Blog 5: Summary/Reflection for MIS587

 Introduction

As I reflect on the concepts covered in the modules covered throughout the MIS587 course, I see valuable connections between the concepts learned and their practical applications in my role in logistics and future project management roles in my career. These modules introduced concepts such as big data, data warehouse design, web analytics, and network analysis. In a logistics role, the ability to analyze vast amounts of data, optimize supply chains, and predict demand fluctuations is essential. This blog highlights these concepts by illustrating their relevance to my logistics role. Additionally, I analyze web analytics from my Online Business Intelligence Fall 2024 blogger page to apply course insights into a real life scenario.

Application of Business Intelligence Concepts (Modules 0, 1, & 3) in Logistics and Project Management

In reflecting on the concepts covered across Modules 0, 1, and 3 of this Business Intelligence course, I see clear applications to my role in logistics. Module 0 introduced the foundational idea of big data and business intelligence (BI), highlighting how datafication enables organizations to transform raw data into actionable insights for business decisions. This concept is extremely valuable in logistics, where the analysis of shipment data can optimize delivery times, manage inventory, factory/depot optimization, and enhance customer service. For example, using BI tools could predict delays and suggest optimal paths forward, improving overall operational efficiency.

Module 1, which focused on Data Warehouse Design and Implementation, taught us how to build a strong data infrastructure. In logistics, having a solid data system is crucial for making fast, informed decisions. One key concept from this module is OLAP, which helps analyze large amounts of data quickly. For example, OLAP can be used to track delivery times or monitor inventory levels, showing trends over time that can help improve planning. The ETL process is also vital in logistics, as it ensures data from different sources (like warehouses or suppliers) is brought together in a unified way. A well-designed data warehouse, built with techniques like star schema, allows logistics teams to access data more easily and make quick decisions, like rerouting deliveries or adjusting inventory. Finally, ensuring good data quality is important. For instance, having accurate data on the current stock levels in warehouses ensures that the right products are available at the right time, avoiding delays or negative stock.

Module 3, which focuses on Network Analysis, has clear applications in logistics, especially for improving supply chains and delivery routes (depot). Using network analysis tools, I can map the connections between suppliers, warehouses, and customers, which helps identify problems and improve coordination. For example, logistics can help anticipate changes in demand, allowing for better inventory planning and more satisfied customers. Tools like Gephi can help visualize these networks, making it easier to understand how everything is connected and where improvements can be made. Overall, these concepts will help me make better decisions, use resources more efficiently, and improve operations in my logistics role.

Leveraging Web Analytics (Module 2) for Insights into Blogger Performance and Engagement

Blogger is a widely used platform for managing blogs and provides insights into the performance of posts powered by Google Analytics. In my own experience with Blogger, I explored several web statistics for my blog, including views, traffic sources, audience demographics, and engagement metrics. This report analyzes the data gathered from my blog page using Blogger’s built-in analytics features (Figure 1) and I found ways to apply recommendations based on class concepts from Module 2: Web Analytics.

Figure 1

Traffic Overview

Blogger's statistics provides an overview of traffic over different time frames (all time, today, yesterday, this month, and last month). As seen in Figure 2, my blog has received 304 views in total, with 38 views today. These metrics give a snapshot of my blog's performance, with the most significant rise in views occurring in November, where views increased from 50 to 130 (Figure 3). This growth may be linked to increased visibility as classmates visited my blog posts more frequently throughout the course.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Traffic Sources

The Referral section of Blogger Analytics showcases that most of my blog’s traffic comes from "Other" sources, which stands at 293 views (Figure 4). This high number is likely a result of my direct link being in the Excel sheet, which drove classmates to my blog. Additionally, 11 views came from Google, possibly due to people randomly finding my blog or it being promoted through Google’s Blogger advertisements. These traffic sources suggest that my blog’s visibility is primarily driven by direct sharing within the class, rather than organic search traffic.

Figure 4

Audience Analysis

A deeper dive into the audience analysis (Figure 5) reveals interesting insights for pageviews by browsers and operating systems. Chrome was the most popular browser used to visit my blog, accounting for 91% of the total views. Windows was the dominant operating system, with 84% of visitors using it, followed by Macintosh with 11%. This distribution likely reflects the technology preferences of my classmates, as many are likely using Windows based PCs. This insight can be used to ensure compatibility across different operating systems and browsers.

From my background in Management Information Systems, I recall facing challenges with operating system compatibility during my undergraduate studies, which made me prioritize purchasing a Windows laptop for my graduate studies last year. The insights from Blogger’s audience analysis reflect similar technology preferences in my class, which could influence my content creation and presentation strategy.

Figure 5

Geolocation of Visitors

The Geolocation report (Figure 6) was another surprising insight. The majority of my traffic came from the United States, but there were also visitors from the Bahamas (4 views), the United Kingdom (2 views), and other locations (9 views). I realized that this could reflect the global nature of my class, with international students or classmates who travel for work visiting my blog during their time abroad. In particular, I recall traveling internationally often last semester, which would have impacted the location data for views on classmates' blogs if I had taken this class last semester.

With these findings, I could further refine my blog's presentation by testing its compatibility across different browsers (such as Firefox, Safari, and Samsung browser) to ensure that users from various regions and operating systems can view my posts without issues. By testing and optimizing for browser and operating system compatibility, I can create a more accessible blog experience for all classmates and potential readers.

Figure 6

Popular Blog Posts and Engagement

By analyzing the individual blog posts' performance, I observed that Blog 1 had the highest number of views (55 views), while Blog 2 had 41 views (Figure 7). Interestingly, Blog 2 had the most comments with 6 comments (Figure 8), which suggests that the content of Blog 2 was more engaging for my classmates. This insight is important because while Blog 1 attracted more views, Blog 2 had higher interaction and engagement in terms of comments.

This difference between views and comments indicates that Blog 2’s content resonated more with readers, possibly due to better formatting or a more engaging topic. The number of comments in Blog 2 suggests that it was easier for my classmates to engage with and respond to the content. If I wanted to improve my engagement for future posts, I should have considered using similar formatting and structure that encouraged more meaningful interaction in Blog 2. By using this data to inform my content strategy, I could have made my blog posts more engaging and interactive for my readers.

Figure 7

Figure 8

 

Recommendations

Optimize for Browser and Operating System Compatibility: Since the majority of visitors are using Chrome and Windows, it is essential to ensure that the blog's layout and content display properly on these platforms. However, since there are some users on other operating systems and browsers (like Macintosh or Safari), I should test the blog's compatibility across a broader range of devices and browsers to ensure a seamless user experience for all readers.

Enhance Content Engagement: The high number of comments on Blog 2 indicate that my classmates were more engaged with the content. To replicate this success, I should focus on creating content that encourages interaction, such as posing questions, encouraging comments, or discussing topics that invite debate and discussion. Additionally, ensuring that my blog posts are easy to read and navigate, with clear formatting, will enhance user experience and encourage more participation from readers.

Expand Audience Reach: While most of my traffic is coming from the United States, the global reach (with views from the Bahamas and the United Kingdom) shows that there may be opportunities to expand my audience beyond the immediate class. I should consider promoting my blog on platforms that can attract a broader audience, such as sharing it on social forums, LinkedIn, or other relevant communities. Additionally, optimizing my content for search engines could help increase organic traffic to my blog.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the concepts covered in the MIS587 course have provided valuable insights into how data and analytics can improve operations in both logistics and project management. By leveraging business intelligence tools like big data analysis, data warehousing, and network analysis, I can increase operational efficiency in my current logistics role. Integrating these concepts into both my current logistics responsibilities and future project management roles will enable me to make data-driven decisions that ultimately lead to greater success in any project I manage in the future.