"Don't do lonely analysis alone" - We asked an analysis team manager about the secret to team building

The Customer Success Analysis Division, which uses statistical analysis techniques to support customer decision-making, is the core of XICA's analysis. The Analysis Division is the largest team at XICA, but there is a strong sense of unity and active communication. The friendly relationship that allows the team to always support each other is what makes it so appealing.
We spoke to Analysis Section Manager Nishi Shinpei about the secret to team building.

What led me to study statistics?

-- Mr. Nishi, you graduated from the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyushu University. What kind of research did you do there?

I was doing research on nuclear power generation. I loved mathematics and probability theory from an early age, and I was a biased science major who was completely absorbed in the things I loved. It was during my graduate school years that I started to study data analysis and statistics in earnest.

── After graduating from graduate school, you will be working for an amusement machine manufacturer.

Yes. I worked on game probability design and market trend analysis for three and a half years.
It was really fun to be able to use my favorite statistical analysis and probability theory to create the slot of my choice.

When I was 25 and had just graduated from graduate school, I was really naive and didn't apply to any other companies. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been accepted... (laughs)

From narrow and deep to evenly deep

── Why did you consider changing jobs?

I wasn't dissatisfied with my job at all. However, I was 1 years old and I was starting to think vaguely that "this might be bad if I continue like this." I had acquired statistics and data analysis skills that could be used in the industry, butI started to worry, "Do I have general skills that aren't industry specific?".

── What made you decide to join XICA?

First,I got the impression that the marketing industry is actively making use of statistical techniques.
XICA creates products in the marketing field that utilize statistical and mathematical knowledge. I thought that XICA would be a good fit for me, as I would be able to develop the ability to utilize my statistical knowledge in a broader way.
I was so excited.

── So you first joined the company as an analyst.

Yes, at first I was confused and surprised.
The way we work and the sense of speed are completely different, and we are constantly multitasking. In my previous job, I was focused on one project in a narrow and deep way, but at XICA,Do it thoroughly and deeplySo it was difficult for me to get used to it.

Becoming a manager was a "good coincidence"

── You joined the company in October 2018, became a leader in January of the following year, and became manager of the Analysis Department in January 10. You said that you were initially confused by the multitasking, but as your role changed, did you find yourself multitasking even more?

That's right. It's true that it may be quite different from the image of the job you had before joining the company.

But,It was a good mistake.
I haven't had much experience in nurturing junior members until now, so I'm learning new things by working on the careers of my team members, and I can do a variety of analyses of a wide variety of companies, not just one type of analysis. I feel like I'm doing something really interesting..

Supporting your decision-making

── Could you tell me about your work in the Analysis Department?

Our job is to analyze our clients' issues and help them make decisions.

For example, for a client who wants to advertise on TV, we use Magellan to predict the effectiveness of the TV commercial and calculate how much money should be spent to maximize the effect. After the ad is published, we analyze the data provided by the client and measure the effectiveness. We explain the logic that connects these numbers to the client's issues and support them in deciding on the next action to take.

── What do you find interesting, rewarding, and difficult about your job?

The problem and the analysis results matched perfectly.When they are satisfied with my proposal, it's fun, like all the pieces are falling into place.

The difficult part is when the customer's hypothesis doesn't match the analysis results. If you just show them numbers and tell them "you should stop doing this," they won't be convinced. So we have to think about how to logically connect the analysis results with the customer's hypothesis. We have to find things that haven't been taken into account in the analysis and propose an analysis from a different angle. That's the kind of approach we need.The difficulty of conducting data analysis as a business is how to communicate when unexpected information is discovered.I think it 's.

── Tell us about your team structure and division of roles..

The Analysis Department is a team of 12 people, including me.
Within the Customer Success team, we have an Analysis (AN) department and an Account Management (AM) department. AM is the front line team that handles face-to-face sales, while AN is the team that handles data exchange and explains logic.

In addition, the Analysis Department is the department that uses Magellan the most in the company, so they are also involved in product development. We will be consulting with the development team to finalize the specifications for new functions so that the analysis that we are currently doing manually can be completed within the product.

"If you analyze something alone, you'll get lost." I wanted to create an atmosphere of cooperation among the team.

── "Even if we make mistakes and are pointed out, we have the peace of mind that we won't be hated." That's what one of the members said. Do you have an ideal team that you envision?

Respect each other, improve each other, help each other.
That's the kind of team we want to be.

Analysis can be difficult if you are alone and depressed, you won't come up with any good ideas, and it's easy to get lost. That's why I thought it would be good to be in an environment where I could ask someone for help anytime.

I wanted to do that because I was going through a tough time myself.

── What specific initiatives are you working on?

We hold study sessions once a week to share customer cases, and regular meetings once a week to share customer reports. We also have a sheet where you can save your knowledge.

We are increasing the frequency of face-to-face meetings and creating multiple venues for open information sharing.So, about other people's companiesAn atmosphere where help is readily availableIt may be possible that this is the case.

Expand your skills as an analyst through a wide variety of analyses of national clients

── What are the benefits of working in XICA's Analysis Department?

one is,Ability to conduct marketing analysis across a wide range of industries.

We analyze data for national clients, so many of the analyses are large-scale and highly challenging. Since we have a large number of cases accumulated within the company, I think that my skills as an analyst will be broadened.

The other isAcquire logical thinking skills.

Logical communication is prevalent within the company. In addition, we communicate with executives from companies with large advertising budgets. By explaining analyses and proposals that support customer decision-making in a limited time, we can hone our logical thinking skills.

── What kind of person do you think would be suitable for the Analysis Department?

There are three.
We are looking for people who can take their work personally, have a strong desire to grow, and are flexible..

We live in an environment where new logic and solutions are constantly being developed, so I think it's important to take everything as your own responsibility, have the flexibility to discard old ways of doing things and switch to new ones, and always be aware of needing to level up yourself.

I want to become a manager who leads with his skills.

── What kind of manager do you think is ideal?

I think there are many types of managers, but the one I want to be is:A manager who is highly skilled and demonstrates his or her skills in the workplace.

── It's like letting your back speak.

I think it's good to have a manager who is good at management even though they have different skills from the other members, but I'm the type of person who likes analyzing things myself, soI want to be someone who can lead the way with my skills.is not it.

── Listening to him talk, I got the impression that he is leading the way by taking the lead while providing support from behind the scenes, creating an environment where everyone can communicate smoothly, helping to grow the organization.

Yes, I think both are important.

I want the members to reach even greater heights. As a manager,Once they have acquired a certain level of analytical ability, I want to help them develop a flexible career path.is not it.

I think that each person has a different career plan, whether they want to be in management, want to perfect their analytical skills, or want to do face-to-face sales in addition to analysis.I want to help each employee acquire analytical skills, present them with a career path that matches their aspirations, and support them so that they can grow with a sense of satisfaction..

── We were able to hear Nishi-san's thoughts of wishing for the growth of his team members in a calm manner. Thank you, Nishi-san!

*The affiliation and title of the interviewee are those at the time of the interview.