New Product Analysis

Overview

A Rigorous project analyzing a new product launch for a fictional vacuum manufacturer. Analyses include financial projections (NPV, Ecpected Cost) and a Balanced Scorecard incorporating quantitative and qualitative data.

Objectives

• Identify key metrics for picking a product manager
• Determine the best product to launch based on financial projections
• Create a Balanced Scorecard to rank PM candidates

Methodology

This project was the capstone project for an introductory Data Analytics course. It was a rigorous experience that combined all of the skills I had learned in the course. Based on responses from company executives metrics for determining a successful PM were identified. SQL was used to extract necessary data from a SQL Server database. A python script was written to automate future data extraction processes. Using Excel and the extracted data, a Balanced Scorecard was created to rank PM candidates and predict the best product to launch.

Key Findings / Results

One potential product manager was identified as the best candidate for the job. The Balanced Scorecard was used to rank the other candidates Based on the financial projections, the best product to launch was determined. All methods and findings were documented in a 7 page report.

Code Samples

Below are some code samples from this project:

validMonth = 0
validBonus = 0

# Receive/Validate a minimum amount of months at company
while validMonth == 0:
  numMonths = input('Please enter the minimum number of months working at the company you require to be a Product Manager: ')
  try:
    numMonths = int(numMonths)
    validMonth = 1
  except:
    print("What you entered wasn't an integer! Please enter a whole number!")

query = f"""SELECT empName, RelToCEO, CurrSalary
FROM Employee
WHERE MonthsatCo <= {numMonths} AND CurrSalary >= {salary}"""
# Execute Query and collect results
cursor.execute(query)
sqlOutput = cursor.fetchall()
for record in sqlOutput:
  print(f'
A potential product manager is {record[0]}, {record[1]}.')
  print(f'They are {record[2]} to the CEO, and earn ${float(record[3])} each year.')
  print(f'Their required bonus for completing a project is ${float(record[3])*0.09}')

Technologies Used

• SQL Server
• Python and pymssql
• Microsoft Excel

Lessons Learned

This project was a turning point in my education. Prior to this, I was unsure of what major to pursue. This project showed me that data analytics is just solving puzzles with data as the pieces. I immediately contacted my academic advisor and changed majors to Data Analytics.