Module 2 - SLP

RISK: FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION, PROBABILITIES, AND EXPECTED VALUE

Risk: Probabilities and Expected Value

Scenario: You work for a private investment company that currently has numerous business investments in real estate development, restaurant franchises, and retail chains. Following an exhaustive search for new investment opportunities, you have found three possible alternatives, each of which will pay off in exactly 10 years from the date of initial investment. Because you only have enough money to invest in one of the three options, you recognize that you will need to complete a quantitative comparison of the three alternatives:

Option A: Real estate development.

Option B: Investment in the retail franchise "Just Hats," a boutique that sells hats for men and women.

Option C: Investment in "Cupcakes and so forth," a franchise that sells a wide variety of cupcakes and a variety other desserts.

Download the raw data for the three investments in this Excel document: Raw data for BUS520 SLP 2

Assignment

Develop an analysis of these three investments in Excel. Use expected value to determine which of the three alternatives you should choose.
Write a report to your private investment company, explaining your Excel analysis, giving your recommendation, and justifying your decision.

SLP Assignment Expectations

Excel Analysis

• Using Excel, make an accurate and complete analysis of the three investment alternatives.

Written Report

• Length requirements: 2-3 pages minimum (not including Cover and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 2-3 pages of written discussion and analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and charts as "space fillers."

• Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.

• Discuss the steps you used in completion of your Excel analysis.
• Based on your Excel analysis, give your recommendation as to which of the three investment alternatives should be pursued.

Upload both your written report and Excel file to the SLP 2 Dropbox.

Module 2 - Case

RISK: FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION, PROBABILITIES, AND EXPECTED VALUE

Risk: Frequency Distribution, Probabilities, and Expected Value

Assignment Overview

In the Module 2 Case, you are again engaged on a consulting basis by Buddy's Floor Barn. This time, in order to get a better idea of what might have motivated customers' buying habits you are asked to analyze the ages of the customers who have purchased oak flooring over the past 12 months. Past research done by the Excellent Consulting Group has shown that different age groups buy certain products for different reasons. Buddy's Floor Barn has sent a survey to 200 customers who have previously purchased oak premium flooring, and 124 customers have responded. The survey includes age data of past customers who purchased oak flooring in the past year.

Case Assignment

Using Excel, create a frequency distribution (histogram) of the age data that was captured from the survey. You should consider the width of the age categories (e.g., 5 years, 10 years, or other). That is, which age category grouping provides the most useful information? Once you have created this histogram, determine the mean, median, and mode.

After you have reviewed the data, write a report to your boss that briefly describes the results that you obtained. Make a recommendation on how this data might be used for marketing purposes.

Data: Download the Excel-based data file with the age data of the 124 customers: Data chart for BUS520 Case 2. Use these data in Excel to create your histogram.

Assignment Expectations

Excel Analysis

• Accurate and complete analysis in Excel using the Histogram function.

Written Report

• Length requirements: 4-5 pages minimum (not including Cover and Reference pages). NOTE: You must submit 4-5 pages of written discussion and analysis. This means that you should avoid use of tables and charts as "space fillers."

• Provide a brief introduction to/background of the problem.

• Provide a written analysis that supports your Histogram age groups (bins).

• Based on your analysis of the histogram data, provide complete and meaningful recommendations as the data relates to Buddy's Floor Barn marketing strategy.