In the dynamic realm of information systems, the David Eccles School of Business annually partners with DOMO and Layton Construction to host a 48-hour Hackathon. This year, our challenge was to harness the power of the DOMO Business Intelligence (BI) platform to address a real-world problem. Little did we know, our team was about to embark on a journey that would lead us to victory and teach us the intricacies of the world of employee data analytics.

So, there we were, a bunch of data enthusiasts ready to throw our hats into the ring at the Domo Hackathon. Our task was clear – leverage the DOMO BI platform to design a solution for Layton Construction’s HR team. They needed insights into employee demographics, turnover rates, and a detailed examination of the reasons behind employee departures. Our strategy involved meticulous planning, dividing tasks based on each team member’s strengths, laying the foundation for our success. Armed with caffeine and determination, our team dove headfirst into the data.

Our first challenge was to design a Demographics Dashboard that would empower Layton Construction’s HR team to understand the company’s Headcount Distribution across various demographics. We had to slice the data along key indicators such as age band, generation band, veteran status, tenure, gender, and ethnic distribution. The dashboard needed to be user-friendly, allowing filtering at multiple levels.

The second part of our challenge was equally intriguing – design a Monthly Turnover Rate Dashboard. This meant delving into the turnover data, considering categories and key indicators from the Demographics Dashboard. Calculating the turnover rate required a meticulous approach, from performing ETL to calculating different measures.

The journey had its challenges, including two bonus questions. One pushed us to think creatively and find patterns for valuable insights, while the other had us reflecting on high turnover rates and suggesting management strategies. To stand out, we focused on innovation, exploring Domo’s full potential. Our solution went beyond fixing the core problem; it offered a glimpse into the future of data analytics. It wasn’t just about crunching numbers; it was about understanding the human element behind the data and providing actionable insights.

As the hackathon deadline approached, we polished our presentation to convey the technical aspects effectively. During it, we showcased our project’s functionality and highlighted its real-world impact. After which, we had the waiting period filled with pizzas and an engaging mini-game competition with Pac-Man, organized by our director. Time flew, and the announcement moment arrived, more nerve-wracking than the competition itself. Anticipation ran high; we had given our all, but was it enough? The victory moment finally came, exhilarating and validating, confirming that our hard work, dedication, and collaboration had paid off.

Author: graduate student, Shreeya Maskey