Ceyhun Ozgur

Selecting a Business College Major: An Analysis of Criteria and Choice Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education (2001), 15 percent of entering freshmen believe that there is a good chance they will change their college major and 8 percent are undecided. To gain insight into the criteria that students use to select a major, a model of the student decision making process was developed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This model predicted student’s first choice major with 88 percent accuracy for sophomores and seniors. An analysis of the criteria revealed judgement inconsistencies, particularly for accounting, finance, and decision science majors. Not surprisingly, sophomores were more inconsistent in their decision making than were seniors. It was also determined that students clustered the majors into two separate groups, viewing accounting, finance and decision science majors differently than marketing and management majors

A Two-Stage Traveling Salesman Procedure for the Single Machine Sequence Dependent Scheduling Problem

A scheduling method for a single machine scheduling problem with sequence dependent setup times is presented where similar products produced on the machine can be partitioned into families. A two-stage traveling salesman heuristic procedure is developed. In the first stage an n x n symmetric setup time matrix is generated for n products and the products are classified into families (groups) using either a hierarchical cluster analysis procedure or the users internal groupings. A Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) is then solved to obtain an efficient sequence for each family. In the second stage, a special purpose traveling salesman heuristic is developed to combine the already sequenced families in an efficient way. The results of the computational study show that the Two-Stage Traveling Salesman procedure is approximately two to four times faster than the well known TSP heuristic by Lin and Kernighan, while the solution quality is comparable to Lin and Kernighans heuristic. The paper also illustrates an industrial application of the procedure for an automated cable assembly machine.

Business Analytics Curriculum for Undergraduate Majors

Analytics has become a new source of competitive advantage for many corporations. Todays work force therefore must be cognizant of its power and value to effectively perform their jobs. In this paper, we define the appropriate skill level and breadth of knowledge required for business school graduates to be successful. An undergraduate course of study in analytics is proposed for students with average to above-average analytical skills. Implementation guidelines are also addressed to ensure a successful program.

The Impact of ISO Certification on the Levels of Awareness and Usage of Quality Tools and Concepts: A Survey of Turkish Manufacturing Companies

Total quality management and the implementation of quality systems have become major initiatives of companies throughout the world over the last 20 years. This is especially true for companies that are doing or wish to do business in the European Community. For many of these companies, however, ISO certification has become a prerequisite when exporting their products. Companies must be able to demonstrate that they have the systems in place to provide a quality product if they wish to be competitive in the global marketplace. This article presents results of a survey of Turkish manufacturing companies. The study included 140 large Turkish manufacturing firms and investigates important relationships dealing with quality and the implementation of quality tools in Turkish manufacturing companies. The results lead to a greater understanding of the implementation of statistical tools and the relationship between the application of these tools and ISO certification in Turkey. Some of the results were surprising. There appeared to be significant differences in usage between ISO certified companies and noncertified companies for most of the basic standard quality tools but on only four of the advanced tools. ISO certified companies used more standard, basic quality tools than noncertified companies. Of the 13 advanced tools, however, the ISO certified companies used only four of them much more frequently. In addition, noncertified companies did not use any quality tool significantly more than ISO certified companies.

The long-term impact of ISO 9000 certification on business performance: A longitudinal study using Turkish stock market returns

The goal of this research was to examine the longitudinal impact of ISO 9000 certification on business performance. The study compared the monthly stock returns and variability of the returns of ISO 9000 certified versus non-ISO 9000 certified firms traded on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) from January 1997 to September 2005. The study also compared the stock returns and the variability of the returns for the firms certified by Turkish agency vs. foreign certifying agency. Using annual two-year, three-year, and four-year averages of the monthly stock returns, the results indicated that ISO 9000 certified firms generally had higher returns and lower variability of returns than non-ISO 9000 firms. Moreover, the comparisons of the longitudinal means covering successive years showed that ISO 9000 certified firms consistently had higher means and lower variances, some of which were statistically significant. Finally, the certifying agency (Turkish or foreign) and the length of time with ISO 9000 certification had little effect on the stock performance and variability of the returns.

Selection of Statistical Software for Solving Big Data Problems: A Guide for Businesses, Students, and Universities

The need for analysts with expertise in big data software is becoming more apparent in today’s society. Unfortunately, the demand for these analysts far exceeds the number available. A potential way to combat this shortage is to identify the software taught in colleges or universities. This article will examine four data analysis software—Excel add-ins, SPSS, SAS, and R—and we will outline the cost, training, and statistical methods/tests/uses for each of these software. It will further explain implications for universities and future students.

Unusually Small F-Statistic in Analysis of Variance and Regression Analysis: A Warning in Design of Experiments and Regression

All textbooks and articles dealing with classical tests in the context of linear models stress the implications of a significantly large F-ratio since it indicates that the mean square for whatever effect is being evaluated contains significantly more than just error variation. In general, though, with one minor exception, all texts and articles, to the authors’ knowledge, ignore the implications of an F-ratio that is significantly smaller than one would expect due to chance alone. Why this is so difficult to explain since such an occurrence is similar to a range value falling below the lower limit on a control chart for variation or a p-value falling below the lower limit on a control chart for proportion defective. In both of those cases the small value represents an unusual and significant occurrence and, if valid, a process change that indicates an improvement. Therefore, it behooves the quality manager to determine what that change is in order to have it continue. In the case of a significantly small F-ratio some problem may be indicated that requires the designer of the experiment to identify it, and to take “corrective action.” While graphical procedures are available for helping to identify some of the possible problems that are discussed they are somewhat subjective when deciding if one is looking at an actual effect; e.g., interaction, or whether the result is merely due to random variation. A significantly small F-ratio can be used to support conclusions based on the graphical procedures by providing a level of statistical significance as well as serving as a warning flag or warning that problems may exist in the design and/or analysis. KeywoRdS Design of Experiment, F-Statistic, Linear Models, Non-Additivity, Non-Linearity, Quality Control, Regression Analysis Unusually Small F-Statistic in Analysis of Variance and Regression Analysis: A warning in design of experiments and Regression Ceyhun Ozgur, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, USA

Sweepstakes Promotions to Build Database for Promoting International Tourism Destinations

This article discusses the importance of a tourism-oriented database to promote tourism destinations and how sweepstakes promotions can be utilized in developing a sophisticated database for more effective destination marketing. The article presents various ways databases can be utilized by domestic and international destination marketers. Sweepstakes promotions can be effective in promoting international tourism and attracting potential tourists to desired destinations of the sponsoring countries. In addition, they can also be used to develop a sophisticated database from sweepstakes entrants. Such a database could be used to design more effective relationship marketing strategies. Finally, the article presents several managerial implications for building a more effective database from targeted sweepstakes.

Measurement Variation between Analogue and Digital Equipment

Recently, manufacturing companies have been evaluating measurement equipment used for in‐process inspection. The precision and accuracy of the measurement operation are a major factor of an overall quality control programme. Compares two measurement systems of scales and callipers in three laboratory settings for the purpose of identifying sources of significant differences in measurements. The experimental design used was a nested and crossed design with blocking on manufactured parts. Operators and types of equipment (digital and analogue) were nested within laboratories and crossed with one another. Finds, at a significance level of 0.001, that variation exists among laboratories and between types of scales, while, for callipers, significant variation occurred among laboratories, between types of callipers and between operators.

Creative Data in Business Statistics Courses

Summary This paper discusses an innovative approach for using live data generated through student projects or through experiments using student subjects. This live data set, in which the students have a vested interest, becomes the foundation upon which the learning of the statistical concepts is built.