Business Data & Information: Problem-Solving Report - Duque Papetiers

This report analyzes the business data and information of Duque Papetiers Gros, a stationery business in Northern France, focusing on problem-solving and decision-making. It examines the German stationery market, analyzes sales data, and forecasts future sales for Duque. The report also evaluates the feasibility of expanding the business to Belgium and Germany, considers international standards for stationery products, and calculates mortgage repayments. Furthermore, it conducts a hypothesis test on order values and analyzes a customer survey, providing recommendations for improving response rates. The report concludes by assessing customer service, product quality, and sales staff performance based on survey data. Desklib offers a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and past papers for academic support.

Running Head: BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Business Data & Information: Problem-Solving
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Table of Contents
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................4
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................4
Part a............................................................................................................................................4
Part b............................................................................................................................................5
Part c............................................................................................................................................6
Part d............................................................................................................................................6
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................7
Part a............................................................................................................................................7
Part b............................................................................................................................................8
Task 5...............................................................................................................................................8
Part a............................................................................................................................................8
Part b............................................................................................................................................9
Task 6...............................................................................................................................................9
Task 7.............................................................................................................................................10
Part a..........................................................................................................................................10
Part b..........................................................................................................................................12
Task 8.............................................................................................................................................12
Reference.......................................................................................................................................14

2BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Appendix........................................................................................................................................15
Appendix 1.................................................................................................................................15

3BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Task 1
According to the Malaysian-German chamber of Commerce and industry (MGCC) report of
March/ April 2016 the wholesale stationary industry of Germany is well placed. The office
supply and writing materials industry at Germany has a total turnover of €14.8 billion. Further
the information also provides that the individual spending’s on stationary products in Germany is
€182 annually. Out of the annual spending of €182 by an individual €35.2 is on writing and
drawing materials. The individual German spending on writing and drawing materials secures
for Germany second amongst European countries (malaysia.ahk 2016).
During the period 2014-15 the German stationary market grew by 3.5%. As such there was an
increase in the domestic market by 2.5% and in international market by 5% for German
stationary products. The growth in sales of German stationary products in the international
market is attributed to the fact that the products from Germany have a good reputation.
Moreover, the report provides that the major stationary brands had a growth of 70% in 2015
(malaysia.ahk 2016).
Moreover, the report finds that as compared to the stationary market the paper and paper
products market internationally has shown a decline in sales. The decline in sales is a result of
digitalisation in private and public practice.
The German industry is sustained by 2200 wholesale companies. The net turnover of the
wholesalers is less than €500,000. Apart from wholesalers, there are 5500 retailers who
specialise in retailing paper, writing instruments and office supplies. The net turnover of the
retailers is less than €250,000 (malaysia.ahk 2016). The retailers have been recognised by Trade
Association for Office Supply and Writing Materials (HBS). HBS has issued special labels to
well-known retailers.
The growth of the retail industry has been possible by the 24-hour accessibility of the retailers.
Stationery retailers have customised their sales according to the requirements of the consumers.
The growth of the industry has been supported by the strong German GDP growth (malaysia.ahk
2016).

4BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
In spite of the phenomenal growth the industry believes that it is handicapped by the low growth
of the German population. According to HBS there has been a decrease in pupils of first graders
by 11.9% during the last decade.
The growth the stationery market of Germany is supported by a strong political will of the
country and the industry players who have constantly adjusted to the changing situation of the
market.
Task 2
Croatia
Poland
Slovakia
Italy
Slovenia
France
Germany
0.0 € 5.0 € 10.0 € 15.0 € 20.0 € 25.0 € 30.0 € 35.0 € 40.0 €
7.90 €
8.50 €
9.80 €
18.60 €
20.40 €
28.30 €
35.20 €
Annual spendings for writing and drawing
materials per capita
Annual Spendings (€)
Name of Country
Figure 1: Annual spending’s for writing and drawing materials per capita
Analysis of the above bar chart shows that the highest per capita spending on writing and
drawing materials is from Germany. Contrary to this, Croatia has the least per capita spending on
writing and drawing materials.
Task 3
Part a
The total sales for 2016 is the highest, 182000 €.
The total sales for 2015 is the lowest, 165000 €.

5BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Part b
2016
14%
2016
15%
2016
10%
2016
14%
2016
16%
2016
15%
2016
16%
2017
12%
2017
13%
2017
10%
2017
15%
2017
16%
2017
15%
2017
18%
Mixed pie chart for products
printer cartridges
general office supplies
low-cost printers
office furniture
shredders
paper-based supplies
writing/drawing materials
Figure 2: Mixed pie-chart for products

6BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Part c
2014.5 2015 2015.5 2016 2016.5 2017 2017.5
155000
160000
165000
170000
175000
180000
185000
f(x) = 6500 x − 12929000
Relation of Total Sales per year
Year
Total Sales (€)
Figure 3: Scatter plot of Total Sales per year
The correlation between total sales and year is 0.73. The value of the correlation coefficient can
be interpreted as very high.
Part d
2014.5 2015 2015.5 2016 2016.5 2017 2017.5
155000
160000
165000
170000
175000
180000
185000
f(x) = 6500 x − 12929000
Relation of Total Sales per year
Year
Total Sales (€)
Figure 4: Relation of Total Sales per year
The relation between year and total sales can be represented as:

7BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
y=6500 x +162000
Thus, the total sales for the year 2018 can be forecasted as:
y=6500∗4+162000=188000
From the above calculation it is seen that the projected total sales of Duque in 2018 would be
€188,000.
Thus, the total sales for the year 2019 can be forecasted as:
y=6500∗5+162000=194500
From the above calculation it is seen that the projected total sales of office stationery of Duque in
2019 would be €194,500.
Task 4
Part a
Should I expand my business to Belgium & Germany?
Pros Score/10 Cons Score/10
Germany has one of the largest
market in Europe.
10
There is no information about the
market at Belgium
5
Loan Repayment would be easy
due to the large wholesale German
market
9
Expanding to Germany and
Belgium would require financial
investment in that Country
8
The company would gain from the
better quality of German products
10
The company would have to deal
with the culture of Germany and
Belgium
8
Total Pros 29 Total Cons 21
Average Pros 9.67 Average Cons 7

8BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Part b
Duque has interest in a wide variety of stationery products. Some of the international standards
which apply to Duque are:
1. printer cartridges - ISO/IEC 24711: method for determining of ink cartridge.
2. general office supplies – ISO – 5138;
3. office furniture - ISO 21015:2007 – method for testing office chairs
- ISO 21016:2007 - method for testing office tables
- ISO 24496:2017 – method for determining dimension of office chairs
4. shredders - DIN 32757; paper shredders.
5. paper-based supplies – ISO 216:2007 writing paper
6. writing/drawing materials - ISO 27668-1: 2016 for Gel ink ball pens and refills.
- ISO 12756:2016 for ball point and roller ball pens.
- ISO 618:1974; paper
Task 5
Part a
The monthly mortgage repayment can be calculated using:
A∗( 1+r ) n−12∗X∗( ( 1+r ) n−1
( 1+r ) −1 )=0
Where A = £200,000
r = 10%
n = 30 years
Thus, 200000∗( 1.10 )30−12∗X∗( (1.10 )30−1
( 1.10 )−1 )=0
Thus, X = 3489880
12∗164.494 =1767.987
Hence, the monthly mortgage repayment = £1767.987

9BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
Part b
APR=( 1+ r
n )
x∗n
−1=( 1+ 0.10
30 ) 12
∗1−1=1.104713−1=10.47 %
Hence, 200000∗( 1.104713 )30−12∗X∗( ( 1.104713 )30−1
( 1.104713 ) −1 )=0
X = 3967473
12∗179.8962
Thus, X = 1837.863
Thus, the loan repayment amount = £1837.863
Task 6
The sample mean of the randomly selected orders received by Donald’s office = €230
The standard deviation of the value of the orders = €43
The number of orders sampled by the office = 50
Donald believed that the mean value of the orders is €240. To test Donald’s believe a one-sample
t-test is used.
Null Hypothesis: The mean value of the order of the sample is €240
H0 : μ=€ 240
Alternate Hypothesis: The mean value of the order of the sample is not equal €240
H A : μ ≠ € 240
Decision Rule:
The number of randomly selected samples = 50. Thus, the degrees of freedom = 49. At 0.05 level
of significance and 49 degrees of freedom t-crit values for two-tailed t-test are -2.009, 2.009.
Thus, if the calculated t-stat is more extreme than t-crit values then we reject Null Hypothesis
else accept Alternate Hypothesis.
Calculation for t-stat:

10BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
t-stat ¿ X−μ
σ
√ n
X =230
μ=240
σ =43
n=50
t−stat= 230−240
43
√ 50
=−10
6.08 =−1.6444
Conclusion: The t-stat value is -1.6444. Since, the t-stat value is less extreme than t-crit value
hence the Null Hypothesis is not rejected. Thus, it can be said that the mean value of the orders is
equal to €240.
Task 7
Part a
The benefit of the survey questionnaire developed by Duque is it is small and thus the necessary
information is only requested. A cursory look into the questionnaire shows that all except one are
closed ended questions. The advantage of using a closed ended question is that the consumers
can quickly and easily respond to the questionnaire. The time taken by the customers to respond
to the survey is very less. However, closed ended questions suffer from the disadvantage that the
views of the customers are not elaborately known.
The problem of Duque lies with the fact that the repose rate has been historically low at 5%. As a
result of the low level of survey responses the required data analysis cannot be correctly done.
The advantage of using a closed ended questionnaire is its ease of doing the statistical analysis.
However, due to the low level of response Duque may face difficulties in doing the analysis and

11BUSINESS DATA & INFORMATION: PROBLEM -SOLVING
thus ambiguity may arise between the results and actual situation at the organization. Hence, it is
imperative that Duque thus needs to increase the response rate of the survey.
The response rate can be increased through-
1. As a first step Duque should contact the customers and tell them the reason behind
conducting the survey. This would enable the customers to understand the perspective of
Duque and thus the customers may feel obliged to return the survey.
2. Communicating the need to conduct a survey and thus seek permission to send the
survey. Since Duque uses email to communicate with its customers hence it would be
easy for the company to initiate the process. This would also enable the organization to
have more responses.
3. In order to increase the response rate Duque should contact the responded prior to
sending the questionnaire. They should follow-up the process with contacting the
customer when the survey questionnaire has been sent. Further, follow-up should be
taken to non-responding customers to return the survey questionnaire.
4. Duque may send kind reminders to unresponsive customers. The company should
provide some time to customers so that they can respond.
5. Duque may also provide incentives to customers who return the survey. Incentives in the
form of a small discount or gift can be used as inducements.
6. Duque should check the people to whom the questionnaire is being sent. They should
check if the survey is being sent to genuine Duque customers.
The low rate of response should be a matter of concern to Duque. They should investigate if the
questionnaire is easily understood the customers. As a part of the test they can initiate a pilot test
to check the suitability of the questions.