Data Driven Decisions for Business Coursework Assessment BPP Business School

Assessment Brief 

1.1. Assessment learning outcomes 

This assessment is designed to gauge your understanding, skills and application of common data  analysis techniques used in business and other organisations today. As such you need to  demonstrate your attainment in these areas according to the four Module Learning Outcomes (LOs): 

• LO1: Critically evaluate the evolving use of data in solving business problems, presenting  logical arguments based on evidence 

• LO2: Explore how data analytics can be used within a business context 

• LO3: Critically appraise the presentation of data within a business environment

• LO4: Critically evaluate different business analytical techniques as part of planning a data  analytics initiative. 

1.2. Scenario 

1. You have recently been employed by Café On The Sea (COTS) as a data analyst. COTS is a chain of  caffes located on seaside cities around the UK. It was established 15 years ago with vision to bring in  the UK the relaxing environment found in caffes around Italy and France coasts. COTS has grown  successfully with a chain of 15 cafes in locations such as Brighton, Bournemouth, Southampton,  Portsmouth, Blackpool, and St Ives. 
2. As COTS expands, it continues to increase its data analytic roles with the organisation to  strengthening its strategic decision-making capabilities. The recruitment strategy is to employ young  professionals with strategic and data analytics skills willing to provide COTS top management with  strong evidence-based foundation for their business decisions. They like recruits to have a broad  management experience combine with strong academic background. Your MSc Management degree  at BPP University was a key element in their decision to recruit you. 
3. As part of the induction process, COTS, you have joined the Corporate Strategy Department as junior  dada analyst. Your manager requested you to complete a number of tasks to ensure that you have a  grounded knowledge and understanding of data analytics and its application in decision-making. This  is your opportunity to demonstrate your capability and give your employer the confidence to let you  run your own project in the future.  
4. As part of your first duties, your manager asked you to join the team in charge of the development  of the 3-Year Strategic Plan for the company. The team is analysing different options for growth,  which include expanding abroad, new product development and diversification into new business  areas. However, it makes sense to define the strategy based on these options only if the current  business model does not provide the expansion and growth opportunities expected by the top  management. So, you have been given the responsibility to analyse COTS current business  performance.  
5. Your job will be to analyse the performance of the best three coffee shops of the company located  one in Blackpool, one in Southampton and one in Portsmouth. COTS has experienced strong 
6. competition in these cities from coffee chains such as Costa, Café Nero and Starbucks. So, the  performance of these shops is a good indication of the current overall market position of the  company.  

1.3. Research objectives and tasks 

The Corporate Strategy Manager, who is leading the 3-Year Strategic Plan project, is interested in  understanding the options available for a local expansion strategy, including increase the size of the  shops. For this purpose, he wants you to: 

As part of the analysis, the Procurement Manager wants to improve the profitability by reducing the  total cost of ingredients used to produce the menu for the shops. The current menu is made of the  following product groups:  

• Cakes,  
• Coffee,  
• Hot drinks
• Pastry and  
• Sandwiches

Task 1: Introduction and project plan 

Summarise what you are going to present in the report and justify your plan for delivering the  research project to the Corporate Strategy Manager. Ensure you also clearly reference a data  analytics framework as part of your plan. Finally, specifically explain how data analytics can add  value and drive improved business performance for COTS’s coffee shops.

Task 2: Data preparation quality issues and remedies 

Discuss first the generic issues that data analysts encounter in collecting, integrating and cleaning  data. Second, discuss the specific issues with the project data that the Corporate Strategy team  has provided to you and how you propose to address those issues.  

Task 3: Data analysis and commentary 

Using tables, set out and explain the results of your numeric data analysis, including summary of  exploratory data and supporting commentary. Explain how your results inform understanding of  COTS’s shops performance. This should include three tables setting out:  

Task 4: Data visualisation and commentary

Use your data charting/graphics and interpretation skills to develop visual presentations of your  findings together with bullet-points setting out the key findings and inferences from the analysis of  the charts/plots. This should include three charts presenting: 

Task 5: Conclusions and recommendations 

Based on your analysis and findings in Tasks 3 and 4 set-out your conclusions and  recommendations. Ensure you address the three issues raised by the top management. 

2. Report Structure 

You should set out your report according to the following heading structure. You should add sub headings under this overall structure as you feel fit to demonstrate your ability to on-develop the  section themes and to provide meaningful sub-structure. But you must use this overall structure in  order to provide a consistent framework against which your marker will allocate marks. You will be  deduced marks if you do not follow this structure. Also note that there is no requirement for  producing an Executive Summary. 

University Cover Page 

Table of contents 

• Introduction and project plan 
• Data quality issues and remedies 
• Data analysis and commentary 
• Data charting and commentary 
• Conclusions and recommendations 
• References 
• Appendix (optional)