Showing papers on "Business analytics published in 2000"

Business Statistics in Practice

Abstract: The new edition of Business Statistics in Practice delivers clear and understandable explanations of business statistics concepts through the use of continuing case studies and an emphasis on business improvement. The cases and examples show real applications of statistics relevant to today's business students. The authors motivate students by showing persuasively how the use of statistical techniques in support of business decision-making helps to improve business processes. A variety of computer centered examples and exercises, and a robust, technology-based ancillary package are designed to help students master this subject. Acknowledging the importance of spreadsheets and statistical software in their statistical instruction, the authors continue to integrate Excel and Minitab output throughout the text. In addition, a new enhanced version of MegaStat, an Excel add-in program designed to optimize Excel for statistical application, is available free on the Student CD. For students and instructors who want to explore statistical concepts from a graphical perspective, Visual Statistics is again available on the Student CD. New Business Improvement icons are integrated throughout the text to illustrate the BI theme.

Business Networking Systems: Characteristics and Lessons Learned

Abstract: Designing relationships among business units is of growing competitive relevance. Business networking is largely enabled by the interorganizational information systems (IOS) that have evolved since the 1960s. However, many companies initially invested in enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) and have only recently begun to complement these systems with networking capabilities. The developmental path toward IOS is referred to here as business networking systems (BNS). The major challenges for such systems are described, along with the main types of systems and the criteria for characterizing them. Three case studies identify techniques and lessons learned in designing business networking systems. Methodologies for BNS projects should treat these lessons as integral elements that sustain adoption and business orientation.

People in the E-Business: New Challenges, New Solutions

Abstract: Excerpt] Human Resource Planning Society’s (HRPS) annual State of the Art/Practice (SOTA/P) study has become an integral contributor to HRPS’s mission of providing leading edge thinking to its members. Past efforts conducted in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 have focused on identifying the issues on the horizon that will have a significant impact on the field of Human Resources (HR). This year, in a divergence from past practice, the SOTA/P effort aimed at developing a deeper understanding of one critical issue having a profound impact on organizations and HR, the rise of e-business. The rise of e-business has been both rapid and dramatic. One estimate puts the rate of adoption of the internet at 4,000 new users each hour (eMarketer, 1999) resulting in the expectation of 250 million people on line by the end of 2000, and 350 million by 2005 (Nua, 1999). E-commerce is expected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2003, and of that, 87 percent will go to the business to business (B2B) and 13 percent to the business to consumer (B2C) segments, respectively (Plumely, 2000).

Online information sources: tools of business intelligence?:

Abstract: Organisations seek to use information intelligently and to generate business intelligence for future profitable prospects. Although not regarded as business intelligence per se, there is a role for commercially produced online information sources and internally generated intranet resources in business intelligence activity. For example, the human post-coordination of raw data from a commercial source may direct business decisions; Web pages on intranets serve to unify ‘grey’ internal company information; the company intranet serves as a platform for unifying internal and external sources. However, technological and cultural barriers can inhibit the effectiveness of online information sources held on company networks, and other processes, such as the mining of transactional data, offer alternative means of deriving business intelligence. For those involved in the provision of business information, ultimately it is the question of what to provide at the point of application that is most important when attem...

Visual Data Mining for Business Intelligence Applications

Abstract: Business intelligence applications require the analysis and mining of large volumes of transaction data to support business managers in making informed decisions. A key dimension of data mining for human decision making is information visualization: the presentation of information in such a way that humans can perceive interesting patterns. Often, such visual data mining is a powerful prelude to using other, algorithmic, data mining techniques. Additionally, visualization is often important to presenting the results of data mining tasks, such as clustering or association rules. There are several challenges to providing useful visualization for business intelligence applications. First, these applications typically involve the navigation of large volumes of data. Quite often, users can get lost, confused, and overwhelmed with displays that contain too much information. Second, the data is usually of high dimensionality, and visualizing it often involves a series of inter-related displays. Third, different visual metaphors may be useful for different types of data and for different applications. This paper discusses VisMine, a content-driven visual mining infrastructure that we are developing at HP Laboratories. VisMine uses several innovative techniques: (1) hidden visual structure and relationships for uncluttering displays; (2) simultaneous, synchronized visual presentations for high-dimensional data; and (3) an open architecture that allows the plugging in of existing graphic toolkits for expanding its use in a wide variety of visual applications. We have applied this infrastructure to visual data mining for various business intelligence applications in telecommunication, e-commerce, and Web information access.

Using Realistic Business Data in Teaching Business Problem Solving

Abstract: Teaching business problem solving is imperative, and business instructors are challenged to prepare students to use information technology to solve the ill-structured type of problems faced in the business world. To better prepare students, instructors need realistic, complex business data to provide simulated business information systems in which instructors can demonstrate and students can learn business problem solving and decision making. This paper presents a business data generator to assist instructors to generate realistic business data in great volume for teaching/learning activities. This application also allows instructors to manipulate parameters to customize the data to reflect problem situations.

Business Planning: A Guide to Business Start-Up

Abstract: The importance of business planning The structure of the business plan The business idea Personal skills and abilities Identifying relevant legislation Financial planning Financial controls Sources of finance Sales and marketing Monitoring and controlling quality Customer service Premises requirements Physical resource requirements Recruiting and employing staff Formulating the business plan The NVQ assessment process Appendix Index

Understanding the Role of E-Commerce in Sales Strategy

Abstract: The literature on understanding the role of ecommerce in business to business sales strategies is limited and largely anecdotal. Very few studies have empirically explored the role of e-commerce in business to business sales strategy. This research develops a normative theoretical model that provides insight into the role that e-commerce plays in an organization's business to business sales strategy and looks to test some of the hypothesized relationships using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Information Analysis and Business Intelligence Tools in Management.

Abstract: Globalization intensified throughout the world in the late eighties and nineties producing, particularly in Australia, a paradigm shifts in the corporate use of information. Organizations faced changes, not only in the areas of operations, product design, marketing and sales, but also the need to dynamically formulate and align strategies in response to a rapidly changing environment. As information technology developed, business placed increased emphasis on automated business processes, and transaction data capture. Competition remained the key business driver influencing the paradigm shift from data to information. A model, which embraces a Systems approach to Information Management, also requires alignment with reality and technology appropriate to the Systems approach model. This paper provides an insight into the strategic importance of information in support of the organizational dynamics, which provide a competitive edge. The application of Business Intelligence technology will not only assist effective operational management, but also dynamic strategy formulation and implementation processes. An overview of the business and technical issues in implementing a business intelligence solution is discussed.