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Data mining uses statistical analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies to identify patterns that could not be found by manual analysis alone. The primary function of data mining has already amazed many people and is now considered one of the most critical issues towards a business’s success. However, data mining was not born all of a sudden. The earliest usage of data mining can be traced back in the World War II years. Data analytical methods such as model prediction, database segmentation, link analysis, and deviation detection, were used for military affairs and demographic purposes by the U.S. government, but data mining had not been seriously promoted until the 1990’s (Meletiou & Katsirikou, 2009).
Gramatikov (2006) compared statistical methods to data mining, differentiating them by the ultimate focus of these two tools. Statistical methods use data which is collected with a predefined set of questions. Statisticians are looking either for describing parameters of data or making inferences through statistics within intervals. With data mining, knowledge is generated from hidden relations, rules, trends and patterns which emerge as the data are mined.
The reason that data mining has been developed enormously again in the last few years is that huge amount of information was demanded by modern enterprises due to globalization. Important information regarding the markets, customers, competitors, and future opportunities were collected in the form of data to the database and needed data mining to unearth useful information and knowledge. Otherwise, a huge, overloaded, and unstructured database could just make it very difficult for companies to utilize and mislead the database users.
Public administration is, broadly speaking, the study and implementation of policy. The term may apply to government, private sector organizations and groups, and individuals. The adjective ‘public’ often denotes government at federal, state, and local levels, although it increasingly encompasses nonprofit organizations such as those of civil society or any not specifically acting in self-interest. Then, a long list exists: colleges and universities, health care organizations, charities, as well as postal offices, libraries, prisons, etc.
In the public sector, data mining initially were used as a means to detect fraud and waste, but have since grown into the use for purposes such as measuring and improving program performance. Data mining has been increasingly cited as an important tool for homeland security efforts, crime prevention, medical and educational application to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance research.