Date of Award
Fall 2014
Access Restriction
Campus Access only Research Projects
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Systems Engineering
School or College
Seaver College of Science and Engineering
First Advisor
Bohdan W. Oppenheim
Abstract
Recently, many businesses are finding new ways to reach out to millions of people using a tool known as social media. Utilizing this tool, businesses are able to market their brand as well as instill company pride in their customers and employees. Top Fortune 500 companies like Walmart, Exxon Mobil, Costco, and Apple, to name a few, have a strong social media presence. Top aerospace companies such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing have taken advantage of the benefits. Interestingly, Loyola Marymount University has graced top social media sites with its presence. Popular social media websites include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, lnstagram, and many others.
When implemented correctly, social media will draw mass population to the brand and institution more than ever before. Businesses are able to advertise, familiarize, poll, and gauge interest with ease using social media. Businesses have gathered ideas or designs from the open public at no cost, or for a relatively cheap cash prize, to generate new products. There are many benefits that businesses can reap through the use of social media.
With access to millions of users, businesses must remain ethical and responsible for their actions on social media sites. With posts that take seconds to upload, it is easy to make careless mistakes or create unintentional backlash from users. Ethics are important in social media and companies, such as Walmart, have published a set of social media Code of Ethics on their websites.
Although social media is generally available at no cost to businesses, an organized team must be formed and managed. A significant budget is required to fund the labor hours for the media team, publishing department, contributors, and information security. Lean processes can be implemented to increase efficiency and reduce waste while quality ensures a robust process and continuous improvement.
This integrative project will describe the System Engineering of the social media system from conception to maintenance. Compiling data found from internet resources, this project will integrate the different elements of social media to produce a system capable of efficiently marketing a company's brand to millions of people while delivering information that users demand.
As evident from the above description, many elements of Systems Engineering can be applied to this social media system. This project will demonstrate how the application of the Systems Engineering tools and methodologies can optimize the implementation of the social media system to achieve the expectations of companies and users.
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, Steve Huy, "Social Media Systems Engineering for Businesses" (2014). LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations. 427.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/427
Oral Presentation
