Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY BTEC HND IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET 2010/2011
UNIT TITLE & CODE STUDENT NAME ASSESSOR ASSIGNMENT (number of how many) ASSIGNMENT HANDOVER DATE ASSIGNMENT REVIEW DATEs FINAL GRADE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION Ms. Kalpana Ambepitiya 1 OF 1 WORD COUNT 3000 words

Business Decision Making (Individual)

STUDENT ID BM/C/37/

Unit 06

14.08.2011

ASSIGNMENT SUBMITION DATE ASSIGNMENT RESUMBITION DATE RESUBMISSION

30.10.2011

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TO BE ASSESSED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT (Identify all criteria to be assessed in this assignment)

Achieved Pass Criteria Original Submission Re submission

P1

P2

P3

P4

P5

Grade Achieved Original Submission On resubmission

M1

Merit Criteria M2

M3

D1

Distinction Criteria D2

D3

AUTHENCITY STATEMENT I certify that the attached material is my original work. No other persons work or ideas have been used without acknowledgement. Except where I have clearly stated that I have used some of this material elsewhere, I have not presented it for examination / assessment in any other course or unit at this or any other institution SIGNATURE: .. DATE:..

Assessment has been internally verified for use. Internal Verifier Name : Signature : Date Verified :

1|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK
ASSESSORS FEEDBACK GENERAL COMMENTS

SPECIFIC COMMENTS

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE

Assessors Signature and Date

2|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK
Links to other Units

THIS UNIT IS LINKED WITH THE FOLLOWING UNITS

Unit 01/2/7 Marketing/Finance/operation & strategic Management

Assignment brief

Task 01 (P1, P2, P3)

Each business operates on decisions which require effective use of information. As students following business Decision Making module, you should be aware of the best practices that should be applied in an organization. Sri Lanka will achieve 22 million population soon. This is a great opportunity in business perspective to many service organizations. Also it is extensive task to offer different services by adding customized values to generic services like mobile network companies in Sri Lanka. Recent market surveys discovered still there is an opportunity and market demand for mobile networks although Dialog and Mobitel cater large proportion of the population. Five major companies compete within the industry by offering various added services to different segments in the market. They always look at low end market with low rates. But they collect each rupee and cents for different services they offer such as GPRS, WAP, video calls, conference facilities, Skype etc. But business opportunities can be found in any industry and at any time. That has proved in history of business. By taking this fact to consideration, one global mobile service company is looking to approach Sri Lanka mobile service industry. They get a strong support from Sri Lanka government and telecommunication regulatory board due to this multinational company owned by the Chinese government. However, the company wants to know some information about the Sri Lanka market before entering to it. The company will customize different services based on this information. The company selected you as their research agency to identify these facts by conducting a market survey. The strategic management of the company needs answers for following questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Customers basic needs in terms of mobile services? (Gender and regional based) Customers specific needs in terms of mobile services? Customers basic needs in terms of pricings? Daily average mobile usage per person How many log on internet based via a phone per day ( based on the sample ) How many take advantages of all services which are provided by mobile networks ( based on the sample and population

3|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK

For this purpose you decide to conduct an outside survey. Your purpose is to prepare a report with findings from the survey. In your plan you should identify, The objective of your study Primary and secondary information sources Questionnaire for primary data collection purpose Using techniques for analyzing Data presentation and reporting

Situation You have to apply this problem into the real industry.

Out lined planning procedure

1. Introduction About the organization Define the problem Objectives of your study 2. Planning activities Design an appropriate questionnaire (P1.3) (M2) Define population (P1.2) (M1) Using sampling methods to select the sample and justifications (P1.2) (M1) (D3) Sampling frame (P1.2) (M1) Time schedule (P1.1) (M1) 3. Sources for the collection of data Primary data survey method ( designing a questionnaire appropriate variables require to identify in the questions to measure outcome of 4) (P1.3) (M3) Secondary data internal records and other related documents (P1.1) (P1.2) (D3) 4. Techniques for analyse data Measures of central tendency Mean, mode and Median (P2.1) (M2) Measures of dispersion Calculate Range, Quartiles, IQR, Percentiles, mean deviation, variance and standard deviation when those necessary Regression and correlation analysis to identify the relationship between two variables( P2.2) (P2.3) (M2) (D1) (D3)
4|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK

Time series analysis To identify the trend in the market and forecast (P3.2) (M2) (D1) (D3) 5. Information appropriate formats Using tabulations (P3.3) (M3) (D2) Using appropriate diagrams (P3.1) (M3) (D2) Using charts (P3.1) (M3) (D2) 6. Data presentation Prepare a report (P3.4) (M3) (D2)

Special remarks
Respondents can be students or parents Select at least 30 respondents as your sample size Questionnaire should not exceeded 15 questions (Minimum is 10) You are required to accomplish above tasks and present the findings in a report not exceeding 3000 words.(Excluding executive summary, content, list of figures, table of illustrations, conclusion and reference) Each finding must be justified to make decisions 1. Formal report format : Font type: Arial/Times new roman Font size: Headings-14pt bold and underlined, Sub headings-12pt bold and underlined, Body-12pt normal Formatting: Justify, line spacing-1.5, Margines-1 inch from each side, bullets and numbers when those required Header: Left side-subject name, Right side-Individual/group assignment Footer: Left side-batch number, Right side-page number All the figures, tables, diagrams etc should be numbered Labels sketches properly and neatly Write on only one side of the paper Utilize a table of content and section headings where applicable Use size A4 paper Provide a title page and a front cover Do not forget to sign the plagiarism on the cover sheet of your assignment Please note that plagiarism is treated as a serious offence and therefore the work you produce must be individual and original although may work in groups in some instant All resources of information must be referenced using Harvard referencing where a reference listing should be included at the end of the assignment
5|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK

2. The completed assignment must contain the following flow Cover sheet/Title page Assignment brief Grading descriptors Acknowledgement Executive Summary Table of Content List of illustrations, figures and tables Report body Conclusion and recommendation References Appendixes 3. Analysis to select the appropriate business Based on practical environmental factors 4. Critical analysis on relevant and required areas to complete P1,P2 and P3

Task 02 (P4)
Individual presentation Select a medium scale company in computing industry (Computer shops, accessories shops, repairing shops, etc). The company has problems in day to day operations of recording information and inventories. The company does not have relevant information when those require for planning and making decisions. Always some problems occur in stock controlling. The company has identified there are obsolescence in stocks. You are required to identify and propose, 1. Propose an appropriate information processing system for operational, tactical and strategic levels in the company with advantages (P4.1) (M3) (D3) 2. Evaluate the inventory control system/suggest an inventory control system and prepare spreadsheet for MRP and show calculations on Economic order quantities (P4.2) (M2) (D3) 3. Use project management tool to implement your suggestion and explain it by using critical path (P4.3) (M3) (D3) 4. Use financial tools to evaluate the financial viability of proposed MIS system (NPV) (P4.4) (M3) (D1) (D3) Special remarks: Use Ms PowerPoint or flash to prepare slides (M3) (D2) Slides should not be contained more details Details must be in point format
6|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK

Presenter must have ability to explain each point Duration: maximum 10 minutes Presentation skills will be considered
Grading Information

P1 information for a given problem Describe and justify the survey methodology and frame used Develop and use a questioner and justify its design for a particular purpose P2 Create information for decision making by summarizing data using representative values, and use the results to draw valid and useful conclusions in a organizational context Analyse data using measure of dispersion and use to inform a given scenario Calculate quartiles , correlation coefficient, and use to draw useful conclusion in a organizational context Using data from a given scenario, prepare a range of graphs using spreadsheetsline, pie, bar charts and histogram, and draw valid conclusions based on the information derived. Use trend lines in spreadsheet graphs to assist in forecasting for specified business information and thus inform decision making. Prepare a business presentation using suitable software and techniques to disseminate information effectively and persuasively. Prepare a formal business report
Review Management information systems and suggest appropriate information systems and suggest appropriate information processing tools for operational, tactical and strategic levels of the organization. Review and Evaluate inventory control systems in an organization Prepare a spreadsheet to enable materials requirement planning and calculate economic order quantities Prepare a project plan for an activity and determine the critical path Use financial tools-discounted cash flow and internal rates of return (IRR function) to evaluate the financial viability of proposed investments.

P3

P4

M1 M2

Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions when providing effective judgments on sampling method, defining population and the sample. An effective approach should show to apply the studies of the research Select/design and apply appropriate methods/ techniques based on all calculations of central tendency, dispersion, correlation and time series analysis. Also effective usage of MRP and EOQ calculations. Present and communicate appropriate theories and details, findings using tabulations, appropriate diagrams, charts and Data presentation in a proper report structure. Design the questionnaire using appropriate methods and

M3

7|Page

Higher National Diploma in Business & Management

Edexcel International - UK

formats D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions for investment appraisal and implementing MIS project. All conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified for central tendency, dispersion, correlation and time series analysis. Take responsibility for managing and organizing activities using project management and applying the relevant software techniques. The independence has been demonstrated throughout the whole report.
Demonstrate convergent / creative thinking on ideas have been generated with final conclusion and recommended decisions. Problems have been solved with innovative and creative thoughts.

D2

D3

8|Page