Netflix and Data Science

Running head: NETFLIX AND DATA SCIENCE 1
Netflix and Data Science
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NETFLIX AND DATA SCIENCE 2
PROJECT INFORMATION
Introduction
Recommender systems are common in e-commerce organizations, content based
websites. It involves a technology used to analyze data in order to make suggestions for what
may interest users such as videos, books and many others. Netflix is one of the organizations that
use recommender system to recommend videos to its users. This report discuss Netflix
recommender system by examining how the organization use data science to manage the massive
data it holds to serve its users.
What is Netflix?
Netflix is one of the most popular online subscription platform offering television shows
and movies to its customers through mail or by direct streaming from their websites (Netflix,
2019). They provide their customers with unlimited access to their voluminous video library.
The organization provide a wide ranging content across almost all genre one can imagine. This is
provided through streaming service where one can watch videos as such, movies, television
shows well as documentaries by subscribing and streaming using data to access the internet.
Relation to data science
The organization initially started as a DVD retail service provider back in the year 1998.
For its business, they majorly relied on the third party postal services to serve their customers
which did not show some efficiency which the organization mitigated soon with the use of data
science. Netflix apply data science in various ways, however, for this assignment, we focus on
recommender system.

NETFLIX AND DATA SCIENCE 3
Movie recommendation:
The recommendation system easily identify users’ needs and offer suggestions of various
video products to the Netflix users. This is achieved by use of watching history of their
customers with alike tastes for recommending what their customers would be most interested in
watching next time so that they engage them and continue subscribing for more shows.
The recommender system employs various technology and methodologies in filtering
massive data and provide a smaller amount of the data for users to suggest the ones that fulfill
their interest. In Netflix, Meta data tagging is used in videos along with the data about the
behavior of Netflix users in order to come up with recommended videos as well as TV shows for
specific users.
As shown, the concepts in Data Science are applied by Netflix in a number of ways, other
ways include uploading and storage of wide global content library as well as monthly, weekly,
and daily updates on video content. Furthermore, they allow real-time access wit content that
vary with regions together with showing different standards of videos as such, Standard
Definition, High Definition and Ultra High Definition.
Data Roles
By looking at the Podcast for Data Engineering on
(https://www.dataengineeringpodcast.com/using-notebooks-as-the-unifying-layer-for-data-roles-
at-netflix-with-matthew-seal-episode-54/), we can conclude that there are many data roles
practiced in Netflix Company. Data Analytics: Involves an analyst collecting and storing data
and information of behaviors (Waller & Fawcett, 2013). They have expertise that ensure data
accuracy and process it as well presenting it in a way that can be meaningful.

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Data Algorithms: It involves data mining and use of data analysis methods. They build
and implement models as well as creating simulations.
Data scientist
A data scientist at Netflix company is a person that is able to utilize technological skills
that are related to science and engineering with an aim of achieving analytics.
Data analyst
Netflix Company’s data analyst is an individual who analyses data with an aim achieving
some insights. These insights are then transmitted to the management of the company for making
of decisions. Therefore, as a data analyst at this organization a person should be able to examine
data at all levels be it those from reports or databases.
Machine learning engineer
This is a person that owns a degree in machine learning or related field. This person
should be able to use skills of machine learning to a widespread dataset. Also, he/she should
come up with solutions that can create a strong user base of Netflix Company.
Data engineer
Data engineer should have an ability of working in partnership with other personnel team
so that they can create test solutions
BUSINESS MODEL
With much revolution in the industry, there is rise in number of internet users who search
for streaming services. It is important to note that, even such services came to existence; people
opted for CDs and bought films and videos from video shops. Netflix utilized the rate of mobile
acquisition and use of internet to provide the services. Thus they provided the internet users with
relevant and their desired videos, films, documentaries and TV shows.