back when it wasn't an online course. What was the name of the software we used in the class to do the data analysis?

7/8/2010 10:19:41 PM

SPSS

7/8/2010 10:20:31 PM

Gracias

7/8/2010 10:22:41 PM

i'm just guessin btw

am i right?

7/8/2010 10:33:03 PM

SPSS was used in later classes like 371 - Research Methods

I remember using excel and maybe another database bullshit system that NCSU got as a free trial or something

but no, SPSS was much more "advanced"

7/8/2010 10:40:56 PM

Maybe you're right? I don't know lol.

I'm guessing it wasn't JMP.

7/8/2010 10:42:38 PM

I hated SPSS with a passion!!!!

7/8/2010 10:44:10 PM

hahaha SPSS!

are you putting that on your resume under additional skills?!

oh yea SPSS totally is for the research methods class. 102 was something else. i can't remember, either.

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 10:46 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 10:45:19 PM

Quote :

"remember using excel and maybe another database bullshit system that NCSU got as a free trial or something"

What year did you take it? I don't remember us using Excel in that class.

I know someone out there must remember what was used circa 2004ish. I need it just in case I'm asked about statistical analysis software in my interview today

7/8/2010 10:45:42 PM

^^actually I put it on my CV, it's important in academia and certain other careers

I graduated in 09 but took the class in 06 I believe. I know for sure there was no SPSS because you need special licensing that costs a ton or you have to use a remote connection, neither of which I had to do until 371 and beyond...

and yeah SPSS sucks ass but once you get the hang of it you can bullshit grad papers by throwing in "quantifiable" data...honestly *most* of the time it just makes your paper look pretty and well thought out but it just gives an arbitrary correlation score to something you already knew would correlate

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 10:48 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 10:46:06 PM

oh i did too (SPSS)

i wasn't judging.

7/8/2010 10:46:57 PM

oh haha thought you were being sarcastic

7/8/2010 10:49:03 PM

haha nah.


here is what i learned in 371: correlation does not equal causation

my prof was a total crackhead, btw. i also had him for like 205 or 209.

7/8/2010 10:53:27 PM

Quote :

"and yeah SPSS sucks ass but once you get the hang of it you can bullshit grad papers by throwing in "quantifiable" data...honestly *most* of the time it just makes your paper look pretty and well thought out but it just gives an arbitrary correlation score to something you already knew would correlate"

See, yeah I swear we used some sort of software that did this. We always had to go to that lab in Winston for class.

7/8/2010 10:56:05 PM

yeah winston 112 I think..I know which room you're talking about, used to be able to print for free there...I'm not sure, when I took it, it was 101,102,103 all as 1 credit hour classes offered online. easy but tedious. 102 was the worst of the three

7/8/2010 11:14:58 PM

Whelp, maybe I'll just claim it was SPSS if they ask They only want you to have "previous experience" with statistical analysis software, not a working knowledge.

7/9/2010 1:37:20 AM

I realize this thread is about those who took PS102.... which I have not. Hear me out, maybe I can offer some insight.

I am in outside sales, which is currently salary+commission, but will move into straight commission starting at the beginning of July 2010. I have been in this position since July 2009. I have competition from several direct manufacturing sales reps, large distributors, and local distributors. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each:

Direct Advantages: Immediate knowledge of new technology, no middle man mark up, one shipping bill (paid by manufacturer or buyer of goods), access to larger range of non-commodity items, control inventory, have access to many distributors that can effectively sell their goods which increases market share, and set prices of commodity they manufacture.

Direct disadvantages: Typically have 1-3 sales reps per region (i.e. southeast, mid-atlantic, northeast, etc.) limiting the number of accounts they can successfully manage/cold-call, lack physical customer service or physical technical service available to or affordable for smaller users or altogether, are sometimes not trustworthy because they will go in behind their distributors that sell their commodity to one account in large quantities (i.e. they missed a big account, and have found out about it through a distributor selling their particular product) which leads to the distributor not selling their product anymore, have too many distributors selling the product ultimately driving the set price down through deviations, possibly rely on distributors to actually sell the product, and competition from other direct sources.

Large distributor advantages: have access to other commodities that go hand in hand with other manufacturers (poor example- grocery stores sell milk as well as cereal), get direct pricing, many locations regionally or nationally easing the shipping burden of buyers with multiple locations, personal service either customer or technical, many sales reps that are able to cover a broader territory, access to multiple manufacturers of the same commodity allowing to keep prices in check, service programs that smaller companies can't offer and direct providers can't match in price or value, and experts of many many commodities as opposed to one or a few.

Large distributor disadvantages: smaller local distributors creating price wars (think Michael Scott Paper Co vs Dunder-Mifflin), direct mfg's going in behind and stealing business, limited access to all of the mfg's (you won't find Harris Teeter name brands in Food Lion and visa versa), can't truly set prices because it's based on both supply and demand, territory management, and tough growth prospects in slower economies (this is true for direct as well really)

Local distributor advantages: Typically a good ol' boy setting where the seller and the buyer know each other for years (this does happen at all levels, but mostly at the local level), local folks are right down the street and can be used in emergencies, if the local guy buys at high enough volumes then there is no shipping charge to the end user, and access to both direct mfg's and large distributors.

Local distributor disadvantages: easily beaten in price, array of commodities, array of technology, lack of trained staff, low cash flow, etc etc etc.

This is what I have noticed in my six months, I am sure there are plenty more that need mentioning. The way I am setting myself apart as a sales person is this: I go after the big accounts right now while I am new. The big accounts, if I land them, will take care of me while I am new and building a customer base. The money made off of those allows me to focus free time on smaller accounts that get me higher margins. I build up big accounts, I would like to have 5-10 of these, then get 20-30 medium accounts. If I lose 1 or 2 big accounts, the 20-30 medium accounts keep me afloat while I go after new big accounts. I don't really waste time on small accounts simply because they basically pay for breakfast or something really small.

I will say this, if you can't get a big account in the first 6-8 months (assuming you have cash flow that you can ride this long) you could be in a world of trouble. If you can get one, it will really make going after the others a lot more enjoyable and less stressful. It's simply just very exhausting wasting any time on anything other than big accounts in the very beginning. You work just as hard on the medium sized accounts and see 1/3 to 1/36 of the money in my situation.

If you have any other questions, you can PM me. I hope this helps in the slightest!

7/9/2010 1:40:22 AM