MWSUG 2017 Section Descriptions

MWSUG 2017 will feature numerous paper presentations spread across a variety of academic sections. Presentation abstracts will be posted after selections are made this summer. Below are descriptions of the sections we expect to include in this year's academic program.

Banking and Finance

We are looking for SAS customers from around the world to discuss the important issues facing the financial services and insurance industries. Presentations will highlight how SAS has been instrumental in delivering timely and accurate information to key decision makers in these industries. We are interested in a broad range of subjects and disciplines specific to financial services and insurance: risk analysis; predictive modeling; forecasting; analyzing complex assets and their values; and customer relationship management and keys to expanding your profitable customer base. Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance/Fair Lending related activities are becoming a high priority in the banking and insurance industries due to regulatory over-site by the federal government. Examples of SAS being used in these areas in a regulatory compliance analysis as well as model building for these two areas is yet another example of presentation topics.

Beyond the Basics SAS

Papers within this section will address a broad spectrum of advanced SAS topics, including ODS, macros, SQL and JMP. Sophisticated, efficient DATA step and PROC step programming is strongly suggested. Topics will include, but are not limited to, the use of these SAS components to address advanced analytical, reporting, data mining, large data set, and data management applications. The objective of these presentations will be to provide a deeper, practical understanding of key SAS features and behaviors that can make the attendee a more efficient, valuable SAS programmer.

BI / Customer Intelligence

The SAS Business Intelligence suite (including SAS Enterprise BI, SAS Office Analytics, SAS Visual Analytics and SAS Visual BI) facilitates the creation and integration of SAS reporting and analytics insights, making them available via a secure, self-service presentation layer and providing decision makers the information they need in a timely manner. We are looking for technical presentations on any of the individual components of the SAS Business Intelligence suite. We are also interested papers on the gathering, analyzing and exploiting of key reference and transactional information from customer data. These presentations will include case studies demonstrating analyses and implementations, while providing helpful insights and lessons learned along the way.

Data for Good

In recent years, volunteer work in statistics and data science have become much more common. “Data for Good” has been embraced by individuals, companies, professional associations and non-governmental organizations. While most work as individuals, a number of organizations such as “DataKind”, “Statistics Without Borders” and others, have sprung up to develop statistical volunteering projects, recruit volunteers and connect them with organizations and causes needing analytic support. This section offers a showcase for volunteer projects and a place to share challenges and solutions where statistical volunteers are making a real difference in the world doing the things we love the most.

Data Visualization and Graphics

The Data Visualization and Graphics section presents an effective and efficient way of data exploration, Web-based Data visualization using interactive graphs, Drill Down Applications using Multi-Layered Charts, Creating Dynamic SAS Graphs, Showing the Advantages of SAS Graphs & General Tips & Techniques etc.

e-Posters

Various SAS-related topics presented in an electronic poster format rather than as a formal lecture. Posters are available throughput the conference and are ideal for displaying high-resolution graphics and innovative presentations. Authors are available during scheduled times to answer questions.

Hands-On Workshops

Participating in the Hands On Workshops at MWSUG is a unique opportunity for course participants to practice applying material immediately instead of waiting until they get back to the office. Applying course materials immediately allows participants to learn more completely, more fully integrating techniques into their skill set. Trying out new techniques at the conference allows participants the added benefit of having the instructor right there with them to answer questions as they come up. The instructors in the HOW section are often nationally-known SAS experts with decades of experience who have honed both their technical SAS abilities as well as their presentation skills so course participants are treated to engaging presentations along with insightful techniques.

Pharmaceutical Applications

This section focuses on various aspects of the Pharmaceutical Industry, with items such as CDISC compliance and how it is being implemented and new tools being used/developed to improve on efficiency. Topics may include:

• Clinical programming, reporting and biostatistics.
• Implementing and using CDISC standards, including the Study Data Tabulation Model (SDTM) and the Analysis Data Model (ADaM).
• Programming and reporting using enrollment, medical and pharmacy claims data.
• Approaches to government accreditation (URAC, HEDIS) and regulations.
• Health care reform reporting mandates: MLR, Exchange.
• Detecting fraud in provider/insurer systems.

Rapid Fire (formerly Coders Corner)

This section is the place for beginners and experts alike to share quick tips and tricks, useful nuggets of programming, or techniques that make jobs easier. Presentations should last 10 minutes or less, covering one concept in a concise and practical way.

SAS 101

A forum for both new and experienced SAS users to learn concepts and processes with which they are currently unfamiliar. Papers in this section should lay out step-by-step instructions and clearly illuminate how the feature or process is used or applied. Papers covering all SAS products – Base SAS, SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Web Report Studio, etc. – are welcome. Some example topics might be:

• Accessing external data files.
• Accessing RDBMS data.
• Using SAS dates.
• Getting stated with PROC REPORT.
• SQL for the DATA step programmer.
• An introduction to SAS DICTIONARY Tables.

Statistics / Advanced Analytics

Whether for small data sets or so-called big data, analytics is increasingly important to operations in business, finance, health care, academia, government and many other types of organizations. SAS is a longtime pillar in the statistical community, offering a broad array of techniques to meet the growing demand for data analysis. The Statistics and Data Analysis section provides a unique opportunity to see presentations of statistical applications using SAS software to solve today's problems. Statisticians, economists, epidemiologists, forecasters and market researchers present their novel applications of statistical methodology, teach important concepts, and illustrate the benefit of new techniques with the use of SAS/STAT®, SAS/QC®, SAS/IML®, SAS/ETS® and JMP software.

System Architecture and Administration

The System Architecture and Administration section features best practices and case studies for configuring and maintaining SAS software in large organizations where both data and programs are shared by multiple departments with varying user demands.

Tools of the Trade

The Tools of the Trade section covers interesting topics and techniques commonly used in daily SAS programming activities (such as data cleaning and anomaly detection, report preparation, data exploration, etc.) These topics can be presented in a variety of ways: 1) as they were found and how they were solved, 2) in a new light that rekindles the importance of such a topic or in a new way that can change the view and scope of the topic/technique, or 3) in a comprehensive and informative manner that would serve as a quick and concise reference for any active programmer. This section could also cover new or important concepts that don't quite fit into any other section but that, nonetheless, need a voice!