Researching, Reporting, Planning Essay

Exclusively available on IvyPanda Available only on IvyPanda
Updated: Jan 1st, 2024

Decision-making process facilitates the growth and development of business organisations. The primary responsibility of a business manager is to conduct, manage, and proffer decisions that support the firm’s vision and objectives (Browne & Keeley 1998). As a result, the business decision process relies on decision models, data collection, sampling technique and analysis.

We will write a custom essay on your topic a custom Essay on Researching, Reporting, Planning
808 writers online

The features of an effective business decision making process includes choice, continuous process, intellectual activity, data reliability, feedback, problem specific, timeline, effective communication, pervasive process, and job responsibility (Chapman, Hopwood, & Shields 2006). Business decisions can be tactical, operational, strategic, non-programmed, and programmed.

However, the challenges of the decision-making process can be internal or external. Internal constraints include finance, business policy, consumer profile, attitude, taste, preference, and buying behaviour. External constraints include legislation, competitor’s behaviour, technology, and economy (Davenport & Brooks 2004). Data collection and sampling techniques influence a firm’s decision-making process.

Thus, the business decision process facilitates organisational management and the decision making process. For each scenario, I will analyse the market data using different data collection and sampling techniques. Consequently, I will summarise the primary and secondary data of the organisation using appropriate sampling techniques. Finally, I will present a report to the management to facilitate the development of a new project plan for the new coffee product.

Company profile

The London Coffee Company began in 1971 with staff strength of six. The management introduced various components of the beverage formulation to ensure customer’s satisfaction. As a result, the organisation launched its distribution nationwide. The components of the tea formulation influenced the company’s sustainability and development. As a result, the mission of the company is to stimulate the human mind towards ground coffee.

Thus, the goal of the organisation is one cup of coffee per customer. The London Coffee Company produces the finest tea brands in the country. Consequently, the organisation collaborates with various retail and wholesale agents to provide business expertise, customer feedback, and effective brand formulation. The company has a hand full of fine coffee blends to suit the market demographics.

London coffee corporate governance and social responsibility influence its competitive advance. As a result, the organisation recorded a high return on investment. However, the desire to meet customer’s satisfaction requires regular production innovation. As a result, the company is introducing a coffee-based drink to boost sales. As the product development coordinator, I will determine the customer’s taste and preference using various data collection and sampling methods. Data collection facilitates the decision making process.

1 hour!
The minimum time our certified writers need to deliver a 100% original paper

Consequently, data collection assists managers to share ideas with stakeholders and administrators. Data collection techniques include survey, inspection, observation, published book, and the Internet. Data analyst must decide the effective tool for the given problem. An effective data collection technique depends on the research problem, research design, and information collected.

However, methods of data collection depend on objectivity, obtrusiveness, quantifiability, and structure. Data can be primary or secondary depending on the method of collection. Data collected from an original source are called primary data.

The features primary data include validity, efficiency, and reliability. Sources of primary data include observations, questionnaires, interview, and experiments. For the purpose of this evaluation, I will use three primary sources to determine consumer’s taste, preference, and buying behaviour. Primary sources include interviews, observation, focus group, and questionnaires.

Advantages of primary data

The advantages of primary data include problem specific, time management, data collection procedure, data interpretation, proprietary issues, problem-solving ability, cost efficiency, and control. Primary data can address specific research problems. As a result, the London Coffee Company can utilise different sources of primary data to determine the market trends of the new coffee product.

Primary data can be interpreted without challenges. Thus, simple statistical tools support the firm’s business market. Methods of collecting primary data are not expensive compared to secondary data collection. Consequently, the processes of data collection are decent and easy compared to secondary data collection process. Primary data solve specific business issues without conducting long-term research.

Disadvantages of primary data

The disadvantages of primary data include cost, time consuming, inaccurate feedbacks, and sample size. Data analysts require more sample size to analyse the research problem. As a result, the cost of data collection is expensive. Time management affects the collection of primary data. Consequently, customer feedback is difficult when conducting primary research. Thus, the disadvantages of primary data research affect the validity of the analysis.

Secondary data

Secondary data can be retrieved from a primary source or published material. The sources of secondary data include published material, Internet, databases, online survey, journals, magazines, letters, literatures, government, and public records.

Remember! This is just a sample
You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers

Advantages of secondary data

The advantages of secondary data research include access, cost efficiency, classification, research design, and problem-solving ability. Access to secondary data is easy and cheap (Glasow 2005). Most online databases provide information that facilitates the research problem. As a result, the challenge of individual consent is eliminated. Secondary data can be classified with specific objectives. As a result, a data analyst can easily collect samples that correspond to the research question.

Disadvantages of secondary data

The disadvantages of secondary data include research quality, research need, incomplete information, and time management. However, secondary data can be evaluated based on accuracy, sufficiency, relevance, and availability.

Primary and secondary data collection plan for London Coffee Company

I have established different methods used for data collection. To determine the emerging trends of the new coffee drink, I will analyse sample data from the primary and secondary sources. As a result, I will classify the each data collection method with the source, and schedule. The sources of primary data include an interview, observation, focus group, and questionnaires.

The interview data require face contact with the customer or telephone. As a result, time management must be enforced. The time schedule plan must be allocated to each customer. Observation data require the physical presence of the customer. As a result, I will allocate specific time to the observation session. The focus group data collection requires audio recording.

Questionnaires will also be distributed through online channels, postal services, and social media. Time management will determine customer feedback. The survey methodology for the research depends on the research question.

However, the sample frame controls the sample size and technique. The features of survey design include sample frame and sample types. Sample types include stratified sampling, systematic sampling, simple random sampling, cluster sampling, purposive sampling, convenience sampling, snowball sampling, and quota sampling.

Analysis and Summary of the Collected Data

Data collection facilitates the decision making process of an organisation (Creswell 2003). Statistical tools can alter, analyse, and summarise data that support a firm’s research question. As a result, I will use different statistical tools to summarise the primary and secondary data. Methods of statistical dispersion include mean, percentile, mode, median, quartiles, and average. Each representative data can be summarised for decision makers.

Data collected from the survey questionnaires will summarise different representative values for the London Coffee Company. As a result, the research questionnaire was structured to receive responses from 100 coffee customers. The feedback was classified based on five variables. Variables for the research include age, gender, price, occupation, and income status. The responses from the participants facilitate the decision making process of the London Coffee company.

We will write
a custom essay
specifically for you
Get your first paper with
15% OFF
NoGenderFrequency/weekAgeOccupationIncomePriceTotal
1Male1218-25Student600$xx
2Male1436-45Government1000$xx
3Female736-45Government2500$xx
4Female2636-45Government2500$xx
5Female1455+Government2500$xx
6Male1326-35Private1500$xx
7Male2336-45Private1000$xx
8Female1255+Retired2500$xx
9Male1426-35Unemployed800$xx
10Male2136-45Government6500$xx

The data above revealed the responses of 10 participants. As a result, data can be analysed with different statistical analysis. The mean frequency of coffee consumption per week can be computed from the data above.

Mean frequency = 12 + 14 + 7 + 26 + 14 + 13 + 23 + 12 + 14 + 21 / 10

Thus, the mean frequency = the sum of frequencies divided by the number of respondents.

Mean frequency = 156/10 = 15.6

The median is the sum of the middle numbers divided by two.

Thus 14 + 13 / 2 = 13.5

The mode is 14. The mode is the number that appears most often from the frequency of the respondents. The percentile range describes the responses in percentages. However, the quartile mark descries three positions that classify the responses of the participants.

Data analysis with valid conclusion of the London Coffee Company

The data above revealed that age, income status, and occupation affected the frequency of coffee consumption in the London Coffee Company. The results revealed that government workers consumed more quantities of coffee per week compared to students. Thus, the frequency of consumption of private workers, retired and unemployed was lower than the responses from government workers. Gender distribution across the respondents revealed that male customers consumed more coffee compared to female customers.

The results show that sixty percent of coffee customers in the London Coffee Company were males. As a result, the project manager can alter the buying behaviour of the customers using factors that affect consumer taste and preference. The age distribution of respondents revealed that the variable could not influence the frequency of coffee consumption.

Data analysis using different measures of statistical dispersion for the London Coffee Company

The values of standard deviation, coefficient analysis, and correlation analysis can be used to determine the market trend of the new coffee drink. As a result, the business trends of the new coffee drink can be determined with the measures of dispersion. The standard deviation for the above data revealed that customer’s taste, preference and buying behaviour affects the frequency of coffee consumption. Thus, the target market target can be altered to suit government workers.

The importance of quartiles, percentiles correlation, and dispersion in the London Coffee Company

Quartile value divides business data into equal parts. The quartile values assist decision makers quantify the market demographics. Thus, quartile values are divided into four groups. As a result, the middle range is called the median. Percentile values describe the class value in percentages. Thus, business data can be classified in percentages. The measures of dispersion facilitate the distribution of resources in the market segment.

Business Data Report

Data analysis using graphs, tables, and charts

Business data can be represented with graphs and diagrams. Pictorial diagrams include charts, histograms and other measures of central tendency. However, data analysts simplify statistical analysis to avoid misunderstanding. The graphs, tables, and charts below represent the responses from the customers.

The responses from the customers
Figure 1: The responses from the customers

The chart diagram revealed that occupation influenced the frequency of coffee consumption. As a result, business trends for the new coffee drink will grow in government areas. Consequently, the age distribution of the chart revealed that customers between 46 and 55 years consumed more coffee compared to other class limit. As a result, business advertisements that support the target market will improve coffee sales in the London Coffee Company.

Frequency of cofee consumption
Figure 2: Frequency of cofee consumption

The data analysis in Fig. 2 revealed that the occupation influenced the consumer’s taste preference and buying behaviour. As a result, government works consumed more coffee than students and private workers. The frequency distribution revealed that the firm must align with the goals of government workers to facilitate higher sales. Thus, the performance of the new coffee drink will surpass previous brands.

Table 2

NoGenderFrequency/weekAgeOccupation
1Male1218-25Student
2Male1436-45Government
3Female736-45Government
4Female2636-45Government
5Female1455+Government
6Male1326-35Private
7Male2336-45Private
8Female1255+Retired
9Male1426-35Unemployed
10Male2136-45Government

Project Plan for the Development of the New Project

Information processing tools for the London Coffee Company

Information processing tools influence the cognitive development of human thinking. However, information-processing models describe the critical path of human cognitive development (Davila & Foster 2005). The components of an information processing model influence the decision making process of business markets. Information processing tools used in the decision making process include databases, enterprise systems, server, accounting information systems, search engine, and geographical locations (Kraemer 1991).

However, the London Coffee Company can use primary, secondary data and accounting information systems to support the decision making process. Information tools must align with the business area. As a result, information-processing tools depend on the research problem. Research problems include project management, investment appraisal, inventory management, tools, marketing, organisational behaviour, economics, and statistics.

Financial tools

Financial tools provide the framework for data analysis. Thus, financial tool is the bedrock of business investments and forecast. Business coordinators collate data analysis using various financial tools. Financial tools used for decision making include income statements, comparative statement, cash flows, and the balance sheet (Quinlan 2010).

However, the component of each financial tool depends on the research analysis. Income statement analysis for the London Coffee company requires revenue sales, cost of goods, total expenses, gross profit, insurance, depreciation, operating costs, operating income, interest expense, interest revenue, tax, and net income.

Income statement report for London Coffee Company
Comparative statementIncome statement
2013%2014%
Sale revenue800,000100750,000100
Cost of products300,00033455,00034
Operating income10,000511,5007
Interest expense(9000)49,3005
Gross profit200,00030207,00028
Interest revenue45,0001148,00015
Insurance34,000944,00011
Coffee Adverts50,0001354,00013
Assets expense106,00015130,00017
Loss on sale(23,000)1127,50004
Net income before Tax20,0001123,0006
Tax37,0001240,0008
Net Income300,00033400,00030

The income statement for the London Coffee Company revealed that projected sales revenue increased in 2014. Consequently, the projected gross profit increased by 4 percent. However, the total operating cost decreased by 0.5 percent. The factors include price, quality, taste, environmental concerns, health concern, gender, occupation, social concern, and promotion schemes. However, promotion schemes, taste, occupation, and income altered the buying behaviour of customers.

The net income increased by 3.4% in 2014. The projected revenue for the new drink showed that net income after tax increased in 2014. The firm’s ratio analysis includes profitability, liquidity, and investment ratios. Profitability ratios include gross profit margin, net profit margin, and return on capital. Liquidity ratios include acid test ratios, creditor payment period, and debtors collection period.

Project plan for the new coffee drink

The London coffee project plan aligns with the vision and mission of the organisation. As a result, the new coffee drink will require a project implementation plan to facilitate sales. The features of a project plan include team building, expected problem, project plan, project analysis, project estimate, critical path, project schedule, revised plan, implementation, and monitoring plan.

Project management tools include a work breakdown structure, network analysis, event times, and network node. The new coffee project will require careful implementation of the project plan. As a result, the modalities for the project plan will guide the implementation process.

Project description

The new coffee drink will require market segmentation and promotion schemes. The survey conducted in Task 1, 2, and 3 revealed that occupation, age, income, and gender influenced the consumer buying behaviour. As a result, adverts and promotion schemes will improve the sale of the new coffee drink. The costs of daily business operations will influence sales. The project plan for the new coffee drink will be summarised below.

Items£QuantityDailyWeeklyTotal
Delivery of coffee268572810018795
Entertainment screens200053712810000
Comfortable sets5594215488811188
Entertainment8,000317224624000
Workers salary6599513974532995
Marketing cost66501114583973150
Turning tables1649933999569549497
modern tea mugs45001271424500
New uniforms for staff45001331324500
Innovative dining rooms3000153114245000
Promotion cost2700114992700
Project expense21002121184200
Total69,827575,10311,613285,525

The project management plan includes work packages, dependencies, financial requirements, and resource management. Useful financial tools will be used to monitor and evaluate a business plan. Thus, the organisation will use the investment appraisal tool to evaluate the progress of the project plan. Other financial tools for decision making include the return on investment (ROI), payback technique, and the accounting rate of return (ROCE).

Conclusion

Business decision-making process facilitates the growth of an organisation. Data sources and sampling methods influence the decision making process. Consequently, pictorial diagrams, graphs, and tables assist managers to evaluate the progress of the project plan. The net income after tax will determine the financial status of the company.

References

Browne, M. N., & Keeley, S. M., (1998). Asking the right questions: a guide to critical thinking 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J Prentice Hall.

Chapman, C., Hopwood, A. & Shields, M. 2006, Handbook of management accounting research, Elsevier Science, New York.

Creswell, J. 2003, ‘Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approach’, Journal of Management, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 8-10.

Davenport, T. & Brooks, J. 2004, ‘Enterprise systems and the supply chain’, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 17 no. 1, pp. 8-19.

Davila, A. & Foster, G. 2005, ‘Management accounting systems adoption decisions: evidence and performance implications from early-stage/startup companies’, The Accounting Review, vol. 80 no. 4, pp. 1039-1068.

Glasow, P. 2005, Fundamentals of survey research methodology, Mitre Product, New York.

Kraemer, K. 1991, Introduction paper presented at the information systems research challenge: survey research methods, Cengage Learning , England.

Quinlan, C. 2010, Business research methods, Cengage Learning, England.

Print
Need an custom research paper on Researching, Reporting, Planning written from scratch by a professional specifically for you?
808 writers online
Cite This paper
Select a referencing style:

Reference

IvyPanda. (2024, January 1). Researching, Reporting, Planning. https://ivypanda.com/essays/researching-reporting-planning/

Work Cited

"Researching, Reporting, Planning." IvyPanda, 1 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/researching-reporting-planning/.

References

IvyPanda. (2024) 'Researching, Reporting, Planning'. 1 January.

References

IvyPanda. 2024. "Researching, Reporting, Planning." January 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/researching-reporting-planning/.

1. IvyPanda. "Researching, Reporting, Planning." January 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/researching-reporting-planning/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Researching, Reporting, Planning." January 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/researching-reporting-planning/.

Powered by CiteTotal, free essay citation maker
If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Request the removal
More related papers
Cite
Print
1 / 1