Answer to Question 1
A data mining application uses sophisticated statistical and mathematical techniques to do what-if analyses, forecast predicted values and facilitate decision making. In unsupervised data mining, analysts run tools against the raw data without a prior hypothesis or theoryafter the analysis hypothesis and theories are created to explain the results. In supervised data mining, the analysts create the theory and hypothesis first, and then run tools on the raw data to calculate parameter values for the theoretical models. Report delivery is not as critical in data mining as it is in reporting systems.
Answer to Question 2
Experimentation is making a reasoned analysis of an opportunity, envisioning potential solutions, evaluating those possibilities, and developing the most promising ones, consistent with the resources one has. Fear of failure paralyzes many good people and many good ideas. This can be overcome by having the ability to experiment.