1. Gaining the Battle-Winning Edge with Data Science
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16/05/2019
Gaining the Battle-Winning Edge with Data Science
Lou Martingale, Julie Manuel
18th July 2018
16 May 2019
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2. Uncontrolled copy when printed
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Laser Tag in the Army?
Soldier Picture: MoD/Crown copyright 2016  
16 May 2019
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3. What is the role of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)?
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16/05/2019
What is the role of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)?
Its main purpose is to:
Deliver security for citizens of the UK and the Overseas Territories by defending them, including against terrorism
Act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and stability
Responsible for:
Providing the military capability necessary to deliver the Government’s objectives
Defining and planning future military requirements
MOD Main Building Picture: MoD/Crown copyright 2017  
Coldsteam Guards Picture: MoD/Crown copyright 2018  
A short guide to the Ministry of Defence – NAO Sept 2017
UK OFFICIAL
16 May 2019
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4. What do we mean by Capability?
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What do we mean by Capability?
Infrastructure
Logistics
Training
How do I get from Newcastle to London?
Equipment
Images obtained from
Presenter Media
DVLA:
Organisation
Doctrine
Information
People
UK OFFICIAL
16 May 2019
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5. The MOD employs around 227 000 trained personnel
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The MOD employs around trained personnel
Images and figures taken from Defence in Numbers:
2016:
2017:
16 May 2019
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6. Where does Defence spend its money?
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Where does Defence spend its money?
Images taken from Defence in Numbers:
16 May 2019
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7. What are some of the challenges Defence faces?
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What are some of the challenges Defence faces?
© The Independent
“At the end of the financial year ending March 2017, UK government gross debt was £1,720.0 billion, equivalent to 86.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) ”
ONS 2017
“The Armed Forces currently have significant shortfalls in critical skills” and “is not on track to meet its workforce targets”
NAO 2018
Muscular-Skeletal Injuries is the most common cause of discharge. It costs an estimated £100M per year”
MOD 2015
1. Austerity information obtained from:
2. NSS and SDSR image of paper obtained from:
3. Independent Equipment image taken from: Dated 11 May 2018
4. Skill Shortage and workforce targets: Information taken from NAO Ensuring Sufficient Skilled Personnel Report:
5. Multi-Skeletal Injuries (MSKI) information taken from Defence Health and Wellbeing annual report:
16 May 2019
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8. Uncontrolled copy when printed
16/05/2019
Laser Tag in the Army?
Soldier Picture: MoD/Crown copyright 2016  
16 May 2019
© Crown copyright 2018 Dstl
© Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

9. You have been provided a hard-drive of data…
What do you do first to help exploit the data for the customer?
16 May 2019
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10. The customer has prioritised the questions they want us to look at…
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16/05/2019
The customer has prioritised the questions they want us to look at…
1. How effective is our training?
2. What factors influence people to leave the Armed Forces?
3. What factors impact the health of our soldiers?
16 May 2019
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11. The customer has prioritised the questions they want us to look at…
What sub questions can we help the customer with?
What skills can help you do this?
16 May 2019
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12. Uncontrolled copy when printed
16/05/2019
What did we do?
16 May 2019
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13. Uncontrolled copy when printed
16/05/2019
What process did we use?
Session 1
Session 2
Scrum?
Obtain and understand data
Problem Structuring
Data preparation
Analytical approach
Validation and verification?
Exploitation
Customer delivery
16 May 2019
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14. Uncontrolled copy when printed
16/05/2019
Exploitation
Photos in clockwise:
CR2 Photo: Crown Copyright 2012
Javelin: Crown Copyright 2005
Training: Crown Copyright 2008
Stretcher: Crown Copyright 2017
16 May 2019
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15. Content includes material subject to © Crown copyright (2018), Dstl
Content includes material subject to © Crown copyright (2018), Dstl. This material is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or
DSTL/PUB109298
16 May 2019
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