Geo-coding

This panel will discuss the use of neural networks and fuzzy logic to develop a software tool that will convert geo-coding data or zip code data into expected loss costs by location. The role of an actuary to implement this tool will be discussed, and alternative applications will be described.

Moderator:	Randall E. Brubaker, FCAS, MAAA, Consulting Actuary
Panelists:	Kay A. Cleary, ACAS, MAAA, Florida Insurance Department Stan Lester, Telemap Corporation

Geo-coding
     The Power and Pitfalls

Insurance company officials, frustrated by the problems of trying to accurately determine the location of the risks they insure, are turning to geo-coding as the silver bullet that will put an end to their geographic woes. Like silver (as Warren Buffett can attest), the new technologies and services are precious. They can help insurance operations rise above confusion in rate assignment, better analyze the distribution of risks, and effectively market and service their products.

Also like silver, the edges are subject to tarnish and will need to be polished. A company wishing to incorporate geo-coding technology into a legacy operation should be aware of the limitations of the products and services they purchase and plan accordingly.

This session will begin with a brief review of some important terms related to geo-coding. This will be followed by a description of some of the products and services that could be useful in an insurance context. Finally, there will be examples of some practical problems that must be faced as these products are introduced into a production environment.

Moderator:	Sara E. Schlenker, FCAS, MAAA, Allstate Insurance Company
Panelists:	Frederick Barber, MarketMap, Inc. Donald Cook, Geographic Data Technology, Inc. Judith M. Feldmeier, FCAS, MAAA, AAA Michigan

The Actuarial Process
      From an Object-Oriented Perspective

Actuaries make intense demands on their data and computational tools. They demand large quantities of data in particular formats. Their analysis involves reviewing calculations from complex algorithms applied to data objects and adjusting parameters to reach an acceptable result. These attributes present challenging requirements for information technology departments.

Object-oriented technology coupled with data warehousing offer actuaries the opportunity to enhance productivity and efficiency, whether in pricing, reserving, or financial applications. The technology can also integrate the actuarial process with (upstream) data sources and with (downstream) management reporting systems.

The panel will discuss the actuarial process from a data management viewpoint and draw a blueprint of a practical solution.

Moderator:	Mark W. Littmann, FCAS, MAAA, Price Waterhouse LLP
Panelists:	Allen R. Nielsen, Price Waterhouse LLP Donald Cook, Geographic Data Technology, Inc. JoAnn S. O'Hara,Price Waterhouse LLP

Data Management & Technology
      In a Claims Environment

The claims department of an insurer is responsible for the prompt and fair settlement of meritorious claims. How much is a claim worth? Is a claim fraudulent? How does one best prepare and respond to catastrophe situations?

The company actuary is concerned with pricing and loss reserve adequacy, and is therefore familiar with internal statistical systems to support this analysis. This session will explore data management issues faced by the claims department and the technology tools available to it in setting up case reserves and fighting fraud.

Moderator:	James Surrago, FCAS, MAAA, Insurance Services Office, Inc.
Panelists:	Joseph C. Jensen, CSC Financial Services Group Valerie Zicko, Insurance Fraud Bureau

Database Administration and Development

This session will discuss how the database user and developer need to interface to ensure a cost-efficient, user-friendly database. It will also consider the need to understand how the data is ultimately used to design the system. Perspectives involved include those of actuaries actively involved in the development of databases and that of a professional database manager.

Moderator:	Arthur R. Cadorine, ACAS, MAAA, Insurance Services Offices, Inc.
Panelists:	Patrick A. Belle, NCR Richard W. Nichols, FCAS, Travelers Group

Data Warehousing

The panelists will explore how data warehousing technology can be developed and utilized to make data more readily available to respond to information needs of several users in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Moderator:	Arthur R. Cadorine, ACAS, MAAA, Insurance Services Offices, Inc.
Panelists:	Thomas Chesbrough, Kapstone Systems, Inc. Peter Corbett, Price Waterhouse LLP Alan J. Hapke, FCAS, MAAA, ASPECT, Inc.

Imaging and Document Management

When most people think about "imaging," they think of scanning. Big deal. Now imagine a world where bulky claims files are unnecessary. Key documents are easily shared across multiple locations. Loss data retrieval a snap. Legal documents, scanned in seconds. Microfiche, gone.

This session will discuss applications in use which have streamlined some of the core aspects of insurance: claims, policy issuance, legal, actuarial. Represented in this panel are a property/casualty insurance company has found great benefit in imaging as well as consultants who specialize in document management solutions for the insurance industry.

Moderator:	Irene Foster Macauley, Filenet Corporation
Panelists:	Barron Gemmer, AIIM, Innovative Corporate Solutions, Inc. Carol Morse, Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies

Neural Networks

Most actuaries have used multiple regression to model and predict outcomes that are expected to have a linear relationship to their inputs. Other model building techniques, such as curve-fitting, may assume a predetermined non-linear relationship in the data. Neural networks construct explanatory models without these limiting assumptions. This session will give an introduction to neural networks and explain several insurance and non-insurance related applications, such as database mining, database marketing, and risk characteristic classification.

Moderator:	Frank M. Zizzamia, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Panelists:	C. Peter Wu, FCAS, ASA, MAAA, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Internet Content Creation

This session will cover the current and potential uses of the Internet and World Wide Web for insurance companies and the actuarial profession. The panelists will discuss current and future Internet content developments taking place at their respective companies and other sites on the World Wide Web.

Moderator:	Wayne Lattuce, Insurance Services Office, Inc.
Panelists:	J. Michael Boa, Casualty Actuarial Society

How Technology Is Affecting
      Organizations and Operations

Technological developments are having a profound impact on how people interact, enabling organizations to approach business opportunities and organizational structures in new and unique ways. Examples of change include telecommuting, remote electronic processing of claims and policies, focused target market services, the growth of the Internet, and the ability to manage remote operations via "management by wire."

This session will address how such changes are affecting the management of insurance companies and how they approach their customers. The discussion will touch upon how such changes affect claims handling and a company's mix of business, as well.

Moderator:	Rick Gilman, Accord
Panelists:	Robin A. Harbage, FCAS, MAAA, Progressive Corporation Tim Houlihan, IBM Rade T. Musulin, ACAS, MAAA, Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies

Information Technology Outsourcing
      Actuarial Management Issues

Rapid advances in information technology have elevated this technical expertise to an industry in its own right. Originally relying on information technology (IT) for general administrative support, businesses now view IT as an integral part of their product development and customer communication processes.

To assure effective alignment between varying business interests and technology, many companies have "outsourced" their information technology needs by establishing contractual relationships with appropriately focused technology companies. Panelists will share, from an actuarial management perspective, how various IT outsourcing decisions have met expectations with regard to access, cost, quality, and timeliness of information.

Moderator:	Curtis M. Parker, FCAS, MAAA, Integon Insurance Company
Panelists:	Thomas S. Carpenter, FCAS, MAAA, Arbella Mutual Insurance Company Marvin A. Johnson, FCAS, MAAA, Nationwide Insurance Company Frederick O. Kist, FCAS, MAAA, CNA

Internet, Intranet, and Java

Java is becoming the Internet/Intranet language of choice. This session will show how to quickly learn enough Java in order to deploy information gathering and delivery tools. In addition, the positions of Microsoft, IBM, and Sun will be discussed during the session.

Speaker:

Cary S. Meltzer, Consults Direct

The Use of Technology
      In the Marketing and Distribution of Insurance Products and Services

The use of technology is expanding to many areas associated with the marketing and distribution of insurance products. Mr. McCarthy will discuss how his company is using the Internet, kiosks, and other distribution means to offer individual insurance products (such as private passenger auto, homeowners, life and annuities) to members of employer groups and associations. Mr. Brown will discuss how his company was formed and operates as a "virtual life insurance company" offering insurance products through a network of agents and a total staff of about a dozen employees.

Moderator:	Robert A. Brian, FCAS, MAAA, Milliman & Robertson, Inc.
Panelists:	Rodney R. Brown, fsa, MAAA, General Life Insurance Company of America Brian K. McCarthy, Insurance Holdings of America LLC

Electronic Commerce

Services and products sold through on-line services and the Internet topped one billion dollars for the first time in 1997. As businesses begin to transact electronically with their customers, several emerging issues must be addressed. Security is just one of several related factors necessary for commercial-grade transactions over the Internet. Issues of accountability and reliability are as important as pure security issues, if not more important. Further, the need for standardization will be driving much of the development efforts for electronic commerce models. Experts in electronic commerce will discuss business-to-business communications in the insurance and reinsurance industry.

Moderator:	Sally Combs, Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies
Panelists:	Julie Grace, NetDox, Inc. Thomas C. Neff, Broker Reinsurance Management Association