This TechTarget article explains how data scientists and data engineers differ.
The sexiest job of 21st century
This article discusses demand for data scientists and their role in business analytics.
About The sexiest job of 21st century
This is a 2012 Harvard Business Review article by Thomas H. Davenport and DJ Patil, published in the October 2012 issue. It argues that demand for data scientists has outpaced supply as companies work with large and varied volumes of information. It describes what data scientists do: they structure data, find patterns in it, advise executives on what the findings mean for products, processes, and decisions, and communicate the results. The article uses a fraud case and a LinkedIn example to illustrate this work.
The article also covers practical hiring questions for organizations: where to look for data scientists, how to attract and develop them, and how to recognize a strong one. It is an essay, not a software tool, and the source does not provide pricing.
Key features
- Explains the demand for data scientists in business analytics
- Describes how data scientists structure and find patterns in unstructured data
- Gives an example of applying a DNA sequencing approach to a fraud problem
- Covers where organizations can look for data scientists
- Discusses how to attract and develop data scientists
- Explains how to identify a strong data scientist
Best for: Business leaders and hiring managers who want an overview of the data scientist role and how to recruit for it.
Good for
- Includes a concrete case study showing how a data scientist approached a fraud problem
- Covers hiring, development, and evaluation of data scientists in one article
- Written by authors with stated professional backgrounds in data and analytics
The sexiest job of 21st century at a glance
- Category
- Search & Reference › Articles & Essays
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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The sexiest job of 21st century FAQ
What does the article say data scientists do?
According to the article, data scientists bring structure to large volumes of information, find patterns in it, and advise executives on the implications for products, processes, and decisions. They also communicate the story in the data and get at the questions behind problems rather than only delivering reports.
Who wrote the article?
The article was written by Thomas H. Davenport and DJ Patil. It appeared in the October 2012 issue of Harvard Business Review.
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