In 2018 US federal agencies spent 4.11 trillion dollars. This figure is reported by USASpending.gov, a clearinghouse for money spent by the United States Government. The data provided there represents the complex relationship between the agencies administering spending, the federal accounts that contain those funds, plus the states or other recipients receiving that money. Failure to fully understand this relationship sometimes yields unintended consequences for local policymakers and their affected communities. Where these relationships were previously obscured, data and analytics experts now have the ability to breakdown these relationships and either diagnose or predict spending outcomes.
Karsun Solutions is partnering with graduate students at the University of Southampton to analyze this big data. In our upcoming Making Sense of Government Data analytics hackathon we invite students to take two approaches to breaking down this complex data. In the visualization challenge, we ask students to take a descriptive and diagnostic approach. Alternatively, students may use the data to build useful predictive models.
Visualization Challenge: Understanding USASpending.gov Data
Students participating in our visualization competition explain complex data-intensive processes in a user friendly way. Using the USASpending.gov data students must visually portray information in a manner that’s meaningful to both a government policymaker and the average citizen. Students are challenged with thinking about the relationship between the parties involved versus new insights like highest spend, award or distribution.
Predictive Challenge: Investigating Income
In the predictive challenge we ask students not only to understand patterns and trends, but also to think about the impact of other publicly available data, such as income, on those trends. For instance, they could layer on income information provided by the Internal Revenue Service. Next, they might predict whether income is expected to rise or fall for those areas. In this track students come away with a clearer insight into building tools for policymakers. These tools have the power to guide the way national policies impact local spending or address shifting neighborhood demographics before they impact national policy.
Clarity through Data
Participants in either track are ultimately judged on their ability to demonstrate original findings in a concise matter while demonstrating technical prowess. Top teams will also demonstrate inference with clear, well thought out claims.
Karsun Solutions is thrilled to be part of this data and analytics hackathon. We are modernization experts serving customers across the federal government. Visit our event announcement to learn more about Karsun Solutions and our partners, the University of Southampton and the Centre for Operational Research, Management Science and Information Systems (CORMSIS.) Join me, Jason Marceau, later this spring as we share our hackathon insights after the event.
The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) announced Karsun Solutions Director Shaunak Ashtaputre will join their 2019 Partners Program. The Partners and Voyagers programs connect industry leadership with their public sector counterparts. Beginning in 2010 Karsun Solutions leadership prioritized participation in these professional development programs. Director Chae Song (2018) is the most recent graduate, with six additional leadership members counting themselves among the ACT-IAC fellowship program alumni. Sudhir Duggineni is currently a member of the 2019 Voyagers Class.
About Shaunak Ashtaputre
Shaunak Ashtaputre serves as the Director of the Data Analytics Practice. He is an accomplished Data and Solutions Architect, with over 27 years in developing and delivering solutions to modernize enterprise data platforms helping customers maximize the value of their data. Shaunak holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems and has international experience in leading business intelligence and data practices. He brings sharp focus and drive in enhancing capabilities and creating innovative solutions for streaming data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Shaunak is a recognized data warehousing, big data, and analytics expert. In July 2018 Karsun Solutions announced the launch of the organization’s Karsun Innovation Center Data & Analytics Practice and Shaunak was selected to lead this innovation oriented extension of the firm. He also regularly speaks at industry events.
About Karsun Solutions
The federal IT modernization experts, Karsun Solutions enables enterprise transformation for its government customers including Modern Software Development, Cloud, and Advanced Analytics solutions. The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, and General Services Administration are among the firm’s current customers. They are an established firm, with a DCAA Approved Accounting System and CMMI Level 5 – DEV appraisal, as well as ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 certifications.
30 March 2019 – University of Southampton
The Karsun Solutions Data and Analytics practice announces Making Sense of Government Data, an analytics hackathon co-sponsored with the University of Southampton. During the event, students will engage with US Spend Data, in either visualization or predictive analytics challenges. The data, hosted at USASpending.gov, is provided by the United State government to improve transparency for citizens and taxpayers. Spanning agencies across the federal government, these analytics challenges help students learn how to make sense out of large and complex data sets.
Jason Marceau, a Director at Karsun Solutions, returns to the University of Southampton to lead the challenge on campus on 30 March 2019. Jason is University of Southampton Alumnus having studied MSc in Business Analytics & Management Science (BAMS) at Southampton Business School 2015/16, gaining a Distinction. In October 2018, Jason visited Southampton and gave a highly successful practitioner talk to the current student cohort about his role at Karsun and how to leverage internship experience in academic and professional settings.
Bringing the hackathon to the University of Southampton is Dr. Cristian Bravo, Associate Professor in Business Analytics, Programme Leader for Business Analytics and Finance (BAF) and Fellow of the Turing Institute www.turing.ac.uk. The event is a partnership between Karsun Solutions and the University’s Centre for Operational Research, Management Science and Information Systems (CORMSIS) www.southampton.ac.uk/cormsis/.
CORMSIS is one of the largest Operational Research/Management Science groups in the United Kingdom. The University of Southampton is ranked in the Top 50 in the World for Operational Research and Statistics, and ranked 7th in the UK (source QS World Rankings 2019). CORMSIS helps people and organizations make better decisions through advanced mathematical and analytical modelling. CORMSIS connects MSc students with practitioners, alumni, and high-profile employers, including governmental and third sector organizations, in the UK and beyond.
The federal IT modernization experts, Karsun Solutions enables enterprise transformation for its government customers including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, and General Services Administration. An innovation-based and performance-driven culture, Karsun Solutions delivers extraordinary outcomes for their customers. Karsun Solutions is an established firm, with a DCAA Approved Accounting System, CMMI Level 5 – DEV appraisal, and ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 certifications. Partnering with Karsun Solutions ensures the nimbleness, agility, and access to decision makers of a small business without sacrificing the scalability, capabilities, and experience in modern software development, cloud solutions, and data and advanced analytics of a large firm.
For more details about CORMSIS email cormsis@soton.ac.uk
HERNDON, VA – Karsun Solutions announces the formation of a new Data Practice within the Karsun Innovation Center (KIC). Leveraging his 20 plus years in Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, Shaunak Ashtaputre was named the practice lead. This new practice will focus on data modernization, advanced analytics, and data security as key growth areas.
The organization’s continued investment in Data Modernization innovation is an extension of Karsun Solutions’ Enterprise Modernization and Advanced Analytics expertise. Through this new practice the organization will expand its DevSecOps offerings by melding data integration resources into KIC ongoing initiatives. Some key objectives include:
- Building a Data Modernization Innovation Lab within KIC
- Identifying and nurturing partnerships with key vendors and their ecosystems
- Establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Data Modernization and DataOps
- Attracting and nurturing expert-level talent in Data Modernization and Advanced Analytics
- Guiding and assisting with RFP/RFI responses in the areas of Data and Advanced Analytics
- Creating expertise in data migration and modernization related to AWS services
- Creating a cohesive practice and level of expertise across Karsun programs and contracts
With the implementation of the new Data Practice Karsun Solutions continues to establish itself as a one-stop Data-Migration and Modernization shop.
About Shaunak Ashtaputre
Shaunak Ashtaputre has more than 20 years of industry experience, with extensive engagements in Business Intelligence Data Warehousing and other business intelligence initiatives including strategy, architecture, data management, security, design, and delivery across several industry verticals including the Public Sector. Prior to joining Karsun, he ran an analytics consulting small business for several years. Under Karsun Solutions Advanced Analytics practice he currently leads GSA’s analytics, data warehousing, and big data platform. He is responsible for new business across the business intelligence and big data verticals.
About Karsun Solutions
Established in 2009, Karsun Solutions is a premier consulting firm delivering a portfolio of enterprise modernization services to its federal and commercial customers. Its core competencies include Modern Software Development, Cloud Solutions and Advanced Analytics. Its proprietary GoLean® software development methodology combines Agile, Lean, Kanban and DevOps practices throughout the software development lifecycle. The GoLean.io Software-as-a-Service provides a lean management tool-kit combining the best of these practices. Beginning in 2015, Karsun has ranked yearly among the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing US Companies. It was also recognized among the Washington Business Journal’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies. Karsun’s quality, development, and information security practices include CMMI Level 3, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 certifications.