Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is for students to synthesize the concepts learned throughout the course. This assignment will provide students an opportunity to build critical thinking skills, develop businesses and organizations, and solve problems requiring data by compiling all pertinent information into one report.

Resources: Microsoft Excel®, Signature Assignment Databases (attached), Signature Assignment Options (attached), Part 3: Inferential Statistics (attached)

Scenario: Upon successful completion of the MBA program, imagine you work in the analytics department for a consulting company. Your assignment is to analyze one of the following databases:

• Manufacturing
• Hospital
• Consumer Food
• Financial

Select one of the databases based on the information in the Signature Assignment Options.

Write a 1,000- to 1,600-word detailed, statistical paper including the following:

• Explain the context of the case
• Provide a research foundation for the topic
• Present graphs
• Explain outliers
• Prepare calculations
• Conduct hypotheses tests
• Discuss inferences you have made from the results

This assignment is broken down into four parts:

• Part 1 – Preliminary Analysis
• Part 2 – Examination of Descriptive Statistics
• Part 3 – Examination of Inferential Statistics
• Part 4 – Conclusion/Recommendations

Part 1 – Preliminary Analysis

Generally, as a statistics consultant, you will be given a problem and data. At times, you may have to gather additional data. For this assignment, assume all the data is already gathered for you.

State the objective:

• What are the questions you are trying to address?

Describe the population in the study clearly and in sufficient detail:

• What is the sample?

Discuss the types of data and variables:

• Are the data quantitative or qualitative?
• What are levels of measurement for the data?

Part 2 – Descriptive Statistics

Examine the given data.

Present the descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, variance, CV, and five-number summary).

Identify any outliers in the data.

Present any graphs or charts you think are appropriate for the data.

Note: Ideally, we want to assess the conditions of normality too. However, for the purpose of this exercise, assume data is drawn from normal populations.

Part 3 – Inferential Statistics

Use the Part 3: Inferential Statistics document.

• Create (formulate) hypotheses
• Run formal hypothesis tests
• Make decisions. Your decisions should be stated in non-technical terms.
• The decision should be either to reject the null hypothesis or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Hint: A final conclusion saying “reject the null hypothesis” by itself without explanation is basically worthless to those who hired you. Similarly, stating the conclusion is false or rejected is not sufficient. You must emphatically state whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Part 4 – Conclusion and Recommendations

This conclusion is not the conclusion to the paper. This is the conclusion to the study based on the case scenario. The conclusion should tie back to the problem that was to be solved.

Include the following:

• What are your conclusions and recommendations?
• What do you infer from the statistical analysis?
• State the interpretations in non-technical terms. What information might lead to a different conclusion?
• Are there any variables missing?
• What additional information would be valuable to help draw a more certain conclusion?

Use the Excel Spreadsheet to show your work.

Format your assignment consistent with APA format with at least one (1) scholarly, peer-reviewed reference and one reference from the assigned readings (textbook).

Please Include:

• An Introduction paragraph (Do Not Write the word Introduction to begin the body of the paper – Use the title of the paper instead). There should be a thesis statement in the introduction paragraph.
• At least three (3) Level One Headings
• Conclusion Heading.

Submit the Excel Spreadsheet and the Paper. You must submit the spreadsheet to show your work.