Applicants must submit a summary of their work (no more than 1,000 words).
The summary should include the following parts:
Abstract: A brief description of the application*, including a problem description, the descriptive predictive and prescriptive analytics used, and the impact++ achieved. Explain how the application is novel and innovative^. If the application is selected as a finalist, the abstract may be used in conference promotional materials.
Introduction: A general description of the work and its importance.
Analytics Components: A description of the work covering the descriptive, predictive and prescriptive types of analytics.
Innovation: A description of how this work is novel and innovative^.
Conclusion: The conclusion should mention current impact on the organization, preferably with economic quantification; why the work is innovative; and how the work would help the advancement of the field -- like future developments that can originate from the application, or how it might be leveraged in new areas.
References: If the work has generated economic impact on the organization or customers, references that can validate these claims are important.
Notes:
*Applications must demonstrate the innovation in practice. This could be a proof of concept in a pilot study or more widespread use. A test against historical data is insufficient demonstration of application.
++ The impact can be one or more of economic value, social value, or advancement of the state of the art. Value may also be measured against demonstrated achievement or potential impact.
^Innovation may be in the analytic methodology, the domain of application, or a combination of analytic methods in a novel way that achieves significant impact. Novelty may also be in the data creation, collection and dissemination which support or enable original analytical methods.
It is understandable if some of the details of the implementation cannot be shared with the judging panel and the public, but there should at least be a clear description of the Analytics tools used and their interaction.
Applications simultaneously submitted to any other INFORMS award (like the Edelman or Wagner) will not be considered. In addition, applications submitted by employees of the award sponsors or Analytics Society officers will not be considered.
Judging Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated on the basis of an initial 500-1000 word submission. Extended submissions may or may not be considered by the judges. The following aspects are a key part of the judging process:
• Level of uniqueness, creativity, value and (potential) contribution of the analytical techniques developed.
• Innovations in any of the three types of analytics: descriptive, predictive and prescriptive. Submissions that span more than one dimension of analytics are preferred.
• Applications are required to demonstrate their use and impact in practice; to the extent implemented savings are claimed in the submission, the judging panel will seek verification.
• Submissions that have the potential for more widespread use will be given added consideration, but particularly clever innovations with narrow focus are also highly valued.
The judging panel might contact participants for clarification and further discussion if considered necessary.
The judging panel, solely at its discretion, might choose to call in subject matter experts to provide insights on an individual submission.
All decisions of the judging panel are final. The judging panel can decide in any year that no award will be given if no suitable applications are received.
In addition to the prestige associated with the prize, the finalists will have the opportunity (and be expected) to present their work during the INFORMS Business Analytics and Operations Research Conference, usually held in April. Each finalist team will work with a coach to prepare their final presentation.
Selected finalists will receive:
- Each finalist team will receive one free registration fort the conference (It does not include lodging and travelling expenses)
Key Dates
Deadline for applications – December 15, 2023
Semi-finalists Selection – December 31, 2023
Finalists Selection – February 4, 2024
Presentation deck submission for judges – March 31, 2024
2024 Chairs
Juan R. Jaramillo, PhD
2024 IAAA Chair
Associate Professor of Data Science
Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Long Island University
Pallav Chhaochhria, PhD
2024 IAAA CoChair
Director - Algorithmic Trading at Barclays
[email protected]