1. How do I download the SPSS data file required for the IT Payoff project?

Go to the Class Handouts section of the course web page. Click on the link to the data set to
initiate the download. Rename the file to read itpayoff.sav.

2. How do I run a time-lagged regession analysis?

The independent variables have to be lagged by the number of months or time periods that you
specify. In SPSS, you can do this as follows:
a) Go to 'Transform' in the pull down menu
b) For the target variable, enter the name of the new variable you want to create (for e.g. labor2 for labor costs
lagged 2 periods
c) In the 'numeric description' box enter lag(labor,2) and click OK
This will lag the variable labeled 'labor' by 2 months and store the lagged variable with a label labor2
Now, you can run a regression using labor2 as one of the independent variables to see if labor has a time-lagged
effect on performance.
 

3. How can I test for interaction effects in SPSS?

Just as above, go to 'Transform'.
Create a new variable (for e.g. 'interact').
In the 'numeric description' box select the first variable and choose  the product operator and then
the second variable. For e.g. if you are interested in the interaction between BPR and Labor, then
you should have labor*bpr.
Click OK and use the new variable in the regression models.

4. What is an ERP System?

ERP is short for Enterprise Resource Planning.  An ERP system is software system that incorporates an enterprise-wide database to help in decision making that addresses all elements of the supply chain.  It integarates the various functional departments of the organization.

5. What are SAP, BAN, etc?

SAP, BAN are companies that provide the software required to implement an ERP system.  Other companies involved in this business include PeopleSoft, Oracle.