03/30/2026
By Jie Li

The Manning School of Business, Department of Operations & Information Systems, invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Jie Li on “Algorithms, Attention, and Advantage: An AI-Driven Analytical Study of Business Competitiveness and Customer Experience in the Platform Economy.”

Candidate Name: Jie Li
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Thursday, April 10, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Via Zoom

Dissertation Title: Algorithms, Attention, and Advantage: An AI-Driven Analytical Study of Business Competitiveness and Customer Experience in the Platform Economy

Committee:

  • Advisor: Asil Oztekin, Ph.D., Professor of Analytics, Department of Operations & Information Systems, Manning School of Business, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Hongwei (Harry) Zhu, Ph.D., Professor of Information Systems, Department of Operations & Information Systems, Manning School of Business, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Hadi Amiri, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Miner School of Computer & Information Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Brief Abstract:
In the digital economy, online platforms such as Yelp and TripAdvisor play an important role in shaping consumer decision-making and business outcomes. By lowering search costs, supporting pre-purchase evaluations, and enabling consumers to share post-purchase experiences, these platforms influence business reputation, competitive positioning, and customer perceptions. For small businesses in particular, digital platforms and user-generated content can provide valuable signals for understanding market dynamics and interpreting customer feedback. Chapter 1 investigates how consumer reviews affect restaurant survival, showing that businesses with weak differentiation from nearby competitors and less favorable feedback from first-time customers face a higher risk of closure. Chapter 2 introduces the concept of managerial diagnostic value and examines whether online reviews provide actionable information that helps managers identify what happened, why it happened, and what actions may be needed. Chapter 3 focuses on boutique hotels and identifies the key drivers of customer satisfaction, including service quality, amenities, and geographic differences in customer preferences. Together, the three chapters show how online platforms and user-generated content can provide practical insights that support stronger managerial decisions and long-term business success.

All interested faculty members and students are invited to attend.