Competing on Business Analytics:
The New Age of Smart Decision Making

Based on the current national dinner series, Competing on Business Analytics: The New Age of Smart Decision Making is now available as an on-demand Webcast. Renowned thought leaders Thomas H. Davenport and Thornton May join 1-800-FLOWERS.COM President Chris McCann to discuss why business analytics is the best way to meet the challenges of a volatile economy, regulations, talent shortages and increased competition. Hear practical advice and the latest research on:

• What the future of business analytics really looks like.
• Details of how organizations have developed their analytical capabilities.
• Lessons from analytic heroes.
• How your organization can begin to systematically assess and improve decisions in the future.

Panelists:

Chris McCann
Christopher G. McCann has been the President of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM since September 2000 and is responsible for overseeing operations of its telecenters and franchised stores and for its Interactive Services Division. From 1988 to September 2000, McCann served as the Senior Vice President of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. Prior to his association with 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, he served as President of Flora Plenty.

Thomas H. Davenport
Thomas H. Davenport is the President's Distinguished Professor of Information Technology and Management at Babson College and co-directs research for the Business Analytics research program at nGenera (formerly BSG Concours). He is the former director of research centers at Accenture, Ernst & Young, and McKinsey, and has taught at Harvard Business School, Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Thornton May
Thornton May is Futurist, Executive Director and Dean of the IT Leadership Academy. His extensive experience researching and consulting on the role and behaviors of Boards of Directors and C-level executives in creating value with information technology has won him an unquestioned place on the short list of serious thinkers on this topic. Thornton brings a scholar's patience for empirical research, a stand-up comic's capacity for pattern recognition and a second-to-none gift for storytelling to the information technology management problems facing executives.

Angelia Herrin, Harvard Business Review