College of Business

Center For Economic and Business Analytics (CEBA)

The Center for Economic and Business Analytics (CEBA) focuses on interdisciplinary data analysis and serves as a nexus for research, industry partnerships, education, and community outreach. CEBA explores synergies between the College of Business and the College of Computing to improve Michigan Tech’s response to business, academic, and societal challenges and opportunities.

Vision and Mission

To foster collaboration among faculty and students both within and beyond the College of Business and the College of Computing by facilitating interdisciplinary research in data analytics in order to contribute to Michigan Tech’s societal impact at the local, regional, state, national, and global levels. Our mission is threefold:

  • Research Excellence: Conduct cutting-edge research that addresses real-world data analytics challenges and creates innovative solutions.
  • Education and Training: Support the next generation of data analysts by offering rigorous educational programs, workshops, and training opportunities for students and professionals.
  • Industry and Community Outreach: Bridge the gap between academia and industry, collaborating with businesses, governments, and community organizations to harness the power of data analytics for economic and societal advancement.

Areas of Expertise

  • Economic Modeling and Impact Analysis: Conducting economic and business data analysis based on state-of-the-art optimization models and input-output models.
  • Automated Data Collection and Visualization: Developing of real-time dashboards and data visualizations from available data to support decision makers. Providing recommendations on data gathering with designs and implementations to collect and store new data.
  • Marketing Data Analytics: Discovering consumers’ unmet needs from structured and unstructured datasets, as well as offering new product concepts for clients based on consumer trends analysis from large data.
  • Operations and Supply Chain Analytics: Utilizing analytical modeling and simulation tools to support managers in finding effective solutions when facing a dynamic supply chain environment.
  • Statistical Modeling: Conducting economic and business data analysis based on state-of-the-art econometric models.

Core Activities

  • Interdisciplinary Research: Promoting collaborative research projects among experts in business, economics, computer science, and statistics to address complex data analytics problems.
  • Academic Programs: Developing specialized academic programs, certificates, and courses focused on data analytics to equip students with practical skills to excel in their careers.
  • Industry and Government Partnerships: Forging partnerships with domestic and global businesses and governments to facilitate knowledge exchange, internships, and collaborative sponsored projects.
  • Community Outreach: Conducting outreach projects that leverage data analytics to benefit society, address pressing issues, and identify new opportunities.

Examples of Prior Funded Projects

Eagle Mine Economic Impact Study

Eagle Mine sought involvement from Michigan Tech researchers (including current CEBA members) to conduct an economic impact study to estimate likely economic and social impacts and potential risks associated with the anticipated closure of the mine. MTU researchers worked with BSR and the leadership of Eagle Mine to collect and analyze local labor and economic data for Eagle Mine, Marquette County, and the Upper Peninsula. Then, MTU researchers used REMI+ to forecast the most likely impacts of the mine’s closure across five scenarios. Last, MTU researchers worked with BSR to provide targeted recommendations to mitigate the negative impacts of the mine’s closure on the local economy in Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula.

Economic Impact of Michigan Tech’s Research Expenditures

The University’s associate vice president for research development sought involvement from a team of CEBA faculty members to conduct an economic impact study of Michigan Tech’s research expenditures for fiscal years 2007–2021. The project relied on IMPLAN and annual research expenditure data to evaluate the direct, indirect, and induced effects of spending in Houghton County and Washtenaw County. A scholarly article about this project was accepted for publication by Studies in Higher Education, a leading international journal publishing research-based articles dealing with higher education issues.

Berries and Brews

Understanding the Market and Technological Processing Opportunities of Michigan Grown Fruit in the Craft Beverage Industry

A team of CEBA faculty members were funded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) to conduct a survey of Michigan Craft Brewers to understand their use of Michigan-grown fruit. The survey was part of a broader project with a Michigan Tech team to evaluate the potential usefulness of new fruit processing technologies.

Economic Impact of Reduced Air Travel at Houghton County Memorial Airport

Michigan Tech’s vice president for university relations and enrollment tasked a team of CEBA faculty members to analyze the potential impacts of reduced air travel at Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX). The project originated from Skywest’s plan to end their service at CMX due to a national pilot shortage. The study quantified the potential direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of reduced air service to the area.

Regional Economic Impacts of Dredging the Menominee River

The City of Menominee sought a team of CEBA faculty members to contribute toward a larger effort by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to determine the economic feasibility of dredging the Menominee River. The project originated from Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s (FMM) latest contract with the US Navy to build the first-in-class guided missile frigate, which requires deeper water to avoid running aground. The project also aimed to increase shipping capacities for vessels transporting commodities and other products throughout the region.

Team Members

Economics

Jenny Apriesnig

Jenny Apriesnig

  • Assistant Professor of Economics, College of Business

Computer Science

Laura Brown - Alternate

Laura Brown - Alternate

  • Academic - Computer Science
  • Academic and Instructional Policy Committee
  • Senate Term Ends - 2019

Economics

Laura Connolly

Laura Connolly

  • Assistant Professor of Economics, College of Business

Supply Chain and Operations Management

Seulchan Lee

Seulchan Lee

  • Assistant Professor of Operations Management

Marketing

Junhong Min

Junhong Min

  • Associate Professor of Marketing, College of Business
  • Richard and Joyce Ten Haken Faculty Fellow in Business

Economics

Emanuel Xavier-Oliveira

Emanuel Xavier-Oliveira

  • Associate Professor of Economics, College of Business

Supply Chain and Operations Management

Ulrich Schmelzle

Ulrich Schmelzle

  • Associate Professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management, College of Business
  • Affiliated Associate Professor, Construction Management

Strategic Management and Innovation

Manish Srivastava

Manish Srivastava

  • Professor of Strategic Management and Innovation, College of Business
  • David L and Marilyn A Bernard Faculty Fellow in Business

Management Information Systems

Jeffrey Wall

Jeffrey Wall

  • Associate Professor of Management Information Systems & Analytics, College of Business