TABLE OF CONTENTS Part III covers the techniques used to mine data. There is little reference here to finding, framing, and directing the mining to solve a business problem. All of those issues are thoroughly discussed in Part II and, although absolutely essential in any business situation, are not covered again here.
Various techniques and many workable methodologies (no one of which is "the" methodology) are available to an experienced data miner. This part of the book is not aimed at experienced data miners, but rather at business analysts and others unfamiliar with data mining who want or need to use data mining tools to analyze data. These chapters assume that the reader knows about data, at least in the form of spreadsheets, and where to find suitable data that addresses the identified business problem. It also assumes that the reader can access, and knows how to use, basic data manipulation tools. The mechanics of data manipulation aren't covered here. From there, and based on these assumptions, this part of the book describes a methodology the reader can follow, including basic "best practices" in data mining.
This methodology is presented as an integrated whole, as if there were only one path to follow. As an introduction, following such a path will not lead the miner far astray.
