ECBS5256: Managing Data Science Teams

A workshop-driven intensive on analytics leadership — from hiring to roadmaps to executive alignment.

This course is part of Central European University’s MS in Business Analytics program. Students build a complete Manager Operating System by producing real management artifacts anchored to one of three realistic company scenarios. The capstone is an async QBR video where students present their roadmap to a virtual executive panel.

Key Information

InstructorEduardo Ariño de la Rubia, Professor of Practice
FormatTwo-day intensive, in-person
DatesMonday March 16 & Monday March 23, 2026
LocationCEU Vienna Campus, Room B-421

Slides

Day 1 — March 16

TimeBlockTopic
11:00–12:40AThe Manager’s Operating System Slides
13:30–15:10BHiring & Team Formation Slides
15:30–17:10CRoadmaps, Bets & Alignment Slides

Day 2 — March 23

TimeBlockTopic
11:00–12:40DGrowth, Performance & Feedback Slides
13:30–15:10EInfrastructure & Cross-Functional Interfaces Slides
15:30–17:10FLeading Up & Executive Communication Slides

Supplemental

Advanced Data Infrastructure Slides

Assessment

Portfolio deadline: Sunday, March 30, 2026 at 23:59 Vienna time (CEST). Submit as a single PDF or structured repository via Moodle.

ComponentWeightStatus
Participation & Preparedness15%Ongoing
Day 1 Checkpoint10%Submitted March 16
Manager OS Document15%Due March 30
Hiring Packet20%Due March 30
Roadmap + Executive Narrative15%Due March 30
QBR Outline + QBR Video10%Due March 30
Personal Growth Plan7.5%Due March 30
Performance Summary7.5%Due March 30
Total100%

QBR Video: 5-minute maximum recording, Zoom-style, as if presenting to your executive team. Clear audio matters more than production quality. Record early, watch it back, re-record if the BLUF isn’t clear in the first 10 seconds.

Case Contexts

All work is anchored to one of three scenarios chosen on Day 1:

DataPulse Seed-stage — First data hire at a fitness app startup
MarketBridge Series B — New Head of Analytics at a two-sided marketplace
FinGuard Enterprise — VP of Enterprise Analytics at a 120-year-old bank

Recommended Reading

Before Day 1

Before Day 2

For Students