Timothy C. Krehbiel

Using Student Disconfirmation as a Measure of Classroom Effectiveness

Abstract Student satisfaction can be measured through the concept of disconfirmation. Disconfirmation is the difference between expectations concerning a service and the perceived value of the service. Using regression analysis and the concept of disconfirmation, easily interpreted graphical displays can be produced to identify areas that are important to student satisfaction. This article illustrates this technique, using data collected in undergraduate decision sciences courses.

Shewhart and zone control chart performance under linear trend

ABSTRACT The average run length performances of Shewhart charts with supplementary runs rules and zone control charts are studied when the process mean changes linearly over time. Shewhart charts with all possible combinations of the typical runs rules are compared to zone control charts with identical false alarm rates. The zone control charts generally outperform the Shewhart charts in detecting a process mean that is changing linearly over time.

An Analysis of the Effects of Specific Promotion Types on Attendance at Major League Baseball Games

Professional and collegiate sports face an ever increasing challenge from competition for sport fans’ attention and dollars as available alternatives proliferate. Teams are looking for new ways to make games more attractive in order to fill their seats. While true to some degree for all sports, Major League Baseball (MLB) has attracted the greatest attention from researchers and practitioners interested in increasing game attractiveness. The current study demonstrates a method that can be applied in many retail settings and reports on the most comprehensive research to date, examining every game played in the 2002 season for all MLB teams. Multiple regression analysis is performed using both promotion type and relevant timing variables to determine when promotions will be most successful at increasing attendance. Bobblehead giveaways and two combinations of promotions; a giveaway and special event or two special events, are found to have the greatest impact. Promotions during night games are also found to result in the greatest increase in attendance.

Quality Management and Sustainability

In this article, an attempt is made to explain the relationship between sustainability and quality management. The authors contend that quality management is an important part of the concept of sustainability; but that sustainability is a broader concep..

Advancing ecology and economics through a business-science synthesis

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the concept of sustainability, presents our definition of sustainability, and contends that students need to have exposure to both business and scientific perspectives as undergraduates. We argue that the typical university class may be ineffective in conveying the scope of changes now taking place in the business world, and offer our pedagogic innovations as an alternative to the status quo. The result is a capstone course in sustainability team taught by one professor from the School of Business and one from the College of Arts and Science. The intended audience for the course is undergraduate students majoring in business or science. The content draws heavily on the many parallels between ecology and economics, including systems and resilience, ethics and valuation issues, and information and dialogue as central to the process of sustainability.

Characteristics of self-regulating environmental management systems: a survey of academic experts

This paper examines the characteristics of self-regulating approaches used by industry with regard to environmental management systems. Four self-regulating environmental management systems are considered: Total Quality Environmental Management (TQEM); ISO 14001 certification; the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) Principles; and the American Chemistry Councils Responsible CareR initiative. The results of a survey of academic experts in self-regulating environmental management systems are provided.

Assessing an Academic Major Using a Service Quality Model

Abstract Assessing the quality of academic programs is important if they are to be improved. Assessment is also important for accreditation and justification of resources. In this study, a service quality model is used to assess the quality of a decision sciences major and to identify areas for improvement. Multiple regression and the concept of disconfirmation were used to aid the analysis.

Six Sigma sales and marketing: application to NCAA basketball

Purpose - Todays economic climate has fueled intense competition for entertainment dollars, including those spent on professional and intercollegiate sports. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight and demonstrate the use of the Six Sigma methodology as a way to improve event attendance in a sports marketing setting. Design/methodology/approach - The research utilizes the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) sequence to evaluate customer requirements and develop recommendations. Surveys, focus groups, and descriptive statistics comprise an important set of tools utilized to accomplish this aim. Findings - The paper concludes that Six Sigma can be readily applied to a sports marketing setting by explicitly demonstrating the steps employed to reverse a four-year decline in attendance for a collegiate mens basketball program. Originality/value - The paper is unique in detailing the use of Six Sigma, a traditional quality improvement methodology, in a sports marketing setting. It also highlights the unique elements associated with fully implementing a Six Sigma project in such a seasonal setting as an athletic enterprise.

Quality of the log transformation for an incorrectly assumed error structure

A log transformation is often applied to nonlinear models with an assumed multiplicative error structure. Then the parameters are estimated using ordinary least squares (o. l. s. ) and back transformed predictions made. This paper examines the bias involved with this procedure when the actual error structure is additive and not multiplicative, A correction factor is introduced to help reduce the bias when the back transformed o. l. s. approach is used. We strongly suggest, however, that one should use nonlinear least squares when the analyst believes he is working with an additive error structure.

Will the Revised Business Statistics Course Meet the Needs of the Business Faculty

Abstract Currently there is a strong movement to revise the introductory business statistics course to make the course more relevant and appealing to business students. A number of major changes in the traditional course have been recommended. Our concern is that we do not ignore the needs of the instructor who teaches the functional area courses and expects the students to have specific statistical skills. We designed and conducted a survey at Miami University to determine which statistical methods are currently being used in upper level business courses. Our survey results indicate that certain areas of statistical instruction that have been recommended for less emphasis, such as formal theory of probability and statistics, including the testing of hypotheses, are currently being used in a large percentage of the business courses. In addition, at least one proposed addition to the course may be of little interest to the instructor in the functional areas.