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SAG is a recognized industry leader in applying rigorous econometric analysis
to the problems of both the public and private-sector. Our economists and operations
research analysts have experience developing models tailored to each client's unique situation,
needs and experience and communicating the outcome of these models in a way easily accessible to decision-makers
in all fields. Our models use sophisticated econometric techniques to parse the true impact our client's decisions
have on the choices employees and customers make.
Sample Projects
Army SRB: For the U.S. Army, SAG developed a web-based Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) management system.
This interactive application uses ASP.NET with code written in Visual Basic.NET and employing a backend MS SQL
Server 2000 database. Model users can observe the projected impact of changes in the SRB plan on reenlistees and
program costs. A companion application was developed to allow the SRB program manager to manage the list of SRB
skills and maintain an accurate history of the program. This tool automatically generated plan tables for SRB
messages, dramatically reducing the level of effort to promulgate new plans.
Effect of Reserve Activation on Small Business: SAG used Department of Defense (DOD) data on the employment and
activation of military Reserve personnel and Dun and Bradstreet data on sales and firm size to examine the impact of
Reserve activation on employers. The study includes an analysis of the size and industry characteristics of firms
employing activated reservists as well as the impact of the length of activation on the firm.
Employee Turnover and Employee Compensation in Small Business: SAG examined the relationship between employee
turnover and firm size as it relates to compensation using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). The
purpose of this study is to examine whether employee turnover differences between small and large firms are the
result of differences in wages and benefits or of some form of self-selection where employees of small businesses
are simply more prone to high turnover rates than those in larger firms.
Navy SRB Research: SAG Corporation developed a suite of tools for the U.S. Navy that are used to manage the Selective
Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) program. These models are based in original econometric research conducted by SAG analysts.
The models predict changes in the number of reenlistees and in program costs for alternative SRB plans. SAG analysts
provide ongoing support to the Navy to maintain and improve the models. SAG also assists the Navy in the operation of
the models during award plan development.
OPRRDB/EPRDB: The Officer Personnel Relational Research Database project combines longitudinal individual level data
with a one time snap shot of officers’ educational histories for use by the Army Research Institute. This project
implements a web-based application that allows researchers to download a wide range of service and demographic information.
SWO Research: SAG has conducted several types of research on the Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Community over the
years. Analysts conducted a compensation analysis project that resulted in the recommendation of a new incentive pay for
the SWO community that was later adopted into law. Later, economists estimated a model of voluntary retention decisions
among Surface Warfare Officers and developed pay elasticities. SAG has provided continuing analytical support as the
compensation system for SWOs has evolved.
One of the main areas SAG applies its econometric analysis and modeling tools is the area
of policy research and analysis. We have performed policy analysis for many government organizations including the
Department of Defense, Internal Revenue Service, and Veterans Affairs. Our policy analysis starts with a thorough
review of the policy under consideration and similar policies in place in other organizations, states or countries.
We then use a variety of analytical tools including cost-benefit, impact and statistical analyses to provide a
detailed picture of the options available to the client prior to making our recommendation. Our recommendations
are always based on objective, quantitative research so they can be easily justified during the decision-making
process.
Sample Projects
DACMC: SAG Corporation provided support to the Defense Advisory Committee on Military Compensation (DACMC). SAG personnel
collected historical budget and pay data and constructed comparative civilian and military pay streams. SAG staff produced
issue papers for the committee on evidence regarding members’ personal discount rates and on the theoretical justification
for the provision of cash vs. in-kind compensation. SAG authored an issue paper (working with a DACMC subcommittee) on Special
and Incentive Pays that was included as a section of the final committee report. SAG also produced staff analysis on a
time-in-grade pay table and a proposal to eliminate the without-dependents differential for housing allowances.
VA Burial Allowance: SAG developed estimates of the costs and benefits of income and wealth means testing for veterans’
burial benefits for the Department of Veteran Affairs. Analysts utilized veteran survey data to estimate the impact of means
testing on applicants’ likelihood of applying for the benefit.
Both public and private-sector employers need to make strategic choices when developing
compensation packages. SAG is an expert at analyzing the various components of compensation to produce the optimal
workforce. Our company was built on our detailed workforce and compensation analyses. We provide simple retention
analysis, complex compensation system redesign and many things in between, always with the client’s workforce goal in
mind. The basis for all of our HR analyses is detailed workforce and economic data that allows us to estimated the
relationship between pay and benefits and retention. We take a big-picture view of compensation, factor in the economic
conditions the employee finds him or herself in, and control for non-pecuniary factors.
Sample Projects
IRS Workforce Analysis: SAG has performed a variety of workforce analysis projects for the IRS. Included in these
projects was an analysis of retirement decisions and analysis of attrition and retention behavior of various categories
of employees including seasonal employees. SAG also performed manpower requirements analysis for a quality assurance
office within the Internal Revenue Service. This project developed a demand-based manpower requirements model to allow
the IRS to predict future hiring needs.
Navy Assignment Incentive Pay: SAG staff participated in the initial design of the U.S. Navy’s Assignment Incentive Pay
program. This design includes an innovative, auction-based mechanism to incentivize personnel to accept hard-to-fill jobs.
SAG has also examined historical data on the program since its inception to determine program effectiveness.
OMM: For the U.S. Navy, SAG developed the Optimal Manning Model, a steady-state, community level model that determines
the least-cost sustainable force that meets manpower requirements. The model takes into account loss behavior, promotions,
sea-shore rotation and the effects of pay and incentives. SAG developed both officer and enlisted versions of the model,
and used the model in support of community assessments conducted by the U.S. Navy. The model is a valuable tool to help
determine which factors have the greatest impact on the size of the force.
QRMC: SAG Corporation has provided direct analytical support to the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Quadrennial Reviews
of Military Compensation. For the most recent review, SAG analysts developed and presented alternative proposals for
consolidating and streamlining special and incentive pays. SAG also developed a model that our analysts subsequently
used to construct and cost proposed pay tables based on time in grade rather than time in service. SAG provided cost
analysis of potential changes to Regular Military Compensation that would eliminate pay differences based on dependents
status. Finally, SAG participated in the development of a demonstration test for the QRMC’s proposed changes to the
military retirement system. This test included laboratory experiments and a voluntary pilot program, as well as surveys
of members to project the likely impact of the changes.
SAG has developed many web-based interactive systems for our clients. These applications
generally allow our clients to access and query specialized data sets that we’ve created for research purposes. They
also allow the user to perform “what-if” drills via user-friendly interfaces that access the econometric and statistical
models that underlie the system. Our web-enabled models often incorporate multiple levels of access so that some users
can be allowed complete access to the data including update privileges while others can run queries on the existing data
and still another group can only access pre-processed reports. Our web-enabled systems are designed with security in mind
and strictly adhere to best practices. They are PIA-compliant to ensure individual data is kept safe.
Sample Projects
NEM: The Navy Econometric Modeling project is a web-based application that pulls datasets for thesis writing students
of the Naval Post Graduate School. This application standardizes and expedites these datasets for use in officer and enlisted
retention, attrition, supply, promotion and assignment research projects.
Full Cost of Manpower: The OSD Full Cost of Manpower project is a military billet costing tool. It allows analysts to supply parameters such as specialty, grade, length of service and location. The tool then determines total annual cost for the billet and compares this cost to the billet’s closest civil service equivalent.
WebNOPPS: The Naval Officer Personnel Planning System supports the building, updating and maintaining transactions records of all active officers in the Navy. The system produces custom reports reflecting the current state of the database by any number of designator, grade, and category combinations. This Oracle APEX-based solution is the Navy’s official Strength Reporting website. The Oracle APEX rapid development environment allowed SAG to design and develop a new web-based application to replace the Navy’s legacy desk-top application. WebNOPPS makes use of a combination of HTML, PL/SQL and JavaScript to provide drilldown reports, dynamic charts and historic data to the strength planners of the Navy.
SAG designs and develops databases both for internal use and public and private-sector clients.
Our databases are designed with ease of access in mind. We spend time at the beginning of each project discussing the
types of data to be stored and the purposes of that data. We try to imagine the types of reports and queries that will be
generated from the database as we devise the database structure. Our database analysts are skilled in the design and
development of both stand-alone and client-server databases. We also have experience in developing custom user-interfaces
to facilitate client access to the data.
Sample Projects
Army Job Analysis Database: Designed and developed the Army Job Analysis Database. This database houses information on
the various occupations and skill sets uses by the Army. It allows the Army to store data on the importance and frequency
of various duties and activities by job and work context. Its output is designed to be used during workload evaluations.
SAG invests in modern development tools, using multiple language compilers to ensure we produce
flexible and fast Information Technology solutions for our clients. From Java to APEX to ASP to ASP.NET, our developers
use multiple solutions to produce dynamic data-driven applications for the Web. Using MS SQL or Oracle databases in the
network structure allows users of our custom applications to effortlessly manage and analyze critical data.
Sample Projects
Navy SRB Model: The SRB Management System projects budget costs and inventory effects associated with alternative SRB plans.
It projects the impact of bonus payments on reenlistment rates at both the rating and NEC levels.
Nurse Supply and Demand Model: The Nurse Staffing Model consists of The Nurse Supply Model and The Nurse Demand Model. The Nurse Supply
Model takes input in the form of demographic data and starting nurse populations. The Nurse Demand Model enables the user to
create and edit scenarios that consist of economic variables such as health care use, wages, unemployment, and HMO costs. When
the system is run The Nurse Staffing Model is able to apply nurse staffing equations developed by the user, along with immigration
and emigration trends to project nurse supply and nurse demand over a 6-year projection period.
Quota Model: SAG converted and upgraded the Navy’s 1994 Postgraduate Education Quota Model. The Quota Model is a custom-designed
software that utilizes Excel spreadsheets for user input and model output. The redesign projects the minimum inventory needed by
subspecialty to meet current billet requirements, the unconstrained quotas to meet minimum inventory, the quotas constrained by budget,
and a Steady-State inventory using current inventory and billet structure.
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