JMA Analytics – Client Case Studies

 

 Elements of JMA Analytics are actively being modelled in the education sector around Australia.   One demonstration of the approach is being used with the award winning Challenger TAFE in Western Australia where JMA Analytics is managing a seven-month project to implement the Challenger Impact Model, based on the book of the same title written by JMA in March 2009. This and other projects are described below.

In each of these case studies JMA Analytics used specialist quantitative techniques especially structural equation modeling based on the SPSS program.

Case study 1: Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACCI), Feb-Dec 2008

Client Challenge: Employers lacked guidance on how to best attract and retain apprentices and how to value and relate to training providers and government.

JMA Analytics Solution: JMA’s John Mitchell, John Ward and Graeme Dobbs produced the ground-breaking report A systematic approach to retaining apprentices – released by ACCI in July 2009 –underpinned by a structural equation model which shows, for the first time in the international literature, the primary, secondary and tertiary factors impacting on the selection and retention of apprentices.

Case study 2: Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACCI), Feb-July 2009

Client Challenge: Employers have no organized way of tapping into the talents of apprentices who are currently ‘out of trade’ or disengaged.

JMA Analytics Solution: JMA’s John Mitchell, John Ward and Graeme Dobbs undertook mixed methods research including the development of a structural equation model and produced the report “Worth their weight in gold". Report to be released shortly. 

Case study 3: Challenger TAFE, WA, Feb-Nov 2009

Client Challenge: Challenger TAFE

JMA Analytics Solution: JMA is conducting a major project at Challenger TAFE funded by WA DET on how to measure the impact of Challenger TAFE’s strategies on clients. Please see notes above.

See report Challenger Impact Model

Case study 4: QLD Department of Education and Training, Feb-May 2009

Client Challenge: The VET sector knows little about the skills and professional development needs of its assessors.

JMA Analytics Solution: JMA conducted a national survey of 802 VET assessors that revealed that almost no professional development is provided for one of the four major skill areas for assessors.

Read the final report Resources for building practitioner skills in assessment

See also the national scan of resources.

Case study 5: University of SA, Flinders University, Bond University et al. July-Dec 2009

Client Challenge: A set of universities – led by UniSA, Flinders and Bond – with 5 sub-projects led by CQU, ACU, UTAS, ECU and Macquarie, with support from another 30 universities, needs to measure the outcomes of a three-year ALTC project on preparing academics for teaching in higher education (PATHE).

JMA Analytics Solution: JMA is currently conducting an impact evaluation, using a mixed-methods methodology, measuring the factors affecting achievement of outcomes, establishing cause-effect interpretations as to whether the outcomes were caused by the project or by external factors and identifying whether there are unanticipated outcomes which are contributing to the achievement of objectives.

Case study 6: Anonymous Community College NSW, Oct-Nov 2009

Client Challenge: The community college in regional NSW wanted to better understand enrolment trends, including predicted enrolments for next year; what are the features of students who are most likely to withdraw or not complete; and who are the main demographic groups of students.

JMA Analytics Solution: JMA undertook the following analyses: predictive modelling, to forecast student contact hours and enrolments next year; predictive modelling to identify students most at risk; and market segmentation analysis to describe coherent market groups. See a presentation on the results here. JMA then produced a detailed report for the client, with a range of recommendations.