Final answer:
The software program Matteson Materials Corp is developing aims to perform cluster analysis, which involves categorizing customer data into groups or clusters for better marketing and strategic planning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The software program being designed by Matteson Materials Corp is intended to perform cluster analysis. The purpose of this software is to group customers within each market based on various data points regarding their behavior or characteristics. This clustering helps businesses better understand their customer base, allowing for targeted marketing, improved customer service, and strategic decision-making.
Cluster analysis involves various techniques that categorize data into groups, or clusters, so that items in the same group are more similar to each other than to those in other groups. Depending on the data and objectives, methods can range from hierarchical to reticulate, divisive to agglomerative, and monothetic to polythetic. As such, cluster analysis is instrumental in compiling classifications that can lend insight into business operations, much like how crime or disease clusters can inform public policy or health initiatives.
For example, the well-known election map of 2000 demonstrates clustering without the need for statistical tools. However, when comparing different maps or analyzing trends over time, statistical tools like Moran's I can quantify the degree of clustering or track changes that suggest future patterns.