Business Analytics Commons^™

Demand Forecasting: An Open-Source Approach, Murtada Shubbar, Jared Smith

SMU Data Science Review

In this paper, we compare demand forecasting methods used by the supply chain department at Bilports to open-source forecasting methods. The design and implementation of the open-source forecasting system also attempts to use several external datasets such as consumer sentiment, housing permit starts, and weather to improve prediction quality. Additionally, the performance of the forecast is evaluated by the reduction of shipment lead times from China, the company’s primary vendor. The objective of our paper is to improve Bilports’s forecasting capabilities. The primary motivation of this paper is to increase forecasting accuracy and identify the weaknesses of the methods used …

Leveraging Reviews To Improve User Experience, Anthony Schams, Iram Bakhtiar, Cristina Stanley

SMU Data Science Review

In this paper, we will explore and present a method of finding characteristics of a restaurant using its reviews through machine learning algorithms. We begin by building models to predict the ratings of individual reviews using text and categorical features. This is to examine the efficacy of the algorithms to the task. Both XGBoost and logistic regression will be examined. With these models, our goal is then to identify key phrases in reviews that are correlated with positive and negative experience. Our analysis makes use of review data publicly made available by Yelp. Key bigrams extracted were non-specific to the …

The Quality Of Xbrl Structured Financial Statements: An Empirical Examination Of Custom Tags, Aidana Razhap Kyzy

Theses and Dissertations

In 2009 the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) system to improve the process by which financial statements can be used. Interactive financial data filed with the SEC using XBRL provides easily readable and comparable financial data, thereby improving transparency and efficiency in the corporate market. SEC rules permit companies to use custom tags in their financial reports in cases when an appropriate element cannot be found in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standard XBRL taxonomy. The inordinate use of custom tags may result in a reduction of financial report quality by …

The Performance Of Military Defense Contracted Companies After September 11th, 2001: The Case Of Politically Connected Companies, Derek J. Larsen

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This paper examines the effect that the terrorist attacks on September 11^th, 2001 had on the stock prices of companies within the military defense industry. In addition, this paper studies the effect of the defense firms’ political engagement (through lobbying activities) and how this affected the stock price response to the terrorist attacks. Our study finds that the cumulative abnormal returns of these companies are positively significant and that companies who lobbied experienced higher returns relative to those who did not lobby.

Distilling Managerial Insights And Lessons From Ai Projects At Singapore's Changi Airport (Part 2), Steve Lee, Steven M. Miller

Asian Management Insights

Since 2017, Changi Airport group (CAG) has initiated a host of pilot projects that use connective and intelligent technologies to enable its move towards digital transformation and SMART Airport Vision. This has resulted in a first wave of deployment of AI and Machine Learning-enabled applications across various functions that can better sense, analyse, predict, and interact with people.

Ai Gets Real At Singapore's Changi Airport (Part 1), Steve Lee, Steven M. Miller

Asian Management Insights

Ranked as the best airport for seven consecutive years, Singapore’s Changi Airport is lauded the world over for the efficient, safe, pleasurable and seamless service it offers the millions of passengers that pass through its facilities annually. Much of Changi Airport’s success can be attributed to the organisation’s customer-oriented business focus and deeply embedded culture of service excellence, combined with a host of advanced technologies operating invisibly in the background. The framework for this technology enablement is Changi Airport Group’s (CAG’s) SMART Airport Vision—an enterprise-wide approach to connective technologies that leverages sensors, data fusion, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), …

An Analysis Of The Business Structures And Performance Of Traditional Vs. "Freemium" Applications, Daztar Pagdiwala

Honors Scholar Theses

This thesis will examine the rationale and financial success of “freemium” applications versus traditional applications. I define what the “freemium” model is, and how it compares to the traditional (premium) and “free trial” models. In addition, I discuss the value proposition of the business structure, and how it is fully dependent on the consumer’s ability to perceive an increase in value through the purchase of additional features. I also analyze the major positive and negative aspects of the “freemium structure.

Overall trends that I note in the paper include a general shift towards “freemium” and “subscription” based products; within the …

Microsoft Store Strategic Audit, James Onnen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This paper looks at Microsoft's Universal Store's digital distribution strategies for apps and games and potential strategies Microsoft can use to leverage its store to create value for itself and its users. This paper looks at specific uncaptured markets in gaming that Microsoft could capture.

The Relationship Between Capital Structure And Profitability Of United States Manufacturing Companies: An Empirical Analysis, Cuibing Wu

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Elmer R. Smith College of Business and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Cuibing Wu on April 22, 2019.

An Evaluation Of The Key Influencing Factors For Tramp Shipping Corporations Selecting Ship Management Companies, Ta-Yuan Lin, Cheng-Chi Chung, Tien-Chun Ho

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The shipping industry is a global business and the number of privately-owned ships represents the strength of the shipping industry. However, global trades and the shipping business today are in poor economic shape. The more ships a company owns, the greater the burden on shipping operators. For the tramp shipping industry, using ship leasing, besides convenience, flexibility, time-saving, and tax benefits, commissioning a ship management company (SMC) to handle its non-core business can also result in greater financial liquidity providing the shipping companies with increased investment and purchasing power in other areas. This study is based on a consideration of …

A Heuristic Algorithm For The Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem With Outsider Carrier Selection, Ching-Wu Chu, Jiang-Ren Chang, Kai-Huei Chang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The delivery and pickup of goods from a depot to local customers is an important and practical problem of a logistics manager. In practice, professional logistics company owns more than one depot and the fleet is composed of different types of trucks. This situation is a multi-depot vehicle routing problem with delivery and pickup. When the everyday demand is known, the logistics manger is facing a deterministic multi-depot vehicle routing problem with simultaneously pickup and delivery. In reality, the demands fluctuate over time within a year. When the total demand is greater than the whole capacity of owned trucks, the …

Collaboration Enhances Utilization Of Production Factors In Container Shipping Industry, Rong-Her Chiu, Dong-Hua Wang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study investigates both theoretically and empirically the economic impact of collaborative operation between container carriers. Using the property of superadditivity of the Leontief production function, this study aims to demonstrate that the utilization rate of production factors will improve when liner carriers collaboratively provide services through a strategic alliance. Two production factors, containership slot utilization (CSU) and container circulation velocity (CCV), are used to empirically prove the existence of the efficiency improvement effect after 2000 (since 2000, strategic alliances have become a formal collaborative mechanism and have been restructured continuously)

Cyanotech: A Strategic Audit, Trent Hoppe

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Microalgae is a fascinating group of organisms that possess a diverse array of interesting traits and benefits relevant to food, medicine, and biofuel. Extensive research behind the viability of microalgae to disrupt the market has sparked an emergent microalgae industry. Founded in 1983, one of the top microalgae companies in the world today is Cyanotech. With a 90-acre algae farm in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and two flagship microalgae products that are world leaders in their categories, Cyanotech is well- positioned be setting the course for the industry and revolutionizing the use microalgae commercially. Despite these favorable attributes, Cyanotech has been trapped …

A Strategic Audit Of Nintendo Co., Ltd., Emily Wagner

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The astounding success of the Nintendo Switch since its launch in March 2017 has brought Nintendo back into the spotlight of the gaming industry. However, what strategies led to the Switch’s success, enabling Nintendo to come back from the complete and utter failure of the Wii U? Also, what does Nintendo need to do to maintain its success over the lifetime of the Switch and beyond? This paper offers a strategic analysis of Nintendo, examining the company’s history, recent products, competitive advantages, and reasons for the success of the Switch. It also provides an analysis of Nintendo’s internal and external …

The Use Of Blockchain Technology To Solve Common Challenges In The Supply Chain, Michael Cohen

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

When blockchain was first invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 it was thought to only be used for Bitcoin; a digital currency. It had been used to record transactions made without needing a third party authenticator. Blockchain showed the ability to reduce costs, speed up transactions, and reinvent the processes of how things are done. Once people fully understood what blockchain does, entrepreneurs and investors realized it could be used for much more than just a cryptocurrency. It could be applied to transportation, products sold, food, the medical industry, and much more.
With the help of blockchain, industries can operate …

Decision Making On Pursuing Computer Science Masters In United States, Chaitali Sunil Sawant

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

Graduate study comprises of sophisticated degree program which focuses on academic mastery or profession. It will build a strong foundation which emphasis on research and practical training. When it comes to pursuing master, there are many options to consider but the most important option is college and your interest. As USA is a home to many of the world’s most prestigious universities (including half of the global top 10), and hosts more international students than any other country. The master’s degree in USA is mostly research-based which helps the students to build skill set and knowledge that help them grow …

Amarcord Inc: Combating Money Laundering Using Data Analytics, Alyssa Ardai

Honors Program Contracts

This case study of Amarcord Incorporative will be discussing how Amarcord combats money laundering using data analytics. With the addition of new laws from 1970-current, it is harder for money laundering to be committed due to the requirement of reports and bank inspections. Using data analytics techniques such as the time-series analysis, we can analyze data sets to look closer and tell what transactions are money laundering, and what are actual ones.

Hierarchical Decision Model For Housing Decision In The Portland Metropolitan Area, Adediji Adewunmi

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

The Portland Metropolitan Area is one of the fastest growing in the Nation. A good percentage of in-migrants to Oregon end up in this area. This study aimed at creating a model to help individuals decide which city on the Oregon site of the Portland metro they should purchase housing.

Decision criteria was elicited from experts using a modified form of Delphi method, an HDM model was created and experts were asked to evaluate these criteria by making pair-wise comparisons. Once the HDM model was computed, the means were analyzed and it was determined that the city of Beaverton was …

Effects Of Terrorism On The U.S. Stock Market: Evidence From High Frequency Data, Kyla Scanlon

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This paper investigates the effects that terrorist attacks and mass shootings had on the U.S. stock market, using high frequency intraday data to identify stock price and variability reactions in the hours after the attack. The impact that terrorist attacks had on price level variability was examined using the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model. The market reaction to domestic versus foreign attacks was examined to measure a potential for contagion across financial markets. The potential for flight-to-safety/quality and capital reallocation in response to terrorist attacks were measured using ordinary least squares (OLS) model, measuring the respective betas of small …

Geographic Analysis Of Marching Band Culture (College And High School Ensembles), Steven Deamon

Honors Projects

Each marching band defines “culture” as their ensemble’s decisions on marching style, music choice, band size, instrumentation, and performance obligations. This study aims to categorize marching bands by cultural features, test if marching band characteristics are similar across a region, and explore how these trends in band culture relate to other demographic and socioeconomic trends. Research focused on bands in the Midwest and Southeastern United States and was conducted through video observation. Through analysis, it was found that most marching bands surveyed use a corps step, perform music of artistic merit, have between twenty-one and one hundred marchers, perform with …