Analyzing Information and Data for Problem Solving - Business

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of data for problem-solving, focusing on a hypothetical firm considering expanding into the German stationery market. It examines trends in the German stationery market, analyzes sales data across different countries and product categories, and applies statistical tools such as correlation coefficients and confidence intervals. The report includes predictions on sales trends and evaluates the pros and cons of entering the German market. It also touches on international standards relevant to the business and offers recommendations for improving customer service and product quality based on descriptive statistics. The analysis is designed to inform strategic decision-making regarding market entry and operational improvements. Desklib provides more such solved assignments and past papers for students.

ANALYSING INFORMATION AND DATA
FOR PROBLEM SOLVING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Trends in Germany stationary market.........................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
(a)Total sales value of products from 2015 to 2017....................................................................3
(b) Pie chart for sales amid of 2016 and 2017 productwise.......................................................4
© Coorelation cofficient..............................................................................................................5
(d) Prediction on sales trend........................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
(a)Completion of table.................................................................................................................6
(b)International standard applied to the firm business................................................................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................7
(a)Monthly cost by considering year...........................................................................................7
(b)Monthly cost by considering month........................................................................................7
TASK 6............................................................................................................................................7
Confidence interval......................................................................................................................7
TASK 7............................................................................................................................................8
(a)Advise in respect to improving situation.................................................................................8
(b) Descriptive statistics..............................................................................................................8
TASK 8 CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................8
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Data analysis is the one of the important approach that is used to make decisions. In the
current report varied facts are analyzed in proper manner. On basis of analysis of facts it is
identified whether firm must open its business in Germany. Scatter diagram is prepared and by
using same coorelation cofficient is identified. At end of the report, dscriptive statisics is applied
on dataset. In this way, entire research work is carried out.
TASK 1
Trends in Germany stationary market
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000 7973 7791 7736 7620 7429 7242 6965 6941 6632 6335 6047 5710 5440 5200 5300
Sale
Sale
Figure 1Wholesale stationary business in Germany
On basis of chart given above it can be observed that number of observations in terms of number
of business firms in wholesale stationary business get declined in past couple of years. However,
still there are large number of companies in the Germany that are operating a wholsesale
stationary business. It can be observed that number of business firms in stationary were 7973 in
year 2002 which declined to 6965 in year 2008 (International suppliers, 2017). Further, decline
comes in the sales value to 5300. It can be said that consistently decline coems in the number of
firms that are operating in the stationary business in the Germany. There is need to take steps to
improve numbers in the wholesale statioanry business in Germany. However, still number of
firms operating in this segment is high which reflect there there is great demand of stationary
items in Germany and exports are also high in other European countries. Thus, it can be said that
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still stationary business is operating at wide level in the Germany and it is possible that in
upcoming time period it grow at rapid pace.
TASK 2
France
Germany
Italy
Romania
UK
Poland
Switzerland
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000
15475
24984
16000
17000
14000
19000
20500
14887
24559
14000
17600
16900
19900
21000
14746
24900
14500
18300
17300
20000
21500
14697
25483
15000
18000
17900
23000
22500
15432
26757
15750
18900
18795
24150
23625
Chart Title
Series6 Series5 Series4 Series3 Series2 Series1
On basis of fact it can be observed that sales value in case of France was 15475 in year 2012 and
it increased to 15432 in year 2017. Thus, it can be said that increase is observed in sales value in
respect to France. In case of Germany sales value was 24984 and it increased to 26757 which
reflect that moderate plunge comes in sales value in Germany. It can also be observed that sales
is increasing at higher rate in case of Germany then France. Apart from this, in case of Italy sales
value was 16000 which declined to 15750 which reflect that in mentioned nation decline comes
in sales value. On other hand, in case of Romania it can be observed that 17000 was sales value
in year 2012 which increased to 18900 in year 2017 which reflect that mentioned nation also
sales value get increased. In case of UK also sales increased but at high growth rate as its value
was 14000 in year 2012 and increased to 18795. Similalry, in case of Poland sales value was
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19000 in year 2012 and same increased to 24150. Similar, trend is observed in case of
Switzerland where sales value was 20500 in year 2012 and same increased to 23635. Hence, it
can be said that in most of the nations that are included in analusis stationary expenses increaed
but in case of Italy inverse trend is observed.
TASK 3
(a)Total sales value of products from 2015 to 2017
Product item
2015
Sales
(€)
2016
Sales
(€)
2017
Sales
(€)
Total
printer
cartridges
2500
0
2600
0
2200
0 73000
general office
supplies
2500
0
2700
0
2300
0 75000
low-cost
printers
1500
0
1800
0
1800
0 51000
office
furniture
2500
0
2500
0
2700
0 77000
shredders 2500
0
2900
0
2900
0 83000
paper-based
supplies
2500
0
2700
0
2700
0 79000
writing/
drawing
materials
2500
0
3000
0
3200
0 87000
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(b) Pie chart for sales amid of 2016 and 2017 productwise
26000
27000
18000
25000
29000
27000
30000
22000
23000
18000
2700029000
27000
32000
Chart Title
printer cartridges general office supplies low-cost printers
office furniture shredders paper-based supplies
writing/drawing materials
Figure 2Product wise sales value
Interpretation
Chart is reflecting that sales value is high in case of printer cartridge, general office
supplies. However, sales value is low in case of writing materials in 2016 relative to 2017 and
same trend is observed in case of office funiture. Apart from this, in case of other products sales
value is same for 2016 and 2017. Thus, it can be said that there are mixed performance and in
case of some products in year 2016 good performance is observed relative to 2017 or remain
same in both years or vice verse. Thus, there is not a stability in the trend and on this basis it can
be said that firm needs to focus on all these products in proper manner.
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© Coorelation cofficient
2014.5 2015 2015.5 2016 2016.5 2017 2017.5
155000
160000
165000
170000
175000
180000
185000
165000
182000
178000
f(x) = 6500 x − 12929000
R² = 0.534810126582278
Chart Title
Figure 3Scatter diagram and coorelation cofficient
Interpretation
Coorelation cofficient is the one of the important tool that is used to identify relationship
among variables. Coorelation values lie within specific range which is -1 to +1. 0 is the point
which separate these two levels. In case coorelation value is zero it is assumed that there is no
relationship between variables (Go and et.al., 2013). Opposite to this, if coorelation value is
positive then it means that both variables are coorelated to each other. In case coorelation value
is negative then in that situation there is common assumption that variables are inversely related
to each other and move in opposite direction. In present case it can be observed that value of R
square is 0.53 which means that both variables are moderately coorelated to each other. Hence,
with change in one variable medium change comes in other variable. Thus, it can be said that
there is significent importance of the mentioned statistical tool for the business firm.
(d) Prediction on sales trend
On basis of above chart it is predicted that in the upcoming time period sales value will
increased but its maximum level will be equal to sales value of 2016. Thus, it can be said that
optimistic thinking can be prepared about performance of the variable. Firms can make
additional investment in their business by considering results that are reflected by the chart. It
can be said that there is significent importance of the trend analysis method for the business
firms and due to this reason it must be used time to time by the business firms.
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TASK 4
(a)Completion of table
Pros Score/10 Cons Score/10
Germany GDP growth rate is
increasing which is reflecting that
in upcoming time period demand
will increase. Hence, there are
high earning opoortunity for the
relevant firms in Germany.
10 Already there are large number of
players in the market and due to
this reason it is hard to earn profit
in the business.
6
Number of firms in Germany
reduced in respect to
manufacturing of stationary
products. Hence, competition to
some extent reduced (Bendat and
Piersol, 2011).
9 Other demerit of the opening
business in Germany is that cost is
very high and due to this reason it
is very hard task to earn sufficient
amount of profit in the business.
5
Population of Germany is
increasing which reflect that
demand in the mentioned nation
will increase at fast rate.
8
Total pros 3 Total cons 2
Average pros 3 Average cons 3
(b)International standard applied to the firm business
ISO standard applied to the company as it can be observed that under this varied things
are determined in respect to quality of the product. If firm is making available relevant quality of
product to the customers then in that case it obtain ISO mark certificate. ISO/TC 131/SC 8
Product testing standard applied to the company as under this standard it is clearly stated that if
any product is tested then what sort of things company need to take in to account in order to
ensure that its products are tested properly and possess relevant quality upto mark.
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TASK 5
(a)Monthly cost by considering year
Table 1Calculation of monthly cost
Yearly
amount 6667
Interest 666.6666667
Monthly cost 611.1111111
It can be seen from the table given above that monthly cost is 611.11 and in this regard yearly
amount is taken in to account and interest amount is added to it. By doing so monthly cost is
calculated. It can be said that appropriate method is used to perform calculation.
(b)Monthly cost by considering month
Table 2Calculation of monthly cost by using 12 months time period
Yearly
amount 6667
Monthly
amount 555.5555556
Interest 55.55555556
Monthly cost 611.1111111
TASK 6
Confidence interval
Table 3Calculation of confidence interval
Transaction
Mean 240.00
Median 0.00
Mode 0.00
Standard deviation 43.00
Z value 1.645
Square root 7.071067812
STDEV/SR 6.081118318
Z*STDEV/SR 10.00343963
Mean-(Z*STDEV/SR) 230.00
Mean+(Z*STDEV/
SR) 250.00
Confidence interval is the one of the most important tool that is used to identify specific range in
which values of the variable may lie. It can be seen from table that lower level is 230 and upper
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level is 250. On basis of analysis it can be said that we are 95% confident that if mean value of
variable will be 240 then in that case values of the variable will lie in range of 230 to 250. It is
the one of the most important method that is used in the statisical analysis by the business firms
in order to make accurate prediction. It can be said that confidence interval calculation must be
used on wide level by analysts (Cressie, 2015). Mentioned method is usually used to conduct
statistical tests and identifying whether any specific value fall in confidence interval level and
chances or probability that specific event will occur. Thus, there is high importance of the
mentioned approach in the data analysis that is carried out in the current research study.
TASK 7
(a)Advise in respect to improving situation
In order to improve this situation it is advisable to relevant entity that it must distribute
questionnaires only among known people. By doing so it can be ensured that front person will
take questionaire seriously and will respond on it on time and in proper manner. Thus, it can be
said that there is high importance of distributing questionnaire among known people. It must also
be ensured that individuals who will fill questionnaire will be meet personally by resarcher so as
to make front person undestood about purpose of research study and will correctly respond to the
asked question.
(b) Descriptive statistics
From facts it can be observed that mean value for customer service is 3.50 and same for
quality P&S is 3.15. This reflect that low rating is given by respondents on questions that are
asked in respect to customer service and qual P&S. On this basis, it can be said that poor
performance is given by the firm in respect to service quality. In same way in case of sales staff
and price value average value is 3.45 and 1.95. Thus, it can be said that firm failed to give good
performance in its business. Standard deviation value is 0.76 for customer service and 0.37 for
qual P&S which reflect that most of respondents give similar answer. In case of sales staff and
price value also there is low value of standard deviation which is 0.83 and 0.51. On this basis it
can be said that values of variables are in same direction.
TASK 8 CONCLUSION
On basis of above discussion it is concluded that there is significent importance of data
analysis method for the business firms. Resarch results reflect that in past years number of
stationary related firms in Germany reduced. However, consumption of stationary related items
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increased in the Germany. There are higher growth prospects as reflected by scatter diagram.
Hence, it can be said that firm must expand its business in Germany. It is also concluded that
there is high importance of the statistical tools like confidence interval, mean and standard
deviation. By using these tools facts can be analyzed in proper manner and better decisions can
be made by the managers.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bendat, J.S. and Piersol, A.G., 2011. Random data: analysis and measurement procedures (Vol.
729). John Wiley & Sons.
Cressie, N., 2015. Statistics for spatial data. John Wiley & Sons.
Go, A.S. and et.al., 2013. AHA statistical update. Circulation, 127, pp.e62-e245.
Online
International suppliers, 2017. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.esources.co.uk/international-suppliers/1037/Germany/>.
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APPENDIX
France
German
y Italy
Romani
a UK Poland Switzerland
2012 15475 24984 16000 17000 14000 19000 20500
2013 15069 25297 15600 17300 16000 19600 20900
2014 14887 24559 14000 17600 16900 19900 21000
2015 14746 24900 14500 18300 17300 20000 21500
2016 14697 25483 15000 18000 17900 23000 22500
2017 15432 26757 15750 18900 18795 24150 23625
Product
item
2015
Sales
(€)
2016
Sales
(€)
2017
Sales
(€)
Total
printer
cartridges 25000 26000 22000 73000
general
office
supplies
25000 27000 23000
75000
low-cost
printers 15000 18000 18000 51000
office
furniture 25000 25000 27000 77000
shredders 25000 29000 29000 83000
paper-based
supplies 25000 27000 27000 79000
writing/
drawing
materials
25000 30000 32000
87000
Total sales
16500
0
18200
0
17800
0
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