TITLE: A Roadmap for Promoting Statistical Collaboration
Session Description: The statistician's role in research (medical, industrial, business, government, etc.) can be small or large, superficial or substantive, and early or late in the project cycle, depending on the relationship they have with the researcher. Our experience shows that stronger, deeper relationships produce better research results and greater contributions to the field or business. If statisticians limit themselves to playing a small technical role in project work, they will miss opportunities to contribute in more meaningful ways. If they instead adopt a holistic approach, blending technical expertise with softer skills like creativity, innovation and resourcefulness, they can significantly increase the value delivered by the project to the intended stakeholders. Expressing these skills is possible when the relationship between the statistician and researcher has a solid foundation built on trust, mutual respect and appreciation of the unique viewpoint each party brings to the table.
The Committee on Applied Statisticians (CAS) has taken on the new initiative of helping the statistical community improve their consulting and collaboration relationships with their clients and colleagues. This panel will introduce a draft roadmap that CAS has developed and will be implementing to promote statistical collaboration. The panel will discuss the training, webinars, discussions, workshops, etc. that CAS is proposing. This panel will be important to any statistician who wants to increase the level of engagement and contribution that they bring to the table, as well as any statistician who wants to promote the practice and profession of statistics by developing resources that they and their colleagues can use to their advantage.