Machine Learning


Machine learning enables computers to identify patterns in data and improve predictions without being explicitly programmed. As organisations collect increasing volumes of data, machine learning techniques allow analysts to automate analysis, uncover hidden relationships, and generate predictive insights that support evidence-based decision making.

Technique Overview

Machine Learning

Machine Learning Definition

Machine learning is a field of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms and statistical models to identify patterns in data and improve predictions or decisions without explicit programming. By learning from historical data, machine learning systems can recognise relationships, classify information, and forecast future outcomes. Common approaches include supervised learning, which uses labelled data, unsupervised learning, which identifies hidden patterns in unlabelled data, and reinforcement learning, where models improve through feedback and rewards (Mitchell, 1997; Bishop, 2006).

Machine Learning Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Machine Learning *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Machine Learning *

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Professional Tools

Machine Learning videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Machine Learning web and print resources *

Machine Learning references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Mitchell, T.M. (1997) Machine Learning. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Bishop, C.M. (2006) Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning. New York: Springer.
  • Hastie, T., Tibshirani, R., Friedman, J.H. and Friedman, J.H., 2009. The elements of statistical learning: data mining, inference, and prediction (Vol. 2, pp. 1-758). New York: Springer.
  • Goodfellow, I., Bengio, Y., Courville, A. and Bengio, Y., 2016. Deep learning (Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 1-800). Cambridge: MIT press.

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