Historical Data Analysis through Data Mining from an Outsourcing Perspective: The Three-Phases Model

The process of historical data analysis through data mining has proven valuable for the industrial environment. There are many models available that describe the in-house process of data mining. However, many companies either do not have in-house skills or do not wish to invest in performing in-house data mining. This paper investigates the applicability of two well-established data mining process models in an outsourcing context. The authors observe that both models cannot properly accommodate several key aspects in this context; therefore, this paper proposes the Three-phases method, which consists of data retrieval, data mining and results implementation within an organization. Each element is presented as a visual method fragment, and the model is validated through expert interviews and an extensive case study at a large Dutch staffing company. Both validation techniques substantiate the authors’ claim that the Three-phases model accurately describes the data mining process from an outsourcing perspective.