Which statement contrasts descriptive analytics with predictive analytics in AIS?

Which statement contrasts descriptive analytics with predictive analytics in AIS?

• A. Descriptive analytics summarize historical data; predictive analytics use models to forecast future outcomes.
• B. Predictive analytics summarize historical data; descriptive use models to forecast future outcomes.
• C. Descriptive analytics only handles real-time data, predictive handles archived data.
• D. Predictive analytics discard historical data and only use current data.

Answer: (A)

Descriptive analytics look at what happened in the past by summarizing historical data, while predictive analytics use statistical or mathematical models to forecast what might happen in the future. In AIS, descriptive analytics provides reports and dashboards that show historical performance (for example, revenue by month), helping you understand trends and patterns. Predictive analytics, by contrast, applies models—like regression or time-series—to project future results based on those historical patterns and other relevant factors. This aligns with the statement that descriptive analytics summarize historical data and predictive analytics use models to forecast future outcomes. The other options mix up roles or imply data handling practices (such as discarding history or focusing only on real-time vs archived data) that don’t capture the true distinction between describing the past and predicting the future.

Descriptive analytics look at what happened in the past by summarizing historical data, while predictive analytics use statistical or mathematical models to forecast what might happen in the future. In AIS, descriptive analytics provides reports and dashboards that show historical performance (for example, revenue by month), helping you understand trends and patterns. Predictive analytics, by contrast, applies models—like regression or time-series—to project future results based on those historical patterns and other relevant factors.

This aligns with the statement that descriptive analytics summarize historical data and predictive analytics use models to forecast future outcomes. The other options mix up roles or imply data handling practices (such as discarding history or focusing only on real-time vs archived data) that don’t capture the true distinction between describing the past and predicting the future.