Best Practices In Operations Executive Information Systems Software Development And Implementation

In this paper we identify best industry practices and current trends in the development and management of software products. We discuss the strategic importance of developing appropriate operational capabilities that are prerequisites for achieving marketing success. We illustrate these concepts with examples from software companies to highlight how they achieved the desired balance between market demands and operational resources. Finally, we highlight the benefits these companies had derived from such an alignment

Quality Issues in E-Commerce Distribution Chains

This paper examines current trends and selected quality aspects of business to consumer (B2C) E-commerce. As Web sales increase, E-merchants collect more and more data about customer profiles and product preferences that they sell to third parties. We examine how the customers feel about the loss of privacy. In order to succeed on the Internet a company must identify and meet customer preferences better than its competitors. We examine the expectations and the frustrations of customers doing business on-line. Finally, we use several real world situations to discuss risks of alienating the traditional distribution channels by selling directly to the customer on the Internet

Using Mathematical Programming For Marketing Plan Optimization

While a growing number of companies are embracing analytical metrics to measure the performance of their critical business processes, many neglect to apply the same mathematical rigor to their marketing efforts. This paper examines how to apply a disciplined quantitative approach to resource allocation within the context of marketing. This project will examine a company that manufactures and sells electric power generation components. This firm’s executive management believes that developing nations in Asia have a particularly strong need for power generation equipment as they build and expand new infrastructure at a rapid pace. Management objective is to construct a marketing plan that will maximize both total revenue as well as revenue from a targeted geographic region, while working within the budgetary and other constraints. Operations Research offers sophisticated tools for translating complex business situations into mathematical expressions. These expressions may then be evaluated to identify one or more optimal solutions. Multivariate Testing is used to quantify all the relevant variables for the mathematical model. This statistical tool allows the researcher to simultaneously test the effect of various input factors on the response variable, and also test for any interactions between factors. These interactions are often significant in predicting the response outcome. Using indexed utility values produces a blended model that can simultaneously satisfy both objectives. This blended model results in a marketing plan that will increase total revenue by more than five million dollars, a 57% gain. At the same time, the plan will generate an 18% increase in targeted revenue, positioning the company for future growth. The project shows that companies can, and should, insist on the same degree of financial accountability from their marketing investments that they would expect from any other capital or operational expenditures

A Case Study of ERP Implementation Issues

We discuss strategic issues related to deploying Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in terms of their applications, suggested benefits, and proven failures. After this broad explanation of ERP systems as they pertain to today’s business world, attention focuses to the difficulties in implementing SAP ERP systems in a Midwestern business. Finally, a review of recommendations for increasing Return on ERP Investment is provided

Trends In Green Agribusiness: A Look At Anaerobic Digesters

The need to reduce emissions that pollute the environment has been well documented. In many studies agriculture has been identified as one of the major contributors to environmental contamination. In this paper we discuss anaerobic digesters as a way to reduce agricultural contamination of the environment and generate electrical energy. We also discuss select cases of Midwestern farms that implemented the technology

Evaluating Student Perceptions of Course Delivery Platforms

In this paper we evaluate effectiveness of course delivery mode on three dimensions: values, networking opportunities and learning. While students and their future employers are two important customers for the business program, we focus on the perception of students regarding the effectiveness of course delivery mode on program performance. The three dimensions are evaluated based on a questionnaire survey administered to business program students at several universities. We present the results of statistical analysis and draw conclusions based on the results.

Strategic Elements in the Implementation of ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System in Universities and Manufacturing Organizations

In this paper we discuss strategic issues related to achieving ISO 9001: 2000 certification. We identify similarities and differences in implementing and maintaining ISO 9001:2000 quality management system in manufacturing and service organizations using the system development and implementation experiences of the authors from a meat processing plant and a College at a University

Determining Discounts For Perishable Inventory

In this paper, we develop a model to help manage prices of perishable products in a grocery store. We consider inventory on hand and proximity to expiration date as key decision variables. We also discuss the strategic importance of minimizing inventory that must be disposed of at a cost after the product expires. We also develop simple applied rules and highlight the benefits of using a dynamic pricing model to companies selling perishable products. The Problem Background In recent years, multiple retail and wholesale industries have come under an increasing pressure from global competitors due to diminished trade barriers and ease of market penetration. Globalization has produced a set of price, quality and time-related competitive challenges to businesses forcing them to reduce production cost and improve efficiency. The need to reduce production cost has led, amongst other things, to the elimination of thousands of well-paying jobs in developed countries and lowering the after-tax income of many classes of consumers. Consequently, the ranks of price-sensitive consumers postponing their purchasing decisions in a perpetual quest for a bargain have increased. One way to improve operation efficiency to lower costs is through better management of inventories and improving inventory turns. The shelf life of products that do not achieve thei

Robust Process Capability Indices

Box-Jenkins modeling monitoring quality