LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

QCF level 5: BTEC Higher National Diploma

Unit No & Unit Title 6, Business Decision Making Unit Code D/601/0578 Course Title HND Business Lecturers Name Salman Khalid Assignment Title Business Decision Making Assignment No No: 1 Date Set 6th October 2014 Due Date 09 January 2015 Semester / Academic Year September 2014

UNIT OUTCOMES COVERED:

1 Be able to use a variety of sources for the collection of data, both primary and secondary 2 Understand a range of techniques to analyse data effectively for business purposes 3 Be able to produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisational context 4 Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation.

GRADING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Outcomes/ Grade Descriptors

AC1.1 AC1.2 AC1.3 AC2.1 AC2.2 AC2.3 AC2.4 AC3.1 AC3.2 AC3.3 AC3.4 AC4.1 AC4.2 AC4.3

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V Outcomes/ Grade Descriptors

M1 M2 M3 D1 D2 D3

V V V V V V

LEARNER: ___________________________________________

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Tutor Notes Key Points:

Your assignment should be handed in by the deadline. The assignment must be your own work and original. All sources of reference must be included. You will be expected to check spelling mistakes and grammar. Your name, student no and unit no should be in the footer of every

page. It should bear an appropriate report structure (such as a Table of

Contents, Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion, References, and Appendix (if necessary)).

There should be clarity of expression. It should display relevant factual content and understanding of the

subject, critical analysis, justifications, arguments, models, and a coherent framework etc.

Wherever the use of software except Microsoft Word is required i.e. Microsoft Excel and Power point, you are required to screen shots of the step by step procedures and slides to be included in the final document file of your assignment.

Submission Regulations 1. Assignment Front Cover Sheet must accompany the assignment. 2. You must save your document in the following file name format, so that it can be easily identified: Name_Surname-CourseTitle-Unit-Assignment-Date Submitted e.g.: John_.Darren-BSc BIS / HND IT- EPD-Assignment-07 December 2012.doc 3. Assignments must be submitted on or before the due date, through moodle via Turnitin.

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Task 1

Learning outcome: Be able to use a variety of sources for the collection of data, both primary and secondary

Assessment Scenario: Assume you work as a Marketing Executive in a company that wishes to launch a new product aimed at tablet users in the UK.

You have been asked to approach various marketing research companies that will conduct both quantitative and qualitative in the South East market.

Propose a marketing research plan to obtain information in the area. This research plan, also known as a research brief will be sent to various research companies who will then respond with a detailed proposal.

Requirement:

(a) Prepare the research plan

Guidelines Your brief should include the following sections:

Background Rationale Objective of research Present survey Methodology and sampling framework Create a plan for primary and secondary data collection and its analysis Timeframe within which you want the research to be conducted A budget section for this research Design a sample questionnaire for the Board to consider.

(This task covers Learning outcome 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Task 2

Learning Outcome: Understand a range of techniques to analyse data effectively for business purposes

Assessment Scenario: John, the owner of a restaurant, realised the importance of analysing the restaurants sales using various statistical analysis.

John has collected the following data for you to help him conduct various statistical analysis.

The table below shows the various number of orders within each price range:

Amount Spent ()

No. of Orders

0-10 5 10-20 7 20-30 10 30-40 12 40-50 14 50-60 15 60-70 14 70-80 13 80-90 6 90-100 4

Requirement:

(a) You are required to calculate the following:

(i) Mean, Median and Mode and advise him on the most popular price range for orders (ii) Range and Standard Deviation (iii) 25th Percentile (Lower Quartile) and 75th Percentile (Upper Quartile) and explain the use of Percentile for his restaurant. (iv) Inter-quartile range.

(This task covers Learning outcome 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4)

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Task 3

Learning outcomes: Be able to produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisational context

Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation.

Assessment Scenario You are working as a management consultant with Alpha Limited. The company has provided you with the following information.

Year

Sales (000)

All Regions

All Costs - (Direct and

Indirect)(000) Final

Profit(000) 2000 170 140 30 2001 190 130 60 2002 230 150 80 2003 240 150 90 2004 320 180 140 2005 340 180 160 2006 270 170 100 2007 250 150 100 2008 250 180 70 2009 260 160 100 2010 300 160 140

You have been asked by the senior management to produce graphs and present a report on forecasts for the given data.

Requirement:

(a) In order to complete this task you must: i. Produce a Column/Bar graph showing Sales, Cost and Profit using Microsoft

Excel. ii. Produce sales and profit line graph showing trend lines and project sales and

profit for 5 years into the future. Show the regression equation separately on the graph.

(This task covers Learning outcome 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Task 4

Learning outcomes: Be able to produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisational context

Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation.

Assessment Scenario: As Above

Requirement: (a) You have to produce a Report and a PowerPoint Presentation for the senior management : In your PowerPoint:

i. Explain what is forecasting and its benefits to an organisation and explain the relation between sales, cost and profit of the organisation.

Guidelines In order to complete this task you must:

i. Use Microsoft PowerPoint to make a presentation (submit slides within the word document by taking screen shots of the presentation)

ii. Write a formal business report using the correct format.

(This task covers Learning outcomes 3.3 and 3.4)

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Task 5

Learning outcomes: Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation.

Assessment Scenario: You work as a trainee project manager for Bright Spark Limited. The senior manager has given you the following information related to a new project and has requested the following:

Description Activity Preceding

Activity (Days) Preparation A - 4 Business Planning B A 2 Recruitment and Selection C A 36 Installation of peripherals D B 15 Initial Training E D 4 Design F E 9 Conversion G F 9 Development of Norms H C 2 Assessment I B 10 Continuous Testing J D 9 Policy documentation K G,H,I,J 20 Appraisal L K 20

Requirement: (a) (i) Calculate the Project Duration (ii) And the critical path

(This task covers Learning outcome 4.2)

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Task 6

Learning outcomes: Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation.

Assessment Scenario: The Board of Directors for Rapid Solutions Limited are planning to invest in a new project. However, the company has an option to select from two projects; Project Alpha and Project Beta.

The Board of Directors have approached you; an independent financial consultant to help them with making the decision between two projects.

You are required to use various investment appraisal techniques and present your findings in form of a report.

The cost of capital is 10%

Year Project Alpha

Cash flow Project Beta Cash flow

Investment -200,000 -200,000 1 35,000 218,000 2 80,000 10,000 3 90,000 10,000 4 75,000 4,000 5 20,000 3,000

Requirement: (a) You are required to:

i. Calculate the NPV and IRR of each project. ii. Recommend, with reasons, which project you would undertake.

(This task covers Learning outcome 4.3)

LSBM Assessment

Created by Salman Khalid

Translation of the general grading criteria to this assignment Outcomes

Assessment criteria

Pass

LO 1. Be able to use a variety of sources for the collection of data, both primary and secondary

LO 2. Understand a range of techniques to analyse data effectively for business purposes

LO 3. Be able to produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisational context

LO 4. Be able to use software generated information to make decisions in an organisation

1.1 create a plan for the collection of primary and secondary data for a given business problem 1.2 present the survey methodology and sampling frame used 1.3 design a questionnaire for a given business problem

2.1 create information for decision making by summarising data using representative values 2.2 analyse the results to draw valid conclusions in a business context 2.3 analyse data using measures of dispersion to inform a given business scenario 2.4 explain how quartiles, percentiles and the correlation coefficient are used to draw useful conclusions in a business context

3.1 produce graphs using spreadsheets and draw valid conclusions based on the information derived 3.2 create trend lines in spreadsheet graphs to assist in forecasting for specified business information 3.3 prepare a business presentation using suitable software and techniques to disseminate information effectively 3.4 produce a formal business report

4.1 use appropriate information processing tools 4.2 prepare a project plan for an activity and determine the critical path 4.3 use financial tools for decision making.

Merit

M1 - An effective approach to research has been applied

M2 - Relevant theories and techniques have been applied.

M3 - A range of methods of presentation and correct terminology have been used.

Distinction

D1 - Conclusions have been reached through combination of analysis and have been justified.

D2 Show evidence of a structured research process for the report and The Harvard referencing system has been used competently to build and present accurate data for Source material.

D3 Innovation and creative thought have been applied in the report.