BUS101 – Business Analytics

Task 2 – Report (30%)

This is an individual assessment

Task Overview and Instructions

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to solve a business problem using a theoretical framework informed by empirical academic studies. Using academic literature, you will provide information regarding the business problems and offer potential explanations for the business issues. Using what you have learned in the lectures, tutorials, the text-book and other sources you will analyse the transcripts provided to identify the source of the business problems. You will then make recommendations based on your findings and the literature to the CEO of the company. 

DISCLAIMER: 

This is a work of fiction. The materials and information for this assignment are used for educational purposes only and are not a critique of any company or any affiliated companies. The opinions and views expressed in this document are a work of fiction and do not represent the University of the Sunshine Coast’s policy or opinion. All characters and data are fictional. 

The Report Structure must be:

Ø Cover page/Title Page – Name, student number, tutor name/day/time, word count

Ø Executive summary (no longer than one page) – overview the purpose, type of analysis/methods, most important findings in summary, most important conclusions and recommendations. Look at how journal articles write an abstract this is similar.

Ø Table of contents (should also include a list of figures / diagrams / tables if used)

Ø Introduction (estimated 150 words):

o Overview of the business problems

§ Introduce the company and what it does

§ Provide a statement of the business problems from the symptoms

Ø Overview of literature on the topic (Estimated 800 words):

§ Write a literature review that overviews what previous empirical work (journal articles) has found regarding your chosen topic

§ Overview the theory you will use to investigate the business problems

· Overview the theory and explain the concepts and elements of the theory

· Justify why this theory helps to explain the business problems

· Write a managerial decision statement and corresponding research objectives and research questions based on the theory and literature regarding the business issues.

Ø Methods and Results (Estimated 500 words):

o Introduce what qualitative analysis is (describe in one paragraph). Remember the audience may not have any knowledge of what a qualitative analysis is.

o Report what the method was and how the interview data was collected. Write in enough detail that someone else can understand exactly what was done and how. Report on the internal/external validity.

o Present the findings of the analysis in a table AND graph, ensure you reflect on the findings and summarise (do not just show a table/graph with no explanation). Refer to the course materials to help.

Ø Recommendations and Conclusions (Estimated 500 words):

o Based on the findings give the CEO some recommendations about how to improve the business problems. This should link to the academic literature and theory from the introduction. 

Ø List of references – either APA or Harvard (choose one and be consistent)

Ø Appendices – if needed

Report format:

Font size 12, Times New roman, double spacing, and word count 2,000 (+/- 10% 1,800-2,200). Note. The word count does not include the executive summary, headings, tables, graphs/figures, the reference list or appendices.

Topic One information: Work flexibility and incentives (Management)

You are creating a business report for the CEO of a consultant company, called Thrive consultancy. It must be professional in presentation and contain insightful content for the company to make business decisions. 

Thrive consultancy has approximately 50 staff members and has been operating for about fifteen years. It is a consultancy company that offers three main services: Human Resource consulting, Strategic planning, and Advertising/Marketing consulting. There are ten staff in HR, one in strategic planning and five in Advertising/marketing, the CEO and three administrative staff. The company advises other companies on human resource consulting practices such as: HR solutions, policy renewal and development, KPI development, training, career and leadership development, employee relations and communications, and so on. They also offer strategic planning workshops to help companies adapt to changes in globalisation, technology, and markets. Lastly, they offer advertising/marketing consultancy regarding how a company is perceived by clients, branding, marketing, advertising, and social media presence. 

The company has been struggling as the workers morale and performance is very low which is resulting in a lot of staff absences. The CEO thinks this might be because of resistance to a new policy they implemented and funding cuts. The new policy introduced changes to the employees working hours. The CEO believes having everyone at work strictly Monday to Friday from 9-5pm would increase productivity and collaboration between staff members. So staff members can no longer work from home or have flexible hours. There have also been funding cuts and the office kitchen no longer has free coffee, tea, biscuits or milk. The CEO wants to know if performance and morale are low due to this or something else.

You have already conducted in-depth interviews with five staff members and have the transcripts available in a file labelled “BUS101 Topic One_ anonymous transcripts”. The interviews lasted approximately 20 minutes each and you followed a semi-structured interview style with an interview protocol. The interviews were conducted onsite in a quiet meeting room.

You need to code the transcripts for the common themes and create a business report for the CEO.

You need to code the transcripts for common themes, creating a table and graph as shown in lecture 7 and tutorial week 7. 

Do not not use quasi-qual methods and show a table of counted items. You must present themes in a table with example quotes and a figure of the themes. 

Theory: Job demand Resources theory (JD-R) 

Reading to start:

1. Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273.

You must locate multiple readings regarding the topic and the theory a minimum of eight articles must be cited.

See the Marking Criteria sheet on the next page

Levels of Achievement

Criteria

High Distinction

85 to 100 %

Distinction

75 to 84 %

Credit

65 to 74 %

Pass

50 to 64 %

Fail

0 to 49 %

Criteria 1: 

Executive summary

(2 marks)

The executive summary is concise and covers all of   the elements regarding: an overview the purpose, methods and type of   analysis, the most important findings in summary, the most important   conclusions and recommendations. It is not longer than one page and does not   have any quotations or headings. It is a stand-alone document that   encompasses the important points of the report. 

The executive summary covers most of the elements   regarding: an overview the purpose, methods and type of analysis, the most   important findings in summary, the most important conclusions and   recommendations. It is not longer than one page and does not have any   quotations or headings. It is a stand-alone document that mostly encompasses   the important points of the report. 

The executive   summary covers some of the elements regarding: an overview the purpose,   methods and type of analysis, the most important findings in summary, the   most important conclusions and recommendations. 

There   might be instances of missing information or important points that were not   mentioned. The length might be slightly longer than one page and it does not   have any quotations or headings. It is a stand-alone document that mostly   covers the important points of the report.

Basic   elements of the executive summary are covered with an overview of: the   purpose, methods and analysis, some of the findings, some conclusions and   recommendations. 

There   might be instances of missing information or important points that were not   mentioned. The length might be slightly longer than one page and it does not   have any quotations or headings. It is a stand-alone document that mostly   covers the important points of the report.

Little or   no knowledge of an executive summary. The important elements are not covered   or there is an attempt but several elements are missing. 

Criteria 2: 

Introduction 

(3 marks)

85 to 100 %

Demonstrates   comprehensive and insightful knowledge of the business with an in-depth   introduction to the business and the problems. The introduction covers who   the company is, what it does, what the current problems of the business are. 

75 to 84 %

Demonstrates   mostly comprehensive and insightful knowledge of the business. Most of the   business problems are discussed. 

65 to 74 %

Demonstrates   some knowledge of the business with the problems mostly outlined. Some   elements are missing. 

50 to 64 %

Basic   knowledge of the business demonstrated with the assignment information given   but no extra information included. 

0 to 49 %

Little or   no knowledge of the business with the basic assignment information not given.   Does not introduce the business or fails to explain the business and its   problems. 

Criteria 3: Literature   review (5 marks)

The   literature is very well integrated to show what theory relates to these   issues and what empirical research has shown regarding the issues. The   literature review is well referenced throughout.

The   literature review introduces a theory to explain the business problems.   Empirical research is presented that explains some of the business issues.   The literature is fairly well referenced throughout.

Introduces   a theory to explain the problems with some references to the literature. Some   empirical research is reviewed but it is lacking or disjointed. The   literature is well referenced.

Some   attempt at introducing a theory to explain the issues. Some attempt to show   what the literature says about the changes in the company but references are   lacking or the writing is disjointed.

Does not   introduce a theory to explain the business issues. Does not show what the   literature says about the changed in the company. Little to no references to   the literature.

Criteria 4: Results 

(10 marks)

Demonstrates   comprehensive and insightful knowledge of the use of qualitative business   analytic tools to analyse the transcripts. 

The   methodology is well detailed that it could be replicated. The   internal/external validity are overviewed. The results are insightful and   show all of the concepts taught in the course regarding: coding, presentation   of results, and reliability/validity issues are addressed. Use of terminology   is extensive and correct. The level of interpretation of the data meets   professional standards of the discipline with no errors in interpretation   and/or presentation. 

Demonstrates   mostly comprehensive and insightful knowledge of the use of qualitative   business analytic tools to analyse the transcripts. 

The   methodology is fairly well detailed that it could be replicated. The   internal/external validity are overviewed. The results are insightful and   show most of the concepts taught in the course regarding: coding,   presentation of results, and reliability/validity issues are addressed. Use   of terminology is extensive and mostly correct. The level of interpretation   of the data meets professional standards of the discipline with no errors in   interpretation and/or presentation. 

Demonstrates   some knowledge of the use of the use of qualitative business analytic tools   to analyse the transcripts. 

The   methodology is mostly detailed that it could be reproduced. The   internal/external validity are mentioned. The results are mostly insightful   and show most of the concepts taught in the course, although some elements   might be missing, regarding: coding, presentation of results, and   reliability/validity issues. Use of terminology is shown and mostly correct.   The level of interpretation of the data meets professional standards of the   discipline with some errors in interpretation and/or presentation.

Basic   knowledge of the use of qualitative business analytic tools to analyse the   transcripts. 

The   methodology is somewhat outlined and might be reproduced, some omissions or   errors present. Use of discipline terminology fairly correct. The level of interpretation   of the findings meets standards but some errors in interpretation or   presentation. Most of the concepts taught in the course are shown, although   some elements might be missing, regarding: coding, presentation of results,   and reliability/validity issues. The level   of interpretation of the data meets professional standards of the discipline   with some errors in interpretation and/or presentation.

Little or   no knowledge of the use of business qualitative business analytic tools to   analyse the transcripts is shown. The use of terminology is inconsistent and   not correct. The level of interpretation of the data fails in terms of presentation   and interpretation with many errors and omissions. The methodology is not   outlined or is missing information so that it cannot be reproduced. Very few   of the concepts taught in the course have been demonstrated. The level of   interpretation of the data is lacking or elements are missing. The   interpretation and presentation fails to meet professional standards with   many errors or missing elements. 

Criteria 5: Recommendations and Conclusions   (5 marks)

The   recommendations are highly appropriate based on the business issues,   integrated with the results, and supported by the theory and literature. The   entire report is presented as a consistent whole from introduction to   conclusions.

The   recommendations are appropriate, based on the business problems, integrated   with the results and literature. The report reads as consistent.

The   recommendations are fairly appropriate and fairly supported by the findings,   literature and theory. With some instances missing and/or lacking support   from either the literature or theory.

The   recommendations are appropriate, however lacking some instances and needing   more. Or inappropriate suggestions are made. Bullet points have been used   instead of whole paragraphs. The theory/literature is mentioned but not well   integrated.

The   recommendations are lacking and are not supported but the findings,   literature or theory. Inappropriate suggestions are made or there are no   suggestions at all. Bullet points are presented instead of whole paragraphs.   The report does not read as a consistent throughout.

Criteria 6:

Report formatting 

(5 marks)

The   meaning is consistently clear. Use of discipline terminology is confident and   assured. The level of presentation meets professional standards of the   discipline, and there is a high level of attention to detail regarding the   results tables/graphics. Little/no errors in grammar, syntax and spelling.   Referencing and citations are appropriate and very well integrated.

The   meaning is clear. Use of discipline terminology is extensive and largely   correct. The level of presentation meets professional standards of the   discipline, and there is attention to detail. The tables/graphs are   professional. The grammar, syntax and spelling are near perfect. Referencing   and citations are appropriate/integrated.

Overall   meaning is clear though there are minor instances of awkward/ambiguous   expression. Use of discipline terminology is adequate. The level of   presentation mostly meets professional standards of the discipline, with some   lapses in detail, grammar, syntax and spelling is good. Some referencing   and/or citation errors.

The   intended meaning can be discerned but lacks clarity and/or examples of   awkward/ambiguous expression. Limited discipline terminology with minor   inaccuracies. Some professionalism but significant lapses in grammar, syntax,   and spelling. Referencing and/or citation errors.

Use of   language fails to make meaning clear; many errors of grammar, syntax and   spelling, range of mistakes indicating lack of editing and proofreading.   Limited or incorrect use of discipline terminology. Poor referencing and   citation errors. Elements of the report are missing/incomplete.