Business Objects (@SYSCO) Prediction Markets at Google MIS 501

SYSCO A large food service vender with locations spread across NA Decentralized structure with autonomy at local divisions

Mission and Vision Our path is defined by our specific Mission and Vision statements which guide Sysco associates every day. Our strategy to achieve our Mission and Vision encompasses five points: Profoundly enrich the experience of doing business with Sysco Continuously improve productivity in all areas of our business Expand our portfolio of products and services by initiating a customer-centric innovation program Explore, assess and pursue new businesses and markets Develop and effectively integrate a comprehensive, enterprise-wide talent management process

SYSCO More than 400,000 clients Wide line of products Sysco brands Meat and Seafood brands Specialty products Services

Business Objects Why did SYSCO want to implement Business Intelligence (BI) software?  What are the potential benefits of this type of software?  What types of companies are likely to benefit from the use of BI?  What types of firms aren't as likely to benefit?

BI Options

Business Objects What obstacles will SYSCO face as the BI software is spread through the firm?   Organizational Political Individual

Business Objects Why did SYSCO only focus on 2 questions initially? Why were they supported by Business Objects?  What are the risks and potential benefits of this approach?

Business Objects Can SYSCO gain a strategic advantage through the use of BI software? How hard would it be for a competitor to copy SYSCO's BI solution? How about the ERP Solution? Does that offer differentiation?

Business Intelligence Which types of companies are likely to benefit for Business Intelligence? Who would likely not benefit?

2 Questions! Why did they only focus on two questions? Do you think it was just because these are important areas for SYSCO? What other considerations might Ms. Day be evaluating?

Business Objects Which of the alternative implementation strategies should SYSCO follow? How will Ms. Day know if she makes the correct choice? In other words, what are the metrics for defining success?

Googles: Prediction Markets What are Prediction Markets? What are their components? How do they work? What is similar and unique relative to other markets? What do they tell us?

Prediction Markets What does the price of a “stock” mean? What information is conveyed by the price?

Prediction Markets Why or why wouldn’t prediction markets be better than … Polling? Experts? What is different about markets compared to these other information sources?

Wisdom of Crowds? What’s the idea behind the wisdom of crowds? Do you believe that crowds can be “wise?” Where does this work? Where doesn’t it work?

Crowd Wisdom

So, how should these things be run? How do you motivate participation? Why wouldn’t financial incentives work at Google? What did appear to work? Why?

So, how should these things be run? Why are longshot bets a problem? What do we want traders to focus on when trading? Is insider trading a problem with corporate prediction markets?

Prediction Market Resources Bo Cogwell’s Blog Prediction Markets at confab.yahoo The Science of Success (James Surowiecki Prediction markets (wikipedia) Crowdcast (Video)