Level: 6 Module: Business Analytic LUBM303

Learning outcomes. Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:

Knowledge Lo1. Improved knowledge in the collection and analysis of a variety of data.

Lo2. Ability to understand and interpret business problems including basic demand and supply analysis.

Skills:

S1. Critical thinking and analysis skills

S2. Skills in data analysis and produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisation context

S3. Develop skills in using software generated information to make decisions at operational, tactical and strategic levels in an organisation

Requirements: You must answer any Three questions. Each question that is attempted will carry a maximum mark of 33 and 1mark for presentation. Word limit is 3,500.

Question 1 Matthew, operations manager of Kilburn farms limited (KF Ltd.) lacks strong insight in any realistic business decision-making. However, he has been able to use the cost diagram below to illustrate and influence costing decisions in the company, KB Ltd: According to Matthew, his budgeted annual output is 200,000 units, fixed cost amount to £100,000, variable costs is £0.90 per unit and the sales price is £3.00 per unit.

Mathew’s influence diagram. Required:

a) Develop a mathematical model using the cost information above. (7 Marks) b). Calculate the profit or loss of KB Ltd. using the above information. (6 marks)

b) Draw a graph with a spreadsheet, for a five-year projection from January 2023 taking into consideration an annual expected increase of 6% in variable cost per unit, 10% increase in total output per annum and a 5% increase in unit sales price (NB. The changes must take effect from 2023). (8 marks)

c) Critically analyse and comment on costing and revenue behaviour in general, and in particular, that of KB Ltd; before and after your projections. (12 marks.)

Question 2 The figures below represent expenditure on advertising and sales revenue of a manufacturer of detergents, Wash-Well limited (W.W Ltd.) between the period of 2017 to 2021. Year Advertising expenditure (X) Sales revenue (Y) (£000s) (£000S) 2017 2 100 2018 5 70 2019 4 90 2020 6 60 2021 3 80

As a newly employed graduate business analyst, you are required to:

a) Calculate the correlation coefficient of advertising/sales and comment on your results. (10 marks)

b) Plot a scatter diagram of the data and discuss the pattern of the relationship of the two variables. (8 marks)

c) Critically analyse the impact of advertising expenditure on sales and advice the marketing manager on how the company can gain competitive advantage in the detergent industry by adopting other relevant marketing tactics.

Question 3 Basu Plc. produces and sells a specialised computer software programs. Estimated unit data for next year are as follows: £ Selling price 600 Variable costs: Labour 200 Materials 40 Selling 10 250 Anticipated fixed costs for the year are £60,000 for administration and £80,000 for selling and distribution. Estimated sales for the year are 640 computer software’s.

Required: a) Determine the following for Basu Plc.

i) Breakeven point in terms of number of programs sold. (3 marks) ii) The margin of safety as a percentage of estimated sales. (3 marks)

b) The company’s target profit for the year is £56000, Will the estimated sales volume be sufficient to achieve this. By how much will profit from the estimated sales volume exceed or fall short of the target profit. (5 Marks)

c) Prepare a breakeven chart for Basu Ltd. showing clearly the breakeven point and margin of safety. (7 Marks)

(d) Critically analyse the benefits and limitations of the breakeven model. (15 marks)

Question 4 As part of an interview for a position as a Graduate Business Analysts for the Internal revenue service in UK, you are required to demonstrate your research and business analytical skills.

As a result, you are tasked to: a

(i) Research the monthly digest of statistics or the national statistical archives for any two economic variables which you think may be correlated (e.g. retail price index/employment, inflation/money supply, GDP/employment etc.) (8 marks) and

(ii) Critically analyse and present your results in writing to the interview panel. Bear in mind the dangers of spurious correlation and seeking other factors which may be influencing your data, including outliers. Interpretation may be simpler if you select cross sectional data taken at the same point in time (e.g. regional figures) rather than longitudinal data taken over a ten-year period. (25 marks)

Question 5 You are required to design research questions on employee motivation or performance and carry out a suitable survey to address these questions. Use the theories of sampling (reliability, validity etc.) to draw the conclusions about the populations for which your research samples were drawn, and prepare a report for your findings (Not more than 800 words) (33 marks)