MN4063QA Understanding and Managing Data Individual CW1 Assessment Semester 1 August 2025-26

MN4063QA Individual Coursework Assessment Brief Assessment Details

MN4063QA Assessment Criteria

For all tasks, you are required to correctly calculate relevant statistics, analyse the data and provide/ demonstrate:

• This assessment is individual work, not pair work and not group.
• You must upload one WORD document, do not upload an Excel file or PDF of an Excel file or PDF of a Word file.
• Clear interpretations of all statistical analysis (do not just state the values but comment on what the values imply without speculating, where required).
• Graphs and tables with informative titles, appropriate labelling and units stated.
• Accurate calculations where required (equations are stated in the context of the data).
• Comments written in the context of the meaning of the data or analysis.
• Appropriate use of Excel functions, as evidenced by the output.
• You are advised not to use Safari or Explorer to upload your work to WebLearn. These browsers have known compatibility issues with WebLearn / Turnitin. Use Chrome or Firefox instead.
• Individual coursework marks can range from 0% to 100%.

PART 1 [70 Marks]

Task 1: Ungrouped Descriptive Statistics [16 Marks]

To gain some insights into the typical price consumers are willing to pay for a Multi mixer, a retailer of kitchen appliances randomly selected relevant invoices for transactions completed in Jan 2024 from their Birmingham branch shop. Descriptive statistics, computed to summarise the data, are presented in the table below. 

Round all answers to the nearest whole number.

Required for Task 1 (Max 50 words)

With reference to table above, copy and fill in the table and show all your working out as follows:

• Correct completed table [2 Marks]
• Calculate the count [2 Marks]
• Calculate the lower quartile [2 Marks]
• Calculate the coefficient of variation, giving your answer as a percentage (%) to the nearest whole number [2 Marks]
• Calculate the sample variance [2 Marks]
• Comment on the distribution of the data [2 Marks]
• Interpret the Standard deviation in the   context   of   the   scenario   [2 Marks]
• Interpret the mode in context of the scenario provided [2 Marks] (NB: You should not describe calculation methods).
  DO NOT paste a picture of table into your assessment WORD document.

Task 2: Grouped Descriptive Statistics [23 Marks]

DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR FOR THIS TASK. ONLY USE EXCEL FOR THIS TASK.

It was suggested to the retailer that the invoices transactions from their London Branch above could be grouped (see Tables below).

Required for Task 2 (Max 50 words)

2a. Complete the table below to show the percentage frequencies, cumulative frequencies, and cumulative percentage frequencies columns. Round all answers to the nearest whole number. DO NOT paste a picture of table into your assessment WORD document. [1+1+1 = 3  Marks].

2b.  Use the information on table below to estimate the mean and the standard deviation. Round all answers to the nearest whole number.  DO NOT paste a picture of table into your assessment WORD document. [ 8+2+2+2 = 14 Marks].

2c. From the table above (2b), estimate (interpolate) the median expenditure of the consumers. Round your answer to the nearest whole number. Show all your working. [4 Marks].

2d. A similar survey is conducted on their retailer shop located in Manchester.  The mean is estimated to be £210 with a standard deviation of £72. Use two brief sentences to describe the main differences between Manchester compared to Birmingham, and London Branches, considering the means and the coefficient of variation. [2 Marks]

Task 3: Data Types [6 Marks]

To better understand its target consumers and strengthen its position in the market, the kitchen appliances retailer seeks to survey its customers to gain insights into key consumer characteristics, such as demographic profiles and lifestyle preferences. However, before outsourcing the data collection fieldwork, the retailer seeks clarification on data types, as outlined in the requirements below.

Required for Task 3 (Max 100 Words)

With reference to examples relevant to the retailer’s information needs, discuss the differences between cross-sectional data and time series data. [3 Marks]
State whether cross-sectional data, time series data or both types of data should be collected to gain insights into the demographic profile and lifestyle preferences of its customers. Justify your answer [3 Marks]
(Use credible sources. The citation and reference must be credited using the Harvard  method).

Task 4: Networking [20 Marks]

The retailer is considering manufacturing a state-of-the-art boiler. The table shows the processes required from product research to product launch. The table also includes the necessary staffing requirements to undertake the project.

Precedence Table

Required for Task 4 (Max 50 Words)

• Draw a network diagram for the project [4 + 4 + 4 = 12 Marks]
• Determine how long it will take from product research to product launch and the activities on the critical paths. [2 Marks]
• Identify the activities and their duration on the non-critical paths [2 Marks]
• Explain the significance of the critical paths. [4 Marks]

Note: Draw your network diagram in Excel or use WORD Drawing Facility. The network diagram needs to be copied into your WORD file as an editable diagram. DO NOT paste a picture into your assessment WORD document.

Task 5: Sampling [5 Marks] (Max 120 words)

Explain how the kitchen appliances retailer can apply the stratified sampling technique to select 250 invoices from a total number of 2500 invoices, for a survey.

(Use credible sources. The citation and reference must be credited using the Harvard style)

PART 2 [30 Marks]

Task 6: Correlation and Regression [30 Marks]

To allocate resources effectively, the retailer wants to better understand the relationship between the variables shown on the table below.

Required for Task 6 (150 words Max)

State, giving a brief explanation which variable would be the independent variable. [3 Marks]
Create a scatter graph, plotting the value of sales against the advertising value. All variables with units. The trend line, regression equation and coefficient of determination should be shown on the graph.
Round all values of axis to the nearest whole number.  Copy the correctly labelled graph, with the correct units, into your Word file.

Note: Draw your chart in Excel or use WORD drawing facility. The chart needs to be copied into your Word file as an editable chart.

DO NOT paste a picture into your assessment WORD document. [10 Marks]

Interpret the correlation coefficient in context.

• Round answers to 2 decimal places. Show your working. [4 Marks]

Interpret the coefficient of determination in context.

• Round answers to the nearest whole number. Show your working. [4 Marks].

State the regression equation in context in form of y = ax + b. a=gradient, b=intercept. [3 Marks]

• Interpret the value of the intercept in context. [3 Marks]
• Interpret the value of the gradient in context. [3 Marks]