Assignment on Collecting Data for a Small Manufacturing Firm

Data exercise Unit learning outcomes

1. Identify data requirements and the appropriate data collection instruments required for effective business decision making.
2. Conduct appropriate analysis and clearly communicate findings to a stated audience.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

A small manufacturing firm which has its only branch in Newcastle is planning to open another branch in the South (preferably, London). Meanwhile Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a report which shows the birth and death rates of businesses in the UK between 20018 and 2019. The data reveal that London has the highest birth and death rate of 15.7 and 13.1% respectively. To ensure that they do not fall into failed business category in London, they have decided to collect some data relating to these (consumer’s income, average worker’s wage level, consumer spending on the related item) and other factors.

You have been approached as a business student to assist in the collection of data. You are required to:

Based on your knowledge, discuss the suitability of questionnaire as method of data collection for this project. Suggest, with justification, what data they need to collect.
Design a questionnaire that can be used to collect the required data providing justification for the questions you have asked

This Is An Individual Assignment. Please Make Sure You Work Independently And The Work You Submit Is Your Own.

1. This assignment does NOT require you to collect the data.

2. Your submission MUST include the questionnaire you have designed.

3. Your questionnaire must include questions you have written your self

4. What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

Discuss the validity of an appropriate technique for the purpose collecting data for the given scenario
Identify the type of data required to help make a decision
Compile a template that can be used for the purpose of future data collection

5. How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

6. We will be filling this section in together in class on make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.

7. How does assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

8. In the first few weeks of the unit, we will spend time discussing data collection methods, critiquing questionnaires, and designing questionnaires.

9. How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.

	3^rd Class – 40-49%	Lower 2^nd – 50-59%	Upper 2^nd – 60-69%	1^st Class – 70%+
1 Suitability of a questionnaire (20%)	A limited discussion of the suitability of a questionnaire for this project. Discussion of other approaches is very limited or not included at all.	Good but limited discussion of the suitability of a questionnaire for this project. Discussion of the appropriateness of other approaches is limited.	Good and extensive discussion of the suitability of a questionnaire for this project. Discussion of the appropriateness of other approaches is also included.	Excellent and thorough discussion of the suitability of a questionnaire for this project. Discussion of the appropriateness of other approaches is also included.
2 Understanding of the data which need to be included (20%)	Some understanding of what data needs to be collected but only basic aspects are included and the justification for the questions is poor.	Good understanding of what data needs to be collected. Most aspects are included but the justification for the questions needs to be stronger.	Very good understanding of what data needs to be collected. Very few aspects are left out. A clear justification for the questions is provided.	Excellent understanding of what data needs to be collected. A comprehensive list of data with clear justification is included.
3 Questionnaire design (50%)	Design of the overall layout and types of questions is adequate. Poor wording of individual questions.	Good design in terms of the overall layout and question types. Design and wording of individual questions could be better.	Very good design in terms of the overall layout and question types. Design of individual questions is mostly very good. Wording of some questions could be better.	Excellent design in terms of the overall layout and question types as well as individual questions. Questions are worded well.
4 Structure and referencing (10%)	Poor structure with many grammatical and spelling errors. Poor sources used and poor formatting of references.	Poor structure with grammatical and spelling errors. Lack of evidence of wider reading. Some errors in formatting referencing.	Good structure with some grammatical and spelling errors. Evidence of wider reading. Some errors in formatting references.	Excellent structure with very few grammatical and spelling errors. Evidence of wider reading. Good referencing using Harvard referencing style both within the text and in the reference list.