Question 1

Sheet “Q1 Data” of the Excel file “P&S Data December2016.xls” contains the following data from a sample of 50 supermarket employees:

- the number of months the employee has worked at the supermarket

- the employee’s age

- the number of hours worked per week

- the average number of items processed per minute during a two-hour test period

Task

The Supermarket Manager has asked you to investigate which factors are useful for predicting employee checkout speeds (measured by average number of items processed per minute in the sample data).

Carry out a detailed statistical analysis on behalf of the Supermarket Manager, ensuring that you make full use of all the available data.

As a minimum your professionally presented analysis and report should include:

 Appropriate charts

 Detailed calculations and interpretation at each stage of your analysis

 Commentary on the data used for this investigation

(12 marks)

 Model assumptions and detailed analysis (numerical and/or graphical) checking whether any of the assumptions have been violated (10 marks)

 Comparison of a range of possible models (maximum of 15 marks)

 Selection of the most appropriate model and your reasoning for this choice (5 marks)

 Recommendations for improvements or further analyses (5 marks)

 Professional presentation (3 marks)

(Total 50 marks)

Question 2

A double glazing company decides to pay some of its sales representatives by the hour instead of on commission. The sales (in thousands of £) achieved during the test period by 45 hourly paid and 40 commission paid representatives is given in Sheet “Q2 Data” of the Excel file “P&S Data December2016.xls”.

Task

In order to select the ‘best’ payment method, the Finance Director has tasked you to test whether there is a difference between the mean sales figures of the two groups of representatives.

Required statistical analysis

It is crucial that you carry out a robust statistical analysis as your conclusion will play a major role in the way forward for this company.

As a minimum your professionally presented analysis and report to the Finance Director of the double glazing company should include:

 Appropriate descriptive statistics and charts

 Commentary on the data used for this investigation

(10 marks)

 A rationale for the statistical technique(s) selected

 An explanation of any statistical terms used in your analysis

 Any assumptions you have made, with detailed calculations and interpretation at each stage of your analysis

(30 marks)

 Recommendations for improvements or further analyses (5 marks)

 Professional presentation (5 marks)

(Total 50 marks)