Operational Analytics in Excel: A Transaction-Level Car Wash Case for Introductory Data Literacy.
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| Title: | Operational Analytics in Excel: A Transaction-Level Car Wash Case for Introductory Data Literacy. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Mentzer, Kevin1 Kevin.Mentzer@nichols.edu, Russo, Robert1 Robert.Russo@nichols.edu, Lawshe, Nathaniel1 Nathaniel.Lawshe@nichols.edu, Mullen, Elizabeth1 Elizabeth.Mullen@nichols.edu |
| Source: | Information Systems Education Journal. Jul2026, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p106-112. 7p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Information literacy, Transaction records, Business analytics, Data scrubbing, Car wash industry, Data visualization |
| Reviews & Products: | Microsoft Excel (Computer software) |
| Abstract: | This teaching case introduces introductory level students to data literacy through an applied operational analytics project based on a regional express car wash business. Students assume the role of an external consulting team hired by Soapy Noble Express Car Wash, a fast-growing chain operating eight locations in New England, to analyze transaction level point of sale data and develop actionable recommendations for management. Using approximately one year of transaction records at scale, students apply Excel based techniques such as data cleaning, descriptive statistics, pivot tables, and visualization to identify patterns in customer demand, service mix, location performance, and monthly unlimited plan usage. To extend analysis beyond the internal dataset, the case encourages students to locate and integrate relevant external sources, such as weather or demographic data, and to explain how these sources inform interpretation and recommendations. The case is designed for first year courses in data literacy, business analytics, or introductory CIS and includes team-based deliverables appropriate for nontechnical decision makers, including an analysis workbook and a concise executive memo and presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Information Systems Education Journal is the property of Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals (ISCAP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193518529 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Operational Analytics in Excel: A Transaction-Level Car Wash Case for Introductory Data Literacy. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mentzer%2C+Kevin%22">Mentzer, Kevin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Kevin.Mentzer@nichols.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Russo%2C+Robert%22">Russo, Robert</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Robert.Russo@nichols.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lawshe%2C+Nathaniel%22">Lawshe, Nathaniel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Nathaniel.Lawshe@nichols.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mullen%2C+Elizabeth%22">Mullen, Elizabeth</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Elizabeth.Mullen@nichols.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Information+Systems+Education+Journal%22">Information Systems Education Journal</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p106-112. 7p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+literacy%22">Information literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transaction+records%22">Transaction records</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+analytics%22">Business analytics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+scrubbing%22">Data scrubbing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Car+wash+industry%22">Car wash industry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+visualization%22">Data visualization</searchLink> – Name: SubjectProduct Label: Reviews & Products Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="PS" term="%22Microsoft+Excel+%28Computer+software%29%22">Microsoft Excel (Computer software)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This teaching case introduces introductory level students to data literacy through an applied operational analytics project based on a regional express car wash business. Students assume the role of an external consulting team hired by Soapy Noble Express Car Wash, a fast-growing chain operating eight locations in New England, to analyze transaction level point of sale data and develop actionable recommendations for management. Using approximately one year of transaction records at scale, students apply Excel based techniques such as data cleaning, descriptive statistics, pivot tables, and visualization to identify patterns in customer demand, service mix, location performance, and monthly unlimited plan usage. To extend analysis beyond the internal dataset, the case encourages students to locate and integrate relevant external sources, such as weather or demographic data, and to explain how these sources inform interpretation and recommendations. The case is designed for first year courses in data literacy, business analytics, or introductory CIS and includes team-based deliverables appropriate for nontechnical decision makers, including an analysis workbook and a concise executive memo and presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Information Systems Education Journal is the property of Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals (ISCAP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.62273/????? Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 7 StartPage: 106 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Information literacy Type: general – SubjectFull: Transaction records Type: general – SubjectFull: Business analytics Type: general – SubjectFull: Data scrubbing Type: general – SubjectFull: Car wash industry Type: general – SubjectFull: Data visualization Type: general – SubjectFull: Microsoft Excel (Computer software) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Operational Analytics in Excel: A Transaction-Level Car Wash Case for Introductory Data Literacy. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mentzer, Kevin – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Russo, Robert – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lawshe, Nathaniel – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mullen, Elizabeth IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1545679X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 24 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Information Systems Education Journal Type: main |
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