Business Intelligence in the Business Curriculum

There has been widespread investment in business intelligence/business analytics within industry because of the potential for improved managerial decision-making through mining the vast quantities of data collected by modern corporations; however, despite major recent curriculum changes in business schools, there has been very little attention given to this field. This has been true of both research and teaching and is compounded by inadequate quantitative literacy possessed by U.S. students and antipathy towards quantitative literacy among faculty. This paper documents the importance of business intelligence within business and the programs offered by the 50 leading business schools. A pioneering minor in the field offered by one school is described

Distributed Data Processing: A Timely Approach for Social Welfare Agencies

Centralized management oriented information systems in state social welfare systems are evolving. Due to decreasing computer hardware costs, computing power can now be distributed throughout a social welfare system to locations where it meets worker and manager data processing needs most efficiently and effectively. To distribute computing power yet maintain one integrated organizational computing system requires an understanding of distributed data processing (DDP) and its implications for an organization. This article explains the DDP concept through its historical development, illustrates the types of DDP available to an agency, and discusses the major pitfalls in moving into a DDP environment. It also provides guides for implementing and managing DOP systems and discusses the implications of DDP for social welfare workers and managers

An Exploratory Comparative Analysis of Asian Markets: China versus India

This study investigates the differences in the business environments of the two most populous Asian countries-- China and India--which are also two of the most important economies in the world in terms of size and influence. Although China started its economic reform and development earlier than India did, India is quickly catching up and these two countries have become a battleground for attracting direct foreign investments. An understanding of what is happening in these two countries has become an urgent, important topic in global business. For this study, an exploratory descriptive analysis is performed to cross-examine various economic, demographic, and cultural data of these two giants to uncover both their differences and commonalities

Breast cancer management pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic: outcomes from the UK ‘Alert Level 4’ phase of the B-MaP-C study

Abstract: Background: The B-MaP-C study aimed to determine alterations to breast cancer (BC) management during the peak transmission period of the UK COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of these treatment decisions. Methods: This was a national cohort study of patients with early BC undergoing multidisciplinary team (MDT)-guided treatment recommendations during the pandemic, designated ‘standard’ or ‘COVID-altered’, in the preoperative, operative and post-operative setting. Findings: Of 3776 patients (from 64 UK units) in the study, 2246 (59%) had ‘COVID-altered’ management. ‘Bridging’ endocrine therapy was used (n = 951) where theatre capacity was reduced. There was increasing access to COVID-19 low-risk theatres during the study period (59%). In line with national guidance, immediate breast reconstruction was avoided (n = 299). Where adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted (n = 81), the median benefit was only 3% (IQR 2–9%) using ‘NHS Predict’. There was the rapid adoption of new evidence-based hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 781, from 46 units). Only 14 patients (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their treatment journey. Conclusions: The majority of ‘COVID-altered’ management decisions were largely in line with pre-COVID evidence-based guidelines, implying that breast cancer survival outcomes are unlikely to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, in this study, the potential impact of delays to BC presentation or diagnosis remains unknown

Revolution or Evolution? A Comparison of Object-Oriented and Structured Systems Development Methods

This paper examines the changes engendered when moving from a structured to an objectoriented systems development approach and reconciles the differing views concerning whether 1 Ron Weber was the accepting senior editor for this paper. this represents an evolutionary or revolutionary change. Author co-citation analysis is used to elucidate the ideational and conceptual relationships between the two approaches. The difference in conceptual distance at the analysis and design level compared to that at the programming level is explained using Henderson’s framework for organizational change. The conceptual shift during analysis and design is considered architectural, whereas for programming it is deemed merely incremental. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for improving the likelihood of success in the adoption of object-oriented systems development methods are provided

Application of Urbain's model for slag systems in the estimation of viscosity of some commercial glasses

For the estimation of viscosity of glasses and slags several model equations are generally used, most of which involve three or more empirical constants. The most widely used model for slag systems, proposed by G. Urbain, uses two constants, which are interrelated linearly. Urbain examined data for 54 oxides, silicates and alumino-silicates to establish his model. This paper establishes the validity of Urbain's model for a large number of glasses ranging from binaries, ternaries to more complex systems. The paper also examines the possibility of relating the empirical constants to optical basicity with the ultimate objective of estimation of glass viscosity solely from the composition and optical basicity of the melt

Cutaneous manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease: Study from a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

Context: Mixed connective tissue disorder is an uncommon disease. Some scientists are reluctant to recognize it as a separate entity. Some others have defined this ailment. Cutaneous features of this condition are unique. Researchers from India have described these features to relate to those described in the studies from other parts of the globe. Aims: This study aims to delineate the skin manifestations of clearly defined mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) patients, to compare them with those established as overlap syndrome, and to relate them with studies from other parts of the globe. Settings and Design: Successive patients who fulfilled the specific criteria for MCTD presenting in the skin outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India were clinically examined from 2009 for 3 years. Materials and Methods: The number of participants was 23 and the dermatological features of these were compared with 22 patients with overlap syndrome. The antibody to uridine-rich U1 ribonucleoprotein was measured for all patients. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS (Version 17) and MedCalc (Version 11.6). Results: The Male: Female ratio among the MCTD patients was 1:6.67 and that of the overlap syndrome was 1:10. Twenty patients of the MCTD group presented with synovitis as against only seven in the overlap group. Raynaud′s phenomenon was present in some of the subjects. Puffy fingers were rare in our study. Facial numbness was reported by four of those suffering from MCTD. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was essentially of a speckled pattern in this disease Conclusions: Cutaneous indicators of MCTD are distinct from overlap syndrome. Knowledge of these manifestations prevalent in a region may lead to early diagnosis of the disease