Technical Reports, Proposals, Math Induction, Mediation, and Business Systems

Posted on Jan 16, 2025 in Business Administration and Innovation Management

Common Elements of a Technical Report

Elements include:

  • Title Page
  • Abstract
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Recommendations
  • References
  • Appendices

Common Elements of a Proposal

Common Elements of an Unsolicited Proposal:

  • Introduction
  • Background
  • Benefits
  • Description of Work
  • Method
  • Qualifications
  • Required Resources
  • Conclusions

Mathematical Induction Scheme

Describe the mathematical induction scheme (steps) and prove that: n2 – 2n > 0 for all n > 2

Answer:

n2 – 2n > 0 for all n > 2

Base case: n=3, 32 – 2(3) = 3 > 0

Hypothesis: k2 – 2k > 0 for some k > 2

Inductive step: (k+1)2 – 2(k+1) > 0

LHS = k2 + 2k + 1 – 2k – 2

= k2 – 2k + 2k –1

Since k2 – 2k > 0 by hypothesis, we need to prove that 2k-1 > 0. Given that k > 2, 2k-1 is obviously > 0. Therefore, the theorem is proved.

Mediation and the Role of a Mediator

Mediation: A formal method to resolve conflict

  • Well-developed
  • Became a discipline in which a credential is awarded
    • Range from certificate to master’s degree
    • Each province has a different guideline for an interested party to get certified.

Usually involved:

  1. Education
  2. Practice
  3. Certification
  4. Periodic Recertification

Role of a mediator:

  • Take the problem-solving stance
    • Don’t judge
    • Avoid bias
  • Eye contact and good voice
  • Let it happen
    • Agreement; proposed and negotiated by the parties
    • Guide the process. For example, by asking the following questions:
      • What is your side of the story?
      • How would you like to see this situation resolved?
      • Do you understand your rights?

Logical Implication

p=>Q

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Knowledge-Based Systems

A knowledge-based system uses software, called an expert system, to mimic human decision-making processes. The rules are created from the input of human experts.

Model Management Systems

A Model Management System is the software used to build a management model which provides a snapshot of a particular business situation for the purposes of decision-making.

Examples of Success Metrics

Any three of the following:

  • EBITDA – Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization
  • Return on Assets – Net earning divided by total assets
  • EV/EBITDA – Enterprise value divided by EBITDA
  • FCF – Free cash flow
  • Market share

Data Mining vs. Data Warehousing

Data warehousing collects all possible data to support decision-making.

Data mining extracts meaningful data from the data source (usually a data warehouse).

Sensitivity Analysis

It measures the effect of the different values of an independent variable on the dependent variable under certain circumstances.

Mean-End Analysis

Solving a problem by identifying the biggest difference between the initial state and the goal state. It aims at creating viable subgoals which will lead to the desirable outcome (increased market share, reaching a certain sale volume, etc.).