Spears School of Business

 

Oklahoma State University business analytics graduate students demonstrated their research acumen and earned two Best Presentation awards at the 2024 MidWest SAS Users Group Conference.

 

Showcasing the strength of OSU’s master’s in business analytics and data science (MS BAnDS) program, the students participated in the conference Nov. 16-19 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. 

 

Vikranth Reddy won Best Presentation in the Advanced Analytics track with “Making Text Analytics More Approachable: From Traditional to Generative AI for Business Applications.” His innovative research offers insight into using both traditional text analytics techniques and large language models to organize complex data.

 

“It feels good to see that the hard work I put into my research was appreciated and made sense to many people,” Reddy said. “This recognition encourages me to keep improving and exploring new ideas.”

 

Kusuma Lanka and Sai Suresh Marreddy collaborated on “The Premium Pricing Dilemma,” which was awarded Best Presentation in the Business Leadership track. Their research offers valuable guidance for businesses in setting prices for premium subscription services, particularly in the media and technology industries.

 

“By analyzing key factors and trends, we gained valuable insights into how strategic adjustments can drive both customer satisfaction and business growth,” Lanka said. “This experience underscored the importance of using analytical approaches to inform transformative solutions across industries.”

 

MS BAnDS students Carol Antony and Medha Haldar also delivered a compelling presentation, shedding light on a prevalent social issue with "Vaping Trends: Analyzing Patterns and Predictive Factors in Electronic Cigarette Use Among American Youth.” 

 

The MidWest SAS Users Group (MWSUG) offers communication and educational tools to SAS software users in the midwestern United States. Dr. Goutam Chakraborty, director of the Spears School of Business MS BAnDS program, attended the regional conference alongside the students.

 

"I am delighted our MS BAnDS students won two Best Presentation awards at this conference,” Chakraborty said. “Just having papers accepted is a great achievement for students. To win two Best Presentation awards is fantastic. It showcases the hard work of our students and the dedication of our core faculty, who work tirelessly to prepare students for independent research and presenting to diverse audiences."

 

For more information about the MS BAnDS program, visit the program’s webpage.