Data centers are the backend for a large number of services that we take for granted today. A significant fraction of the total cost of ownership of these large-scale storage systems is the cost of keeping hundreds of thousands of disks spinning. We present a simple idea that allows the storage system to turn off a large fraction of its disks, without incurring unacceptable performance penaltie...

This study develops a joint optimal inventory strategy for both the buyer and the vendor when the expired stocks have salvage value, and are subject to constant rate of deterioration. It is shown numerically that the joint approach results in a significant cost reduction when compared with an individual decision by the buyer. We also observed that although the joint total cost decreases, the bu...

Some leading e-Commerce sites (B2C) provide customers with over-personalized spaces which do not seem to be necessary. Why do the site providers provide such unnecessary capabilities for customers? Is it an effective marketing strategy? This study proposes the concept of “psychological ownership” for examining the impact of e-Commerce sites’ personalized spaces on customer perception and behavi...

We are increasingly dependent on information systems for business as well as for personal usage. However, for information systems to provide value to their customers, we must reduce the complexity associated with their deployment and usage. While the cost of hardware and software in such systems continue to decrease dramatically through technological advances and competition, the total cost of ...

Merger simulations focus on the price changes that may occur once previously independent competitors set prices jointly and other market participants respond. This paper considers an additional effect – the possibility that market participants will choose to change their product offerings after a merger. Using a model that endogenizes both product choice and pricing, we conduct equilibrium mark...

Although the use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been increasing in recent years, few studies have been performed on both its costs and its effectiveness or benefits. This paper provides a general review of the methods of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis, summarizes briefly the existing cost-analysis studies of TPN, and outlines the authors' proposed study design for their e...

Ongoing economic uncertainty is imposing stringent cost pressures on organizations across industries. In response, many businesses are prioritizing their investments to drive operational efficiencies and minimize IT spend on their application portfolios. However, several factors — including the expanding size and complexity of the application portfolio, poor license management, rising total cos...

Estimative analysis of the property market aims to identify the parameters, economic variables and mechanisms at the basis of negotiations that take place in the market. The aims are explanatory and predictive. In this work, a multiple regression analysis is carried out to evaluate a segment of the bare ownership market of residential properties in a district of an Italian city. In particular, ...