In order to select "best" customers for a direct marketing campaign, response models are widespread: a sample of customers receives an ad, a catalog, a sample pack, or a discount offer on a test basis. Then, their responses (e.g., website visits, conversions, or revenues) are used to build a...

Modern call centers require precise forecasts of call and e-mail arrivals to optimize staffing decisions and to ensure high customer satisfaction through short waiting times and the availability of qualified agents. In the dynamic environment of multi-channel customer contact, organizational...

Returns are an inconvenient problem in the mail-order business, not only for the merchant but also for the customer. With an estimated return rate of 50% in the fashion sector, the seller has to deal with the expense of restocking and possibly reprocessing, the buyer, who must reship the return,...

Technical and market uncertainties are significant challenges forR&D management. Especially, in the case of New Product Development(NPD), investment decisions have to be made under uncertainty due tounknown costs and returns which arise from project complexity and duration.The framework of real...