Module 1 – Case
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS, PROBABILITY, AND RISK ASSESSMENT
Assignment Overview
You are a consultant who works for the Diligent Consulting
Group. In this Case, you are engaged on a consulting basis by Loving Organic
Foods. In order to get a better idea of what might have motivated customers’
buying habits you are asked to analyze the ages of the customers who have
purchased organic foods over the past 3 months. Past research done by the
Diligent Consulting Group has shown that different age groups buy certain
products for different reasons. Loving Organic Foods has sent a survey to 200
customers who have previously purchased organic foods, and 124 customers have
responded. The survey includes age data of past customers who purchased organic
foods in the previous quarter.
Case Assignment
Using Excel, create a frequency distribution (histogram) of
the age data that was captured from the survey. You should consider the width
of the age categories (e.g., 5 years, 10 years, or other). That is, which age
category grouping provides the most useful information? Once you have created
this histogram, determine the mean, median, and mode.
After you have reviewed the data, write a report to your
boss that briefly describes the results that you obtained. Make a
recommendation on how this data might be used for marketing purposes. Be sure
to conduct adequate research on organic foods industry, organic market
analysis, and healthy food industry using IBISWorld database or other databases
such as Business Source Complete (EBSCO) and Business Source Complete –
Business Searching Interface in our online library. Provide a brief description
on the industry background and the consumer changing attitudes and behavior
toward healthy lifestyles. Also identify the customer demographics of organic
food industry and explain how the customers of Loving Organic Foods are
different from this target market.
Data: Download the Excel-based data file with the age data
of the 124 customers: Data chart for BUS520 Module 1 Case. Use these data in
Excel to create your histogram.
Assignment Expectations
Excel Analysis
Complete analysis in Excel using the Histogram function.
Check the following video on histogram: https://youtu.be/4eLJGG2Ad30
If you are not so familiar with Excel, refer to the
following link on Excel training videos:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Excel-training-9bc05390-e94c-46af-a5b3-d7c22f6990bb?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
Check the professional market research reports from
IBISWorld database to find the industry analysis for your cumulative Session
Long Project.
IBISWorld Overview (n.d.). IBISWorld, Inc., New York, NY.
IBISWorld Forecast (n.d.). IBISWorld, Inc., New York, NY.
IBISWorld Data and Sources (n.d.). IBISWorld, Inc., New
York, NY.
IBISWorld Navigation Tips (n.d.). IBISWorld, Inc., New York,
NY.
Written Report
Length requirements: 4–5 pages minimum (not including Cover
and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 4–5 pages of written discussion and
analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and charts as “space
fillers.”
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Provide a brief description of organic food industry and
target market characteristics such as their demographics, lifestyles and
shopping behaviors.
Provide a written analysis that supports your Histogram age
groups (bins).
Based on your analysis of the histogram data, provide
complete and meaningful recommendations as the data relates to Loving Organic
Foods’s marketing strategy.
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Upload both your written report and Excel file to the case 1
Dropbox.
Here are some guidelines on how to conduct information
search and build critical thinking skills.
Emerald Group Publishing. (n.d.). Searching for Information.
Retrieved from
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/learning/study_skills/skills/searching.htm
Emerald Group Publishing. (n.d.). Developing Critical
Thinking. Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/learning/study_skills/skills/critical_thinking.htm
Module 1 – SLP
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS, PROBABILITY, AND RISK ASSESSMENT
Scenario: You work for a private investment company that
currently has numerous business investments in real estate development,
restaurant franchises, and retail chains. Following an exhaustive search for
new investment opportunities, you have found three possible alternatives, each
of which will pay off in exactly 10 years from the date of initial investment.
Because you only have enough money to invest in one of the three options, you recognize
that you will need to complete a quantitative comparison of the three
alternatives:
Option A: Real estate development.
Option B: Investment in the retail franchise “Just Hats,” a
boutique that sells hats for men and women.
Option C: Investment in “Cupcakes and so forth,” a franchise
that sells a wide variety of cupcakes and a variety other desserts.
Download the raw data for the three investments in this
Excel document: Raw data for BUS520 SLP 1.
Assignment
Develop an analysis of these three investments in Excel. Use
expected value to determine which of the three alternatives you should choose.
Write a report to your private investment company,
explaining your Excel analysis, giving your recommendation, and justifying your
decision.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Excel Analysis
Using Excel, make an accurate and complete analysis of the
three investment alternatives. Let Excel do the work for you. Instead of typing the formula in a separate
line, just enter it in the cell. Refer
to the following link for more info on doing calculations in Excel:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Use-Excel-as-your-calculator-a1abc057-ed11-443a-a635-68216555ad0a
Written Report
Length requirements: 2–3 pages minimum (not including Cover
and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 2–3 pages of written discussion and
analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and charts as “space
fillers.”
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Discuss the steps you used in completion of your Excel analysis.
Based on your Excel analysis, give your recommendation as to
which of the three investment alternatives should be pursued.
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Upload both your written report and Excel file to the SLP1
Dropbox.
Module 2 – Case
LINEAR REGRESSION AND SIMPLE EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING (SES) FORECASTING
Assignment Overview
Scenario: You are a consultant who works for the Diligent
Consulting Group. Your client, the New Star Grocery Company, believes that
there may be a relationship between the number of customers who visit the store
during any given month (“customer traffic”) and the total sales for that same
month. In other words, the greater the customer traffic, the greater the sales
for that month. To test this theory, the client has collected customer traffic
data over the past 12-month period, and monthly sales for that same 12-month
period (Year 1).
Case Assignment
Using the customer traffic data and matching sales for each
month of Year 1, create a Linear Regression (LR) equation in Excel, assuming
all assumptions for linear regression have been met. Use the Excel template
provided (see “Module 2 Case – LR –Year 1” spreadsheet tab), and be sure to
include your LR chart (with a trend line) where noted. Also, be sure that you
include the LR formula within your chart.
After you have developed the LR equation above, you will use
the LR equation to forecast sales for Year 2 (see the second Excel spreadsheet
tab labeled “Year 2 Forecast”). You will note that the customer has collected
customer traffic data for Year 2. Your role is to complete the sales forecast
using the LR equation from Step 1 above.
After you have forecast Year 2 sales, your Professor will
provide you with 12 months of actual sales data for Year 2. You will compare
the sales forecast with the actual sales for Year 2, noting the monthly and
average (total) variances from forecast to actual sales.
To complete the Module 2 Case, write a report for the client
that describes the process you used above, and that analyzes the results for
Year 2. (What is the difference between forecast vs. actual sales for Year 2—by
month and for the year as a whole?) Make a recommendation concerning how the LR
equation might be used by New Star Grocery Company to forecast future sales.
Data: Download the Module 2 Case template here: Data chart
for BUS520 Case 2. Use this template to complete your Excel analysis.
Assignment Expectations
Excel Analysis
Conduct accurate and complete Linear Regression analysis in
Excel. Use Excel support to find information on linear regression in Excel:
https://support.office.com/en-us/Search/results?query=linear+regression
Written Report
Length requirements: 4–5 pages minimum (not including Cover
and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 4–5 pages of written discussion and
analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and charts as “space
fillers.”
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Your written (in Word) analysis should discuss the logic and
rationale used to develop the LR equation and chart.
Provide complete, meaningful, and accurate recommendation(s)
concerning how the New Star Grocery Company might use the LR equation to
forecast future sales. (For example, how reliable is the LR equation in
predicting future sales?) What other recommendations do you have for the
client?
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Upload both your written report and Excel file to the case 2
Dropbox.
Here are some guidelines on how to build critical thinking
skills.
Emerald Group Publishing. (n.d.). Developing Critical
Thinking. Retrieved from
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/learning/study_skills/skills/critical_thinking.htm
Module 2 – SLP
LINEAR REGRESSION AND SIMPLE EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING (SES)
FORECASTING
Scenario: You are a consultant for the Diligent Consulting
Group (DCG). You have completed the first assignment, developing and testing a
forecasting method that uses Linear Regression (LR) techniques (Module 2 Case).
However, the consulting manager at DCG wants to try a different forecasting
method as well. Now you decide to try Single Exponential Smoothing (SES) to
forecast sales.
Using this Excel template: Data chart for BUS520 SLP 2, do
the following:
Calculate the MAPE for Year 2 Linear Regression forecast
(use the first spreadsheet tab labeled “Year 2 Forecast – MAPE”).
Calculate forecasted sales for Year 2 using SES (use the
second spreadsheet tab labeled “SES – MAPE”). Use 0.15 and 0.90 alphas.
Compare the MAPE calculated for the LR forecast (#1 above)
with the MAPEs calculated using SES.
Then write a report to your boss in which you discuss the
results obtained above. Using calculated MAPE values, make a recommendation
concerning which method appears to be more accurate for the Year 2 data: SES or
Linear Regression.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Analysis
Conduct accurate and complete SES analysis in Excel. You may
also check the following link for your reference:
https://support.office.com/en-US/article/data-analysis-7e71735c-c471-47e1-84ef-a8c23dc3098b
Written Report
Length requirements: 2 – 3 pages minimum (not including
Cover and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 2 – 3 pages of written
discussion and analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and
charts as “space fillers.”
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Complete a written analysis that supports your Excel
analysis, discussing the assumptions, rationale, and logic used to complete
your SES forecast.
Give complete, meaningful, and accurate recommendation(s)
relating to whether LR or SES is more accurate in predicting sales.
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Upload both your written report and Excel file to the SLP 2
Dropbox .
Module 3 – Case
PIVOT TABLE AND MULTI-ATTRIBUTE DECISION ANALYSIS
Assignment Overview
You are the lead consultant for the Diligent Consulting
Group. It is mid-October. One of your top clients, Sunshine Floor Barn, has
just closed the books for the first three quarters of the year (January through
September). Sunshine Floor Barn requests that you analyze the sales performance
of its 5 product lines over this 3-quarter period. From past consulting work
you have done for the company, you know that Sunshine Floor Barn has 4 regions
and 18 total store locations. Each Regional Manager at the company has compiled
the data for his/her region. The raw data provided consists of the sales
revenue for each of the 5 premium flooring lines for all 4 regions and 18
locations for the first three quarters of the current year.
Case Assignment
The data have been provided in list format. Generate a Pivot
Table Report with Charts. Use the Pivot Table and Charts to analyze the data.
Following your in-depth analysis of the data, write a report to Sunshine Floor
Barn in which you discuss and analyze the data, and make appropriate
recommendations relative to how Sunshine Floor Barn should improve its sales
performance going forward.
Assignment Expectations
Data: To begin, download the list data here: Data chart for BUS520
Case 3
Excel Analysis:
Provide accurate and complete Excel analysis (Pivot Table
with Charts).
Written report:
Length requirement: 4–5 pages minimum (not including Cover
and Reference pages). NOTE: You must have 4–5 pages of written discussion and analysis.
This means you should avoid use of tables and charts as “space fillers.”
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Using the Pivot Table and Pivot Charts, discuss and analyze
the data, noting key highs and lows, trends, etc.
Include charts from your Pivot Table to support your written
analysis. (Please do not use charts as “space fillers.” Instead, use them
strategically to support your written analysis.)
In a “Recommendations” section, give clear, specific, and
meaningful recommendations that Sunshine Floor Barn should use to improve
overall company sales.
Be sure to consider highs, lows, and trends in the data.
Which cities are the highest performers? Lowest? Which regions and quarter had
the highest sales? Lowest sales? Consider what may be driving the numbers: Poor
marketing? Outstanding marketing strategies? Inventory management? Seasonal
sales? Other? There are innumerable possibilities. Your role is to reflect on
the data, and ultimately, to use the data to give useful recommendations.
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Upload both your written report and Excel file to the Case 3
Dropbox.
Module 3 – SLP
PIVOT TABLE AND MULTI-ATTRIBUTE DECISION ANALYSIS
Assumed Certainty: Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM)
Scenario: You are the Vice President of Franchise Services
for the Lucky restaurant chain. You have been assigned the task of evaluating
the best location for a new Lucky restaurant. The CFO has provided you with a
template that includes 6 criteria (attributes) that you are required to use in
your evaluation of 5 recommended locations. Following are the 6 criteria that
you will use to evaluate this decision:
Traffic counts (avg. thousands/day)—the more traffic, the
more customers, and the greater the potential sales.
Building lease and taxes (thousands $ per year)—the lower the
building lease and taxes, the better.
Size of building (square feet in thousands)—a larger
building is more preferable.
Parking spaces (max number of customers parking)—more
customer parking is preferable.
Insurance costs (thousands $ per year)—lower insurance costs
are preferable.
Ease of access (subjective evaluation from observation)—you
will need to “code” the subjective data. Use Excellent = 4, Good = 3, Fair = 2,
and Poor = 1.
Now that you have collected the data from various sources
(your CFO and COO, local real estate listings, personal observation, etc.), you
have all the data you need to complete an analysis for choosing the best
location. Download the raw data for the 5 locations in this Word document:
BUS520 Module 3 SLP.docx
Assignment
Review the information and data regarding the different
alternatives for a new restaurant location. Then do the following in Excel:
Table 1: Develop an MADM table with the raw data.
Table 2: Convert the raw data to utilities (scaled on 0 to
1). Show the utility weights in a second table.
Table 3: Develop a third table with even weights (16.7%) for
each variable.
Evaluate Table 3 for the best alternative.
Table 4: Complete a sensitivity analysis by assigning
weights to each variable.
In a Word document, do the following:
Discuss the process used to put together Tables 1–4 above.
Provide the rationale you used for choosing for each of the
weights you used in Table 4.
Give your recommendation of which location the company
should choose (based on results of Table 4).
SLP Assignment Expectations
Excel Analysis
Complete Excel analysis using MADM (all four tables noted
above must be included).
Accurate Excel analysis (Excel file includes working
formulas showing your calculations; all calculations and results must be
accurate).
Written Report
Length requirements: 2–3 pages minimum (not including Cover
and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 2–3 pages of written discussion and
analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and charts as “space
fillers.”
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Discuss the steps you used to compile the Excel analysis
(i.e., the four tables).
Discuss the assumptions used to assign weights to each
variable of your sensitivity analysis (Table 4). That is, provide the rationale
for your choice of weights for each variable.
Provide a complete and meaningful recommendation related to
the location that should be chosen as a new site.
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Upload both your Excel file and written Word report to the
SLP 3 Dropbox by the assignment due date.
Module 4 – Case
DECISION TREE AND VALUE OF INFORMATION
Assignment Overview
Scenario: You are a consultant who works for the Diligent
Consulting Group. You have learned about three different investment
opportunities and need to decide which one is most lucrative. Following are the
three investment options and their probabilities:
Option A: Real Estate development. This is a risky
opportunity with the possibility of a high payoff, but also with no payoff at
all. You have reviewed all of the possible data for the outcomes in the next 10
years and these are your estimates of the cash payoff and probabilities:
Required initial investment: $0.75 million
High NPV: $5 million, Pr = 0.5
Medium NPV: $2 million, Pr = 0.3
Low NPV: $0, Pr = 0.2
Option B: Retail franchise for Just Hats, a boutique-type
store selling fashion hats for men and women. This also is a risky opportunity
but less so than Option A. It has the potential for less risk of failure, but
also a lower payoff. You have reviewed all of the possible data for the
outcomes in the next 10 years and these are your estimates of the payoffs and
probabilities:
Required initial investment: $0.55 million
High NPV: $3 million, Pr = 0.75
Medium NPV: $2 million, Pr = 0.15
Low NPV: $1 million, Pr = 0.1
Option C: High Yield Municipal Bonds. This option has low
risk and is assumed to be a Certainty. So there is only one outcome with
probability of 1.0:
Required initial investment: $0.75 million
NPV: $1.5 million, Pr = 1.0
Case Assignment
Develop an analysis of these three investments, and
determine which of them you should choose. Be sure to account for cash paid for
each of the three alternatives. If you do not recall how to do this, review the
practice exercises in the Background page. Do your analysis in Excel using the
Decision Tree add-in or SmartArt graphic, as suggested in the Background page.
Write a report to your private investment company and
explain your analysis and your recommendations. Provide a rationale for your
decision.
Upload both your written report and Excel file with the
decision tree analysis to the case 4 Dropbox.
Assignment Expectations
Excel Analysis
Conduct accurate and complete Excel analysis using decision
tree add-in.
Written Report
Length requirements: 2–3 pages minimum (not including Cover
and Reference pages)
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Written analysis that supports Excel analysis and provides
thorough discussion of assumptions, rationale, and logic used.
Complete, meaningful, and accurate recommendation(s).
Write clearly, simply, and logically. Use double-spaced,
black Verdana or Times Roman font in 12 pt. type size.
Have an introduction at the beginning to introduce the
topics and use keywords as headings to organize the report.
Avoid redundancy and general statements such as “All
organizations exist to make a profit.” Make every sentence count.
Paraphrase the facts using your own words and ideas,
employing quotes sparingly. Quotes, if absolutely necessary, should rarely
exceed five words.
Module 4 – SLP
DECISION TREE AND VALUE OF INFORMATION
Scenario: You are deciding among three investments, as you
do for Case 4. You have heard of an expert who has a highly reliable “track
record” in the correct identification of favorable vs. unfavorable market
conditions. You are now considering whether to consult this “expert.”
Therefore, you need to determine whether it would be worth paying the expert’s
fee to get his prediction. You recognize that you need to do further analysis
to determine the value of the information that the expert might provide.
In order to simplify the analysis, you have decided to look
at two possible outcomes for each alternative (instead of three). You are
interested in whether the market will be Favorable or Unfavorable, so you have
collapsed the Medium and Low outcomes. Here are the three alternatives with
their respective payoffs and probabilities.
Option A: Real estate development. This is a risky
opportunity with the possibility of a high payoff, but also with no payoff at
all. You have reviewed all of the possible data for the outcomes in the next 10
years and these are your estimates of the Net Present Value (NPV) of the
payoffs and probabilities:
High/Favorable NPV: $7.5 million, Pr = 0.5
Unfavorable NPV: $2.0 million, Pr = 0.5
Option B: Retail franchise for Just Hats, a boutique-type
store selling fashion hats for men and women. This also is a risky opportunity
but less so than Option A. It has the potential for less risk of failure, but
also a lower payoff. You have reviewed all of the possible data for the
outcomes in the next 10 years and these are your estimates of the NPV of the
payoffs and probabilities.
High/Favorable NPV: $4.5 million, Pr = 0.75
Unfavorable NPV: $2.5 million, Pr = 0.25
Option C: High Yield Municipal Bonds. This option has low
risk and is assumed to be a Certainty. So there is only one outcome with
probability of 1.0:
NPV: $2.25 million, Pr = 1.0
You have contacted the expert and received a letter stating
his track record which you have checked out using several resources. Here is
his stated track record:
True State of the Market
Expert Prediction
Favorable
Unfavorable
Predicts “Favorable”
.9
.3
Predicts “Unfavorable”
.1
.7
You realize that this situation is a bit complicated since
it requires the expert to analyze and predict the state of two different
markets: the real estate market and the retail hat market. You think through
the issues of probabilities and how to calculate the joint probabilities of
both markets going up, both going down, or one up and the other down. Based on
your original estimates of success, here are your calculations of the single
probabilities and joint probabilities of the markets.
Probabilities
Favorable
Unfavorable
A: Real Estate
0.50
0.50
B: Just Hats
0.75
0.25
Joint Probabilities
A Fav, B Fav (A+, B+)
0.375
A Unf, B Unf (A-, B-)
0.125
A Fav, B Unf (A+, B-)
0.125
A Unf, B Fav (A-, B+)
0.375
Finally, after a great deal of analysis and calculation, you
have determined the Posterior probabilities of Favorable and Unfavorable
Markets for the Real Estate business and the boutique hat business.
Real Estate
Just Hats
F
U
F
U
0.45
says “F/F”
0.75
0.25
0.90
0.10
0.15
says “F/U”
0.75
0.25
0.30
0.70
0.30
says “U/F”
0.125
0.875
0.90
0.10
0.10
says “U/U”
0.125
0.875
0.30
0.70
For example, this table says that there is 45% chance that
the expert will predict Favorable for both markets (F/F), and when he makes
this prediction, there is a 75% chance that the Real Estate market will be
favorable and 25% chance that it won’t, and also a 90% chance that the Hat
market will be Favorable and 10% chance it won’t.
You have developed a Decision Tree showing the original
collapsed solution and also showing an expanded Decision Tree for evaluating
the value of the expert’s information. You need to enter the probabilities into
this tree to see if the expert’s information will increase the overall expected
value of your decision. Download the Excel file with the incomplete Decision
Tree: Decision Tree for BUS520 SLP 4
Assignment
Complete the information in the Decision Tree in the Excel
file. Determine the Expected NPV of the decision if you were to consult the
Expert. Does use of the Expert increase the value of your analysis? If so, by
how much?
Develop a PowerPoint presentation to your private investment
company and explain your analysis and your recommendation. Provide clear
rationale/ justification for your decision. Use audio/video feature in
PowerPoint to present each slide. Be sure to check the Oral Communication
Rubric (under Assessments>Rubrics) to understand the requirements for the
PowerPoint presentation.
Upload both your PowerPoint presentation and Excel file with
the Decision Tree analysis to the SLP 4 Dropbox.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Analysis
Conduct accurate and complete analysis in Excel. Check the
following link on PowerPoint presentation:
https://support.office.com/en-US/article/PowerPoint-training-40e8c930-cb0b-40d8-82c4-bd53d3398787
Required:
Meet Length requirements: 10-15 slides (not including Cover
and Reference pages).
Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.
Show analysis that supports Excel analysis and provides
thorough discussion of assumptions, rationale, and logic used.
Offer meaningful and accurate recommendation(s).
Oral presentation of each slide should use video/audio
feature in PowerPoint.
Module 1 discussion
Sampling Bias
Sampling is a major way to collect data, and there are
different sampling methods.
Please identify one sampling method and discuss the sampling
bias related to this method.
Also explain how the sampling bias could impact the validity
and generalizability of data analysis results, as well as the business decision
making.
Week 1: Provide your initial discussion post to the
question. Be sure to include references to any resources you used. You should
use at least one resource to help you with your initial discussion.
Week 2: Respond to at least two of your classmates’ initial
posts. Your response should be substantive and further the discussion. It is OK
to be critical and use critical thinking. That means you can question what your
classmates say. Do they provide their own critical thinking and logic?
Module 2 discussion
Regression Assumptions
Based on the text on regression assumptions and your
additional research, discuss the potential impact of assumption violation on
interpretation of regression results.
Is there any influence of the assumption violation on the
business decision making? If so, how? If not, why?
Week 1: Provide your initial discussion post to the question.
Be sure to include references to any resources you us
