Thursday, January 30, 2020

Statistics and Soft Drink Essay Example for Free

Statistics and Soft Drink Essay CASE 1 DEMAND ESTIMATION and ELASTICITY: Soft Drinks in the U. S. Demand can be estimated with experimental data, time-series data, or cross-section data. In this case, cross-section data appear in the Excel file. Soft drink consumption in cans per capita per year is related to six-pack price, income per capita, and mean temperature across the 48 contiguous states in the United States. QUESTIONS 1. Given the data, please construct (a) a multiple linear regression equation and (b) a log-linear (exponential) regression equation for demand by MS Excel. (20%) 2. Given the MS Excel output in question 1, please compare the two regression equations’ coefficient of determination (R-square), F-test and t-test. Which equation is a good (better) fit? Which equation shows the stronger overall significance to predict the future demand? Which equation will you choose for a better demand estimation? Explain your answer in the language of statistics. (20%) 3. Given your choice of equation in question 2, please interpret each coefficient of independent variable in the soft drink demand estimated equation. (10%) 4. Given your choice of equation in question 2, how many cans/capita/year on soft drink should be for a state in which 6-pack price=$2. 45, Income/Capita=$36,500, and Mean Temp= 68Â °F? (20%) 5. Given your choice of equation in question 2 and the numbers in question 4, please calculate the price elasticity of demand and income elasticity. Comment on whether the demand is elastic or inelastic and whether soft drink is necessity, normal good or luxury good. (10%) 6. Now omit the price and temperature from the regression equation then run the regression again. Given the Excel output of only one independent variable, income, should a marketing plan for soft drinks be designed that relocates most canned drink machines into low-income neighborhoods? Please explain your answer in the language of economics. (20%).

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Religious Amalgamation Dubbed The Matrix :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the history of motion pictures, stories have impacted society through various means, but up until recently, these influences were usually limited to hobbies and interests. With the emergence of a deep psychological thriller dubbed The Matrix, cinematic influence on religion has become quite evident. The Matrix combines allegories of religious figures such as Jesus Christ and Buddha with a quasi-enlightenment concept that appears in many of the mystical Eastern religions. This amalgamation of religious ideas creates an amazing foundation for what many members of religious communities—online communities stand out as the most prominent example—have come to refine their core religions into over the last few years. Many of these communities consider their new faiths to be simple denominations of their core beliefs, finding that their refined religion fits not only theologically but logically and scholarly with their paternal religion. I consid er myself one of these philosophical persons pushing provocatively within the religious community of Christianity towards the beliefs which I find so intriguing and bold.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is unfair to religionize a movie which was meant to be totally secular, but the screenwriters of The Matrix openly profess the movie’s ties with religion. Purposely having imbued the screenplay with parallel upon parallel, the Wakowski Brothers have rendered the obvious and the obscure into an image of humanity’s perfection. At first glance, this idealization may seem to be a plethora of praise for a simple blockbuster science-fiction movie, but there is more in The Matrix than meets the eye. The Matrix was set forth not as an action-thriller for the simple pleasure of seeing bullet casings strike the ground after falling out of a hot sub-machine gun, but as a philosophical religious allegory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neo, although called â€Å"The Oneâ€Å" throughout most of the movie, is symbolic of not one, but three persons: Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Doubting Thomas, an Apostle of Christ. As Neo represents three distinctly different ideals—Christianity, Enlightenment, and Chaos, respectively—it is easy to see why many people were confused by the proposition. But, when I began to ponder the question of why they put the three together, it began to make sense. Humanity should, according to the allusions in The Matrix and in my own personal theologies, be a blend of the three ideals, forming a balanced life and thus a life pleasing to God.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Hilton Hhonors Worldwide: Loyalty Wars

Hilton HHonors Worldwide: Loyalty Wars 1. Why do you think the modern form of FMPs is more sustainable than the earlier forms like trading stamps and coupons? Trading stamps and coupons were required to give in to newer forms of loyalty programs because: oCompetitive pressure has made it necessary for corporates to innovate oTrades and coupons are not differentiating factors because they can be easily emulated by competitors †¢Modern FMPs are more sustainable because they can withstand emulation due to the following reasons: oFMPs can provide individual customised experiences for each consumer oData ware housing capabilities of computers has made information required for such customization easily available oFMPs can benefit alliances through mutually beneficial loyalty programs oFMPs also help in segmenting customers and formulate customized services to each segment 2. What are the benefits of HHonors Program to Hilton? Hilton would benefit from the HHonors Program through the f ollowing methods; oEfficient estimation of â€Å"Walking Cost†: The program would provide historical information about the customers and thus aid Hilton to gauge the customers’ characteristics which in turn would lead to better revenue and yield management oBenefits from Double Dipping: The program allowed transfer of benefits within Hilton and its partners which allowed both sides to earn currencies through joint customers. oBetter scope of gaining franchises/management contracts: The program’s ability to drive business made it more lucrative for the smaller hotels to strike deal with Hilton oEnhanced customer relationship: The program enabled Hilton to provide customised hotel experiences for each of its guests which would in turn help Hilton and its collaborators become the customer’s favourite oHelp gain corporate contracts: Hilton’s major business came through corporate clients and this program would aid the corporate travel managers ensure co mpliance to their overall travel policy 3. What is the decision problem of Jeff Diskin? What alternatives are left with him for HHonors program with announcement of competitive rewards program by Starwood? †¢Context: Starwood, one of the major competitors of Hilton, has announced the launch of â€Å"Starwood Preferred Guest Program† which is anticipated to be a bigger loyalty program than Hilton’s HHW which would be aided by a huge investment in advertising †¢Dilemma: Jeff Diskin, as the head of Hilton HHonors, has to take a call on Hilton’s reaction to the announcement and its future course of action. †¢Alternatives: Jeff Diskin currently has the following options to decide from; oCompete point to point with Starwood Position HHonors differently from Starwoods and hold on to loyal members oCut down on its costs and deliver the same business to gain better margins 4. What should he do? Why? The various alternatives can be evaluated as mentioned in the table given below; †¢All the four major hotel chains will soon start competing on frequent-stay programs thus leading to price wars which may result in serious damage to the industry. †¢Overtly generous loyalty programs have various risks which include the following: oCustomers tend to be variety-seeking and use loyalty programs to make profits oThus even the repeating customers might go to other hotel chains oThe more the rewards, the greater the expectation customers will have. Thus the rewards will tend to be ever-higher oLoyalty programs generally function as discount programs. Thus by offering greater incentives, Hilton will implicitly train the customers to expect lower prices which will lead to reduced margins and thus lower revenues †¢Cost cutting measures are likely to be limited in such service industries. Thus, Jeff Diskin should avoid loyalty wars and maintain current rewards levels. Further, he should explore differentiating Hilton’s brand through sustainable brand loyalty. One possible measure could be to reposition the brand as a unique experience and create brand loyalty and brand passion as competitive advantages.