Level: 6 Module: Business Analytic

Assignment Code: LUBM303

Canvas Submission Deadline: Tuesday, 3rd May 2022 by 2PM

Contribution to module assessment: 100% Assignment

Module Leader: John Opoku

Learning outcomes.
Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:

Knowledge
Lo1. Improved knowledge in the collection and analysis of a variety of data.
Lo2. Ability to understand and interpret business problems including basic demand and supply analysis.

Skills:
S1. Critical thinking and analysis skills
S2. Skills in data analysis and produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisation context
S3. Develop skills in using software generated information to make decisions at operational, tactical and strategic levels in an organisation.

Requirements:

You must answer any Three questions. Each question that is attempted will carry a maximum mark of 33 and 1mark for
presentation.
Word limit is 3,500.

Question 1

Joycelyn, operations manager of Daniel’s Cannery limited (DC Ltd.) lacks strong insight in any realistic business decision-making.
However, she has been able to use the cost diagram below to illustrate and influence costing decisions in the company, DC Ltd for
the year 2022: According to Joycelyn, her budgeted annual output is 700,000 units, fixed cost amount to £110,000, variable costs
is £0.70 per unit and the sales price is £3.50 per unit.
Joycelyn’s influence diagram.

Required:
a) Develop a mathematical model using the cost information above. (5 Marks)

b). Calculate the profit or loss of DC Ltd. using the above information, assuming all the outputs are sold. (6 marks)

C) Draw a graph with a spreadsheet, for a five-year projection from January 2023 taking into consideration an annual expected
increase of 5% in unit variable cost, 10% increase in total output per annum and a 3% increase in unit sales price (NB. The
changes must take effect from January 2023). (10 marks)
 d) Critically analyse and comment on costing and revenue behaviour in general, and in particular, that of DC Ltd; before and
after your projections. Your answer should include the likely cause of the changes in the cost and sales price. (12 marks)

Question 2

The figures below represent expenditure on advertising and sales revenue of a manufacturer of designer clothes, Nice wear (N.W)
Ltd. between the period of 2017 to 2021.

Year Advertising expenditure (X) Sales revenue (Y)

(£000s) (£000S)

2017 2 80
2018 5 100

2019 4 70
2020 6 120

2021 3 60

As a newly employed graduate business analyst, you are required to:

a) Calculate the correlation coefficient of advertising/sales and comment on your results.

(10 marks)

(b) Plot a scatter diagram of the data and comment on the pattern of the relationship of the two
variables. (8 marks)
(c) Critically analyse the impact of advertising expenditure on sales and advice the marketing
manager
on how the company can gain competitive advantage in the designer clothing industry by adopting other
relevant marketing tactics (15 marks)

Question 3
Basu Plc. produces and sells a specialised computer software programs. Estimated unit data for next year are as follows:
£
Selling price 600
Variable costs:
Labour 200
Materials 40
Selling 10
250

Anticipated fixed costs for the year are £80,000 for administration and £60000 for selling and distribution. Estimated sales for the
year are 640 computer software’s.

Required:
a) Determine the following for Basu Plc.
i) Breakeven point in terms of number of programs sold. (3 marks)
ii) The margin of safety as a percentage of estimated sales. (3 marks)
 b) The company’s target profit for the year is £56000, Will the estimated sales volume be sufficient to achieve this. By how
much will profit from the estimated sales volume exceed or fall short of the target profit. (5 Marks)
c) Prepare a breakeven chart for Basu Ltd. showing clearly the breakeven point and margin of safety. (7 Marks)
(d) Critically analyse the benefits and limitations of the breakeven model. (15 marks)

Question 4

As part of an interview for a position as a Graduate Business Analysts for the Internal revenue service in UK, you are required to
demonstrate your research and business analytical skills. As a result, you are tasked to:
a (i) Research the monthly digest of statistics or the national statistical archives for any two economic variables which you think
may be correlated (e.g. retail price index/employment, inflation/money supply, GDP/employment etc.) (8 marks) and
(ii) Critically analyse and present your results in writing to the interview panel.
Bear in mind the dangers of spurious correlation and seeking other factors which may be influencing your data, including outliers.
Interpretation may be simpler if you select cross sectional data taken at the same point in time (e.g. regional figures) rather than
longitudinal data taken over a ten-year period. (25 marks)

Question 5

You are required to design research questions on employee motivation or performance and carry out a suitable survey to address
these questions. Use the theories of sampling to draw the conclusions about the populations for which your research samples were
drawn, and prepare a report for your findings (Not more than 800 words) (33 marks)
 Categories
Grade Relevance Knowledge Analysis Argument Critical Presentation Reference to
and Evaluation Literature
Structure

86 – The work examined is exemplary and provides clear evidence of a complete grasp of the knowledge, understanding
and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. There is also ample excellent evidence showing that all the
100% learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the
work will be exemplary in all the categories cited above. It will demonstrate a particularly compelling evaluation,
originality, and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.

76- The work examined is outstanding and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills
85% appropriate to the Level of the qualification. There is also excellent evidence showing that all the learning outcomes
and responsibilities appropriate to that level are fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the work will be
outstanding in the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and
elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.

The work examined is excellent and is evidence of comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate
70 – to the Level of the qualification. There is also excellent evidence showing that all the learning outcomes and
75% responsibilities appropriate to that level are satisfied At this level it is expected that the work will be excellent in the
majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of
argument, interpretation or discourse.
 Directly A substantial A good Generally May contain Well written, Critical
60 – relevant to knowledge of strategic coherent some with standard appraisal of
69% the analysis, and logically
requirements strategy structured, distinctive spelling and up-todate
clear and
of the material, orderly using an or grammar, in and/or
assessment showing a appropriate
independent a readable appropriate
clear grasp of mode of
thinking;
themes, argument style with literature.
may begin
questions and and/or acceptable Recognition
to formulate
issues therein theoretical of different
an format
mode(s) perspectives.
independent
position in Very good
relation to use of
strategic source
theory material.
and/or Uses a
practice. range of
sources

Some Adequate Some Some Sound work Competently Uses a

50 – attempt to knowledge of analytical attempt to which written, with variety of
59% treatment, expresses a only minor literature
address the a fair range of construct a coherent lapses from
but may be which
requirements relevant prone to coherent position standard includes
strategy description, only in grammar, some recent
of the argument,
material, with or to broad terms with strategic
assessment: intermittent but may
may drift suffer loss of
away from evidence of narrative, focus and and in acceptable texts and/or
this in less an which lacks consistency, uncritical format appropriate
focused clear with issues conformity
passages appreciation analytical at stake to one or literature,
of its purpose stated only more though not
significance vaguely, or standard
necessarily
theoretical views of
mode(s) strategy. including a
couched in substantive
simplistic
terms amount
beyond
library texts.
Competent
use of
source
material.
40 – Some Basic Largely A basic Some A simple Some up-to
49% correlation understanding descriptive argument is evidence of basic style date and/or
or
evident, but a view
with the of the strategynarrative, mainly but with appropriate
starting to
requirements but supported be formed significant literature
with little
by assertion but mainly
of the addressing a evidence of deficiencies used. Goes
and there derivative.
assessment limited range analysis in beyond the
may be a
but there are of material material tutor
lack of expression
instances of has
or format provided.
irrelevance that may

clarity and pose Limited use

coherence obstacles for of sources
the reader to support a
point.
 35 – Relevance to A limited Heavy Little Almost Numerous Barely
39% the deficiencies adequate
understanding dependence on evidence of wholly
requirements description, coherent derivative: the in use of
of a narrow
and/or on argument:
of the range of paraphrase, is lacks writer’s expression literature.
assessment strategic common developmentcontribution and Over
may be very material. and may be
rarely goes presentation; reliance on
intermittent, repetitive or
and may be thin beyond the writer material
reduced to simplifying may achieve provided by
its vaguest paraphrase the tutor.
clarity (if at
and least
all) only by
challenging
using a
terms
simplistic or
repetitious
style

The evidence provided shows that the majority of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level
are satisfied – for compensation consideration.

30 – The work examined provides insufficient evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level
34% of the qualification. The evidence provided shows that some of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate
to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in some of the indicators.

15- The work examined is unacceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to
29% the Level of the qualification. The evidence shows that few of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to
that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in several of the indicators.
0- The work examined is unacceptable and provides almost no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills
14% appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence fails to show that any of the learning outcomes and
responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in the majority or all of the indicators.

Generic Assessment Criteria – Undergraduate

These should be interpreted according to the level at which you are working and related to the assessment criteria for
the module
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