ABSTRACT
Public consciousness of the statistics profession has perhaps never been greater than it is today. Big data, predictive analytics, data science — all these terms have been coined and have risen in popularity within the past decade or so. This rising visibility presents both opportunities and challenges for consulting statisticians. (Consistent with the American Statistical Association’s Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, the term “statistician” shall be read to include all practitioners of statistics, regardless of job title or field of degree.) Prospective clients in academia, government, and industry are now more likely to recognize the potential value of bringing statistical thinking to bear in the solution of their problems, but they are also more likely to seek transfer of the consultant’s technology as part of the engagement. Responding to this growing consciousness and demand for services are consultants from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of training and professional competence in statistical theory and methods.
