Format and Content of the Proposal Identify the particular problem you will work on. Why is it important? Perform a brief stakeholder analysis. What is the scope? Identify the objective of your proposal and the critical resources. Specify the expected outcome of your proposal. Describe the optimization model that will be developed/used for the proposed project. Formulate an algebraic and/or spreadsheet optimization model: what is your objective function, decision variables, etc. Specify the data sources you will use (describe precisely and relate to your proposed model) Specify Steps to be done to complete the project. Your submission will include the following parts and sections: Title Abstract Section 1: Problem Overview and Motivation Section 2: Proposed Optimization Model (or Optimization Approach) Section 3: Expected Outcomes and Impact Section 4: Data Requirement References

Topic : Optimization in Online Marketplaces Background: Advances in technologies have impacted the consumption pattern of customers and their expectations, as well as the structure of supply chains. Read the article in [1] on aspects of modern supply chains. Managing the evolving and emerging supply chains involves a new set of optimization problems. Old supply chain management practices are not adequate to tackle decision-making problems in modern supply chains. Computer technology and the Internet have freed marketplaces from their geographic restrictions, and enterprise marketplaces are increasingly moving online [2]. Since the launch of ebay in 1995, various online (or electronic) marketplaces have been emerged. Online market places provide an environment to connect players (matching buyers and sellers), in a particular market. Online e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon and Taobao, connect thousands of sellers and consumers every day. Optimization of online marketplaces is different and requires the design of a right online platform and robust analytical technology and effective (even optimal) operation and marketing strategies [3,4]. Online market platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Alibaba all run by optimized search engines trying to find the best result for the consumer. For example, how such platforms should rank products displayed to consumers? How to set commissions, and what should be the optimal platform pricing strategy? Consider an emerging problem that is arising in ridesharing platforms or online marketplaces. How can optimization help to tackle this problem and how would you deal with input data estimation, inference, and the optimization model involved to tackle this problem? What are your expected outcomes and impact of your proposed research? References [1] How the Modern Supply Chain Is Evolving (Forbes), June 27, 2019 [2] Phil Bird, "Optimising your online marketplace requires the right online platform, an effective strategy, and patience", Perfectcannel.com, 2018 [3] Juho Makkonen, Cristobal Gracia, Janne Koivistoinen, Ville Saarinen, Sjoerd Handgraaf, "The Lean Marketplace: a Practical Guide to Building a Successful Online Marketplace Business", Sharetribe, 2018 [4] Andrei Hagiu and Simon Rothman, "Network Effects Aren't Enough", Harvard Business Review, 2016. https://hbr.org/2016/04/network-effects-arent-enough