Anthony Rochester BU105 Anita DeSouza
Case application 12/4/15 Miller-Motte College Online

Case application
Anthony Rochester 12/4/15 Anita DeSouza
In a general sense, what kinds of decisions are made in baseball? Would you characterize these decisions as structured or unstructured problems? Explain. What types(s) of decision-making condition would you consider this to be? Explain The most important in-game decision a baseball manager makes is when to relieve a starting pitcher. Today managers rely on various things example is a pitchers count this decides when a starting pitcher needs to be relieved. Baseball is full of decisions. Every single pitch is a decision whether it is a fastball or slow ball. The coach must make a decision on which players play on certain days and whether or not to take a pitcher out of the game.
Most decisions in baseball are structured problems, they are easily definable.!n a structured problem, the goal of the decision maker is clear, the problem familiar and information about the problem easily defined and complete. for example, if a slugger keeps hitting the fastball, it's time to make the decision of pitching him a curve ball away from him in the strike zone.

Is it appropriate for baseball managers to use only quantitative, objective criteria in evaluating their players? What do you think? Why?
In my opinion evaluating the baseball player using only quantitative objective criteria is not relevant or is not sufficient in trying to predict baseball player and team performance. Even though using quantitative criteria is the priority because use of statistics as an analytical tool allowed them to model baseball players’ histories to better predict the future performance of new baseball players. Using quantitative criteria just measures the player performance for one or some players. If there is some people who are good in such as batting average, it is not involving his other unpolished potential.
The quantitative evaluation reports comprise one or more statistical measure data. Apply analytic tools that would help them evaluate talent in a more efficient and effective manner. Qualitative factors are also critical in order to ensure that the manager makes the best decision by trust what their scouts saw in the player (the qualitative), but they needed to combine that with analytic research (the quantitative). When the qualitative evaluation of the baseball player agreed with the quantitative evaluation then the team had great confidence in bringing that player into the organization. When the quantitative didn’t agree with the qualitative it gave the team reason to rethink the decision. In conclusion using quantitative measures really isn’t sufficient in trying to predict baseball player because even though he is skillful baseball player but if there is no cooperation and leading skill the whole team cannot be success.

Do some research on Sabermetrics. What is it? What does it have to do with decision making?
Sabermetrics is the empirical analysis of baseball, especially baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research. Sabermetrics optimizies the line up and the way you play the game of baseball. It makes it easier for managers to make decision in the game.

Describe how baseball front office executives and college coaches could use each of the following to make better decisions: (a) rationality, (b) bounded rationality, ( c ) intuition, and (d) evidence-based management.
In the front office executives and college coaches can use rational decision making to enhance their ball club by logical thinking planning what players to play and what innings to put what player to play then too.
In the front office executives and college coaches can use bounded rationality decision making by what you call settling in decisions. What I mean is when it comes to baseball they may hire a player that is worth 2 million dollars instead of a player that is worth 5 million and that can play a whole lot better than the person that can person that is worth 2 million see this is settling.
In the front office executives and college coaches can use intuition decision making. When it come college coaches and executives in the game of baseball they use their intuition in finding players they think that would make that team a success.
In the front office executives and college coaches can use evidence- based management. They use this to figure out what players are better for their team.

Can there be too much information in managing the business of baseball?.
I think there be too much information in managing information such as review performance of player, comment of supporter or fans, and it will give negative effect for managing organization because they will faced hundreds of pages of training material to review and were expected to do extensive data interpretation and analysis. This, in many cases, created brain overload for many of the workers involved and sometimes can be conflict and confusing.
The business of baseball has been wrought with conflict between owners and players, leagues and players' unions, and team lawyers and players' lawyers. Commonly used statistics of information such as stolen bases, run batted in and batting averages that were typically used to evaluated players’ abilities and performances were lacking in the quality and poor gages of potential. This has led to the development of many statistical methods for assessing individual baseball players over the years.

Case application: In Search of the Next Big Thing

What do you think of UA's approach to innovation? Would you expect to see this type of innovation in an athletic wear company? Explain.
Under Armor's approach to innovation is very unique, they think and plan out their products carefully in order to create one product for that can be appealing to their consumers. The company has been extremely progressive over the years to stay up with their competition such as Nike. They are constantly updating and coming up with new product lines such as compression shirts and cleats.
What do you think UA's culture might be like in regards to innovation?
Under Armours culture in regards to innovation can be viewed as very innovative as well being extremely cultural. Some of the characteristics of innovative culture would be different challenges that they may face and their involvement in the company.
Could design thinking help U A improve its innovation efforts? Discuss
Design thinking is something that Under Amour already implimented in to their business. They are on the forefront of making things unique. They have came up with things that most other competitors have not came up with.
What's your interpretation of the company's philosophy posted prominently over the door of its design studio? What does it say about innovation?
UA’s philosophy of “We have not yet built our defining product” is great motivation for employees at UA. This philosophy they use at UA allows employees to constantly be thinking of ways to revolutionize their product. Their ceiling is endless in the innovation category because they wish to create every product better than the last one. There is no reason why they can’t achieve this goal with this motivation innovation. This makes their innovation process much more effective.
What could other companies learn from the way UA innovates?
Other companies could learn from UA in terms of innovation and creativeness.Their philosophy is one good example on how they are always trying to make the best product on the market. Another reason is their leadership in Kevin Plank. He is a strong leader looking to take Under Armour to the top of the charts. Growth in the industry can be directly correlated to managerial skills coming from the higher ups. UA only has room to grow, and maybe other companies can learn from their motivational creativeness.