Assignment Information
Full/ Part Assignment
Date Assignment Issued
Date Assignment Due
Student Information
(To be filled by the student prior submitting the assignment)
Name
Westford Student ID
Edexcel Student ID
Email
Date of Submission
Student Declaration
I, Pearl Salomie hereby confirm that this assignment is my own work and not copied or plagiarized. It has not previously been submitted as part of any assessment for this qualification. All the sources, from which information has been obtained for this assignment, have been referenced as per Harvard Referencing format. I further confirm that I have read and understood the Westford School of Management rules and regulations about plagiarism and copying and agree to be bound by them.
Students Signature : _____________________
Student Name :
Date : _____________________
General Guidelines
(Please read the instructions carefully)
1. Complete the title page with all necessary student details and ensure that the signature of the student is marked in the declaration form.
2. All assignments must be submitted as an electronic document in MS Word to the LMS (Use 12 Times New Roman script).
3. Assignment that is not submitted to the LMS by the prescribed deadline will be accepted ONLY under the REDO and RESIT submission policy of Westford.
4. The report should be grammatically correct and word processed. Pages should be numbered.
5. You will PASS the full assignment task only if you achieve “AC Met” in each of the Assessment Criteria.
6. While answering any assignment task, student must provide evidence that learning outcomes of the subject have been met.
7. The answers should include Table of Contents, followed by writing each AC and thereafter answering the questions in the given sequence.
8. The answers wherever applicable should specifically relate to the happenings in the case study and certain assumptions can be made while answering questions, when trying to relate the theoretical aspects with the actual case study happenings.
9. Strict adherence to Harvard Referencing System (in-text citation and references cited at the end of the document) is mandatory.
10. While answering the Questions, students are expected to ensure that the Questions and AC’s are the same as provided by the faculty and the format as laid down in the assignment.
11. While submitting a REDO, use a separate cover sheet and answer the REDO answer separately at the end of the document while retaining the existing comments of previous assessment.
12. The results are declared only if the student has met the mandatory attendance requirement of 75% and/or a minimum of 50% under extenuating circumstances approved and ratified by the Academic Director. The student has to repeat the module (with additional fees applicable) if the attendance is below 50%.
13. Submit the assignment in a MS Word document with the file name being:
First Name Last Name_ abbreviation of the subject
Example: John Smith_BDM
Kindly note that the assignment will be rejected and marked as “REDO” if any of the above said guidelines are not met.
If the student do not clear the assignment in the first attempt (with all ACs Met), the following conditions apply:
1. REDO the assignment and submit on the fresh submission deadline
2. If the student does not PASS in the first REDO attempt, Resit-1 with a fine of AED 250 is applicable.
3. If the student does not PASS in the Resit-1 attempt, Resit-2 with a fine of AED 250 is applicable.
4. If the student does not PASS in the Resit-2 attempt, the student has to retake the module paying the fees applicable
Quick reference Checklist for the Faculty/Instructor to accept/reject the assignment before evaluation:
1. Adherence to the deadline of submission date.
2. Original cover sheet and format retained.
3. Student information and signature intact.
4. Font style and size used as instructed.
5. Harvard Referencing System and Citations are strictly followed.
In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT and DISTINCTION grades
Grade Descriptor
Indicative characteristic/s
Contextualisation
M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions An effective approach to study and research has been applied To achieve M1, you have to show through your work that an effective approach to study and research has been applied. You will do effective research to create a plan for carrying out the survey of the requirement by giving out the qualitative and quantitative research methodology including the sampling frame you are going to use.
To achieve M1, you have to create information for decision making by summarizing data using representative values and given out logical conclusions of usage of this data in business context.
M2 Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques A range of sources of information has been used
To achieve M2, you will have to use a range of information in your work. You will have used suitable resources to explore the nature of collecting primary and secondary data to carry out survey. Also bring out how is it going to be useful in your research work.
M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings The appropriate structure and approach has been used To achieve M3 you have to demonstrate through your work that an appropriate structure and approach has been used while doing your research. The work you present will use appropriate structure and approach of how quartiles, percentiles and the correlation coefficient are used to draw useful conclusions in a business context and how will these help you in effective decision making.
D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified
To achieve D1 you will have drawn conclusions through synthesis of ideas which have been justified. You will have drawn conclusions which draw out the links to analyse the results to draw valid conclusions in a business context. You will provide an evaluation which will suggest how this knowledge might be of value to management to help improve the performance at the companies.
D2 Take responsibility for managing and organising activities Activities have been managed
To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated that all the activities have been managed. You will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research and study and done logical analysis of different quantitative survey approaches, while designing a questionnaire.
D3 Demonstrate convergent /lateral / creative thinking
problems have been solved
To achieve D3, you will have demonstrated excellent analytical application of data using measures of dispersion to give valuable information in the business scenario and ensure that all the problems have been solved accurately and logically. Also, you will have met the deadline to submit the tasks to ensure that all activities have been well managed.
Please note that for unit assignments assessors should use these or other exemplar indicative characteristics for the individual grade descriptors from Annex C of the HN specification or any other relevant indicative characteristics for the particular assignment. The indicative characteristic should then be contextualised. Only one indicative characteristic per grade descriptor, M1, M2, M3, D1, D2, D3 is required.
Business Decision Making Assignment Tasks
Assignment title Primary & Secondary Data including Techniques to Analyse Data
Purpose of this assignment:
Data is available in organisations in abundance, but it is the interpretation of this data correctly, which is critical for any organisation. This unit will develop learner understanding of the primary and secondary sources of data available in organisations and how the learners can utilize this data effectively by applying statistical tools and techniques to analyse data correctly, which in turn can help organisations to make decisions more coherently and efficiently.
Scenario
You will be required to do your own research on single, including muti-national, private, as well as public companies, to understand the relationship between acquisition of data and then making of use of the data to build a framework for organisations, which helps them to take decisions effectively, as well as to understanddifferent approaches to primary and secondary research and how these can be used for correct interpretation of the data. You will focus your research on qualitative and quantitative research methodologies that can be utilized in organisations, as well as use different statistical techniques to draw out coherent analysis of the research methodologies adopted.
Business Decision Making
Assignment Task 1
Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 1:
(Figures in brackets after the question denote relation with the assessment criteria. If you achieve all the assessment criteria mentioned herein, you will have achieved a PASS grade).
[Grade Descriptors mentioned thereafter denote the evidence required in your answers to achieve MERIT and DITINCTION Grades. To achieve a MERIT, you must achieve all M1, M2, M3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions and to achieve a DISTINCTION, you must achieve all D1, D2, D3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions].
Be able to use a variety of sources for the collection of data, both primary and secondary
A survey is required to be performed to determine the following:
AcademicFacilities available at Westford School of Management for HND Course students, including gauging the students’ satisfaction level (the questionnaire can include quality, content, faculty, institute, facilities, administration, students engagement, satisfaction, etc.) at its Sharjah, UAE campus premises.
Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 1:
(Figures in brackets after the question denotes relation with the assessment criteria)
LO 1. Be able to use a variety of sources for the collection of data, both primary and secondary
1.1& 1.2 Create a plan for carrying out the survey of the requirement enumerated above, by presenting the survey methodology and the sampling frame you are going to use. Also bring out in your plan how are you going to collect primary and secondary data to carry out this survey? (Criteria 1.1: create a plan for the collection of primary and secondary data for a given business problem; Criteria 1.2: present the survey methodology and sampling frame used)
1.3 Design a questionnaire with at least 15 questions to carry out the survey for the requirement enumerated above.(Criteria 1.3: design a questionnaire for a given business problem)
Assignment Task 2
Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 2:
(Figures in brackets after the question denote relation with the assessment criteria. If you achieve all the assessment criteria mentioned herein, you will have achieved a PASS grade).
[Grade Descriptors mentioned thereafter denote the evidence required in your answers to achieve MERIT and DITINCTION Grades. To achieve a MERIT, you must achieve all M1, M2, M3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions and to achieve a DISTINCTION, you must achieve all D1, D2, D3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions].
Analysis of Data
Attempt all questions
Question 1: From the data below calculate the median, the upper quartile and the lower quartile.
7, 48, 50, 16, 44, 42, 8, 40, 44, 42, 37
Explain the significance of using medians and quartiles in business context of decision making. (Criteria 2.1)
Question 2: If the mean of numbers 28, x, 42, 78 and 104 is 62, then what is the mean of 128, 255, 511, 1023 and x?
Explain the significance of mean and mode in business context of decision making. (Criteria 2.1)
Question 3: Calculate the mean, mode, median, variance and standard deviation of the following frequency distribution: From the answers derived for all the central tendencies including deviation, give out valid conclusions of what do these figures signify in context of hours worked by employees. (Criteria 2.2)
Hours of Work No. of Employees
>0 &<=10 5
>10 &<=20 7
>20 &<=30 11
>30 &<=40 16
>40 &<=50 13
>50 &<=60 7
>60 &<=70 4
>70 &<=80 2
Question 4: Why does a standard deviation take the square root of the average of the sum of the squared differences between X and X mean instead of the average of the absolute value differences?(Criteria 2.3)
Question 5: In a company, the data below gives you the distribution of Number of Hours worked per day by company employees, with the Frequency of the number of employees working these hours per day. From the grouped data given below, find the variance and the standard deviation. From the answers derived for variance and standard deviation, analyse and state what these figures signify in terms of measures of dispersion observed in the number of hours worked by all these employees. (Criteria 2.3)
Number of Hours Frequency
3.5 – 4.5 9
4.5 – 5.5 14
5.5 – 6.5 22
6.5 – 7.5 11
7.5 – 8.5 17
Question 6: The cost of output at a factory is thought to depend on the number of manufacturing units produced. Data have been collected for the number of units produced each month in the last 6 months, and the associated costs, as follows:
Month Outputs Cost
‘000s of Units $ ‘000
Jan 3 7
Feb 4 9
Mar 2 5
Apr 5 11
May 3 8
Jun 5 12
Assess whether there is any correlation between output and cost. What conclusion can you draw in context with the business manufacturing units produced and its output costs? (Criteria 2.4)
Question 7: Respondents to a survey were asked to judge the quality of a product on a four-point rating scale (excellent, good, fair, poor). They were also asked to judge the reputation of the company that made the product on a three-point scale (good, fair, poor
The first variable is the rating for the quality the product. Responses are coded as 4=excellent, 3=good, 2=fair, and 1=poor. The second variable is the perceived reputation of the company and is coded 3=good, 2=fair, and 1=poor.
Is there a significant relationship between respondents’ perceptions of the company and their perceptions of quality of the product?What conclusion can you draw in context with the respondents’ perceptions of the company vis-à-vis their perceptions of the quality of products produced by them? (Criteria 2.4)
Variable 1 Variable 2
4 3
2 2
1 2
3 3
4 3
1 1
2 1
Question 8: From the above questions’ calculations done by you, explain how quartiles, percentiles and the correlation coefficient are used to draw useful conclusions in a business context. (Criteria 2.4)
LO 2. Understand a range of techniques to analyse data effectively for business purposes
The following criteria will be addressed while answering the questions enumerated above.
(Figures in brackets after the question denotes relation with the assessment criteria)
Use of representative values, analysis of data using given situations, dispersion techniques analysis, use of quartiles, percentiles and correlation coefficient to draw useful conclusions.
(Criteria 2.1 to 2.4:2.1 create information for decision making by summarizing 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)
Business Decision Making Assignment Tasks
Assignment title Produce Information in Appropriate Formats & Use Software Information for BDM
Purpose of this assignment:
The primary aim of this assignment is to help you to produce information in different formats of Microsoft Office, as well as use software generated information in organisations to help them to take good decisions. The business scenario is generated for good inventory control management, project management as well as use of financial tools in business context.
Scenario
You will be required to do your own research on usage of Microsoft office tools with respect to different business scenarios generated for you, as well as analyse logically how these can be utilized efficiently in businesses to help them take effective decisions. You will focus your work on making good workable reports and presentations to aid your management in giving out a clear coherent framework to them to eventually help them take business decisions. Also, different scenarios will be generated to enable you to use software generated information to help make decisions in organisations, as well as to get an insight into the mechanics of inventory management, project management and financial tools.
Assignment Task 3
Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 3:
(Figures in brackets after the question denote relation with the assessment criteria. If you achieve all the assessment criteria mentioned herein, you will have achieved a PASS grade).
[Grade Descriptors mentioned thereafter denote the evidence required in your answers to achieve MERIT and DITINCTION Grades. To achieve a MERIT, you must achieve all M1, M2, M3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions and to achieve a DISTINCTION, you must achieve all D1, D2, D3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions].
Use of Information for Decision Making
LO 3. Be able to produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisational context
Attempt all questions
1. Consider the following time series:
Qtr Sale ($’ 000)
Qtr 1 26
Qtr 2 27
Qtr 3 30
Qtr 4 29
a) From the above data, draw a pie-chart and a bar graph. What conclusions can be drawn from each of these graphs and charts? (Criteria 3.1: produce graphs using spreadsheets and draw valid conclusions based on the information derived)
Walmart Worldwide – Japan
¥ Sales {‘000} ¥ Revenue {‘000} ¥ Cost
2009 400 200 65
2010 650 400 130
2011 1300 750 350
2012 3500 1800 800
2013 5000 2500 900
b) Prepare a line graph, histogram, xy scatter graph using the above data . What trend is being shown in the sales against revenue? What trend can be forecasted for the subsequent year? (Criteria 3.2: create trend lines in spreadsheet graphs to assist in forecasting for specified business information)
Preparation of a Formal Business Report – Electronic Auditing Procedures
The CEO of the large organization where you are a manager has heard that several of your competitors have installed electronic auditing procedures to monitor the computer use of employees. The CEO asks you, as manager of human resources, to investigate this trend. Why are other companies doing this? Should your organization do likewise? Will employees consider this an invasion of their privacy? What would be the advantages and disadvantages to instituting an employee monitoring system? Based on your discussion, what conclusions could be drawn? Make recommendations to the CEO. Use your imagination to fill in details about your organization.
a) You will have to do some research on the internet, apart from the brief posted above. (approx 1000 words) (Criteria 3.4: produce a formal business report)
b) Prepare a business presentation based on the above report, using a power point presentation to disseminate the report information effectively.(Criteria 3.3 prepare a business presentation using suitable software and techniques to disseminate information effectively)
Individual Task
This is a individual assessed task and to be submitted by each individual and should include:
1. A brief literature review pertinent to the task, which should include which references were used, including good and bad experiences faced while doing this assignment.
3. An executive summary (300 words maximum) of your assignment
4. Bring out the most important lessons learnt while executing the assignment
5. A PowerPoint presentation, as a ppt,will be made as part of the task. The ppt will also be given as a presentation to the concerned faculty.
Assignment Task 4
Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 4:
(Figures in brackets after the question denote relation with the assessment criteria. If you achieve all the assessment criteria mentioned herein, you will have achieved a PASS grade).
[Grade Descriptors mentioned thereafter denote the evidence required in your answers to achieve MERIT and DITINCTION Grades. To achieve a MERIT, you must achieve all M1, M2, M3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions and to achieve a DISTINCTION, you must achieve all D1, D2, D3 grade descriptors mentioned against the respective questions].
LO 4. Be able to use software generated information to make decisions in an organisation
Assignment Task 4
Use of Software Generated Information
Instructions: Attempt all questions.
1. Distinguish between strategic, tactical and operational information.
Give two examples of strategic, tactical and operational information relevant to an organization operating in the manufacturing sector. (Criteria 4.1)
2. What do you mean by MIS? What are the four types of information suggested by Drucker? (Criteria 4.1)
3. Why hold stocks? Discuss any FOUR stock control levels. What is the use of stock control levels in inventory management? (Criteria 4.1)
4. Placing an order for an item of stock costs $ 340. The stock costs $ 60 a unit, annual storage costs are 10% of purchase price. Annual demand is 900,000 units. What is the economic order quantity (EOQ)? How does EOQ calculation help in management of inventories? (Criteria 4.1)
5. What are the project planning steps? (Criteria 4.2)
6. The following activities comprise a project to agree a price for some land to be bought for development.
Activity Preceded by Duration Days
A: get survey done – 5
B: draw up plans – 9
C: estimate cost of building work B 2
D: get tenders for site preparation A 11
E: negotiate price C,D 5
a) What are the paths during the network?
b) What is the critical path and what is the duration?
(Criteria 4.2)
7. A company is wondering whether to spend $ 36,000 on an item of equipment, in order to obtain cash profits as follows:
Year $
1 12,000
2 16,000
3 10,000
4 2,000
The company requires a return of 10% per annum.
Use the NPV method to assess whether the project is viable.
(Criteria 4.3)
8. The net present value of an investment at 25% is $ 90,000 and at 30% is 20,000. The internal rate of return of this investment is (show all calculations to the nearest whole number):
A. 17%
B. 20%
C. 22%
(Criteria 4.3)
Assessment Criteria
Criteria 4.1 use appropriate information processing tools
Criteria 4.2 prepare a project plan for an activity and determine thecritical path
Criteria 4.3 use financial tools for decision making
5
Achievement Feedback Summary
Name of the Assessor Ashutosh Pradhan
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria (AC) Criteria Achieved
(Tick Mark )
Assessor Feedback
LO 1 TASK 1
Be able to use a variety of
sources for the collection of data, both primary and
secondary 1.1 create a plan for the collection of primary and secondary data for a given business problem
1.2present the survey methodology and sampling frame used
1.3 design a questionnaire for a given business problem
LO 2 TASK 2
Understand a range of
techniques to analyse data
effectively for business
purposes 2.1 create information for decision making by summarizing 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
LO 3 TASK 3
Be able to produce
information in appropriate
formats for decision making in an organisational 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
LO 4 TASK 4
Understand a range of
techniques to analyse data
effectively for business
purposes 4.1 use appropriate information processing tools
4.2 prepare a project plan for an activity and determine the critical path
4.3use financial tools for decision making
Higher Grade Achievements (where applicable)
Grade Descriptor
Achieved?
(Tick )
Grade Descriptor
Achieved?
(Tick )
M1: Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions
D1: Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions
M2: Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques
D2: Take responsibility for managing and organising activities
M3: Present and communicate appropriate findings
D3: Demonstrate convergent /lateral / creative thinking
Result/ Grade Tasks 1 & 2 Date
Result/ Grade Tasks3 & 4 Date
Over All Result/Grade Date
Note:
Faculties will provide detailed feedback/ comments for each question answered by a student, in the answer sheets itself (word document). In the ‘Achievement Feedback Summary’ Table above in the column ‘Assessor Feedback’, summary of Basic Criteria of AC Met/ AC Not Met/ Redo/ Fail will be mentioned.
All Grades/ Results provided by assessor in this document are subject to validation from Internal Verifier (IV) and final ratification from International Standard Verifier (ISV) from the academic awarding body Pearson (Edexcel), and it is subject to change if required.
Due Date: 18th March 2015, 11.59PM hours. The date of submission is final and non-negotiable.
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