Optimizing Small Group Purchase with Volume Discount

Authors

  • Lin Zhao

Keywords:

SECRJ, Southeast Case research Association, smart shopping, consulting firm, Access database, Excel, case

Abstract

Smart Shopping (SS) is a small consulting firm which helps clients discover new products, shops, and promotions based on their interests and budget. SS can help their clients particularly in the dilemma that individual shoppers sometimes cannot participate in “buy more save more” promotions due to limited shopping budget and needs. SS collects clients’ orders in an Access database. To consolidate the orders, Julie Jones, the senior analyst at SS, imports data from the database and builds an optimization model to maximize savings for each client when volume discount is offered. This case shows the students how to solve an optimization problem using Excel. Analyzing real-world data collected from Internet enriches student knowledge and experiences on business decision making and critical thinking.

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Published

2014-12-31

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Cases

License

Copyright (c) 2017 Authors Retain Copyright

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