pierrejn.
Spark Notes - Prescriptive Tools
We started the meeting with a business use case using the Optimization Tool. The speaker demonstrated the functionalities of the tool which can be found in the prescriptive tool palette. This tool is specifically designed to tackle optimization problems, or situations where you need to find the best possible solution out of various alternatives under certain constraints. The presentation started with an overview of the types of optimization models. Choosing the right model based on the problem which you are trying to solve. Practical applications and setting up the tool. And ultimately how to understand the output.
Mentor Connect Powered by SPARKED
We then passed the mic over to Madison, who walked use through the mentorship program within SparkED. Madison is a SparkED program specialist with a diverse set of community achievements as well as an affinity for mentorship. Madison introduced the mentorship program which aims to bridge the gap between aspiring learners and experienced professionals within the Alteryx community. The program is designed around three core areas: career guidance, personalized mentorship, and project-based insights, particularly emphasizing the use of Alteryx Designer and analytics in real-world scenarios. This initiative welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds, including students, career changers, and veterans, to engage in valuable one-on-one connections with mentors from various industries and expertise areas. Through an interactive platform, mentees can pinpoint mentors who align with their academic and career aspirations, specifying their goals and interests. The program encourages active participation from both mentees and mentors, offering resources to facilitate meaningful and productive interactions aimed at fostering professional growth and skill development.
Alteryx Best Practices
Last but certainly not least, James gave his presentation. James focused on tips and best practices in Alteryx. James gained recognition in his company by adhering to the practices he shared.
James is an experienced tax manager with a half-decade of Alteryx experience. He first highlighted the significant demand in the industry for individuals skilled in Alteryx. Leveraging Alteryx expertise can give job applicants a competitive edge, especially in fields that value data analytics capabilities. James shared several best practices for using Alteryx more efficiently, emphasizing the importance of workflow organization to tackle complex data projects. He detailed techniques like color coding, utilizing comments and annotations for clarity, and taking advantage of the text input tool for embedding essential data directly into workflows. Furthermore, James discussed the practicality of maintaining organized folders for managing workflow elements and introduced the concept of workflow dependencies for easier collaboration and sharing of assets with others. These practices not only streamline the personal use of Alteryx but also enhance the share-ability and understanding of workflows among teams and across projects. James's guidance serves as both an introduction to Alteryx's utility and an advanced strategy for optimizing the use of this powerful analytical tool in professional settings.
Attached you will find the master deck, resources and recording. Hope to see you at the next one!
