e-ECONOMICS: Economics of the
information age
DePaul University
Faculty: Ramiro J. Atristaín
http://www.depaul.edu/~ratrista
Class Project:
Students, in groups of three or four, will analyze a business
situation or a particular market/industry (see Suggested
Topics) considering the impact of information technology (telecommunications,
Internet, data mining, etc.). The student-group will write and present
a two-phase six page Analysis Report including a hypothesis and an overview
of new business strategies in relation to the evolution of the new economy
(hypothesis, analytical models used, rationale for conclusions, etc.),
Note: Your Report should, in the end, make an inference
about an industry sector or market sector in respect to how it is evolving
in the New Economy.
Phase 1: Outline:Your outline is a general plan
for your Report and can include information about these areas:
-
Select industry sector or market to analyze.
-
Old vs. New Economy comparisons for inference/hypothesis development.
-
Start making generalizations for analyses based on concepts learned
in class.
-
Define methodology to measure validity of findings and/or rationale.
-
Think of possible new business strategies within industry/sector/market
selected.
Phase 2: Investment Report: Prepare and present a final report including
the areas you proposed in your outline.
-
Describe industry sector or market being analyzed (describe the variables
being analyzed).
-
Develop an inference/hypothesis (how business will be done/or is being
done in the New Economy in the industry sector or market being analyzed).
-
Evaluate the comparisons between variables so that generalizations might
be arrived at.
-
Substantiate your hypothesis by measuring its validity and/or rationale.
-
State your attempt to determine the theoretical significance of your
findings: economic factors (i.e. market trends, demand/supply changes).
or
-
Present an overview of new business strategies based on the significance
of findings.
-
Describe methodology (surveys, readings, analyses of data/statistics,
concepts/theories used, etc.).
Suggestions: The following are suggestions to develop
your investment strategy and final report:
-
Keep in mind that this Report should be written using rational
inquiry substantiated with empirical proof. Thus, you should look beyond
the obvious.
-
Once you have selected an industry sector or market segment
to analyze, you could start formulating questions such as: How is industry
sector……changing? Or How is the way of doing business in industry sector…..changing?
Is it really so? And if so, why? To answer to these questions, you need
research in a systematic mode (collect facts) with the pursuit to knowledge
that is committed to facts and very cautious conclusions.
-
Your inference or conjecture about the industry sector, or
market segment, or business must be measured to determine its validity
(you formulate a hypothesis/a consequence stated in concrete terms).
-
Define the question(s) to seek causal relationship. Define
what the variables are. i.e. a particular industry sector has a status,
how is Technology (i.e. IT) affecting it?
-
The category or segment of the total economy/industry/market
must be defined carefully to limit the range of information to use in the
research. A sample then is used.
R.J.
Atristaín