Sales at The University Canteen: Analysis Dilemmas

Sales at the University Canteen: Analysis Dilemmas

One fine morning, Raghu Raman (Raghu), the owner-manager at the University canteen which sells a variety of fast food and beverages, was contemplating about his business. The soft drink sales were not doing well over the past few months at the canteen and he wanted to identify the reasons for the slump. One of his friend and supplier, Ramesh Raghav (Ramesh), came to meet him to discuss about the pending payment and further supplies. Amidst this conversation he suggested that usually elder people don’t prefer to have soft drinks. Only the young/teenaged people prefer to have soft drinks. He suggested him to conduct a survey to find out the age of customers who visited his canteen. Raghu randomly selects a sample of 100 visitors. Each visitor was asked to fill in a comment/feedback form. Raghu believed that this survey would help him to better understand his customers’ needs and help in serving them better....................

Sales at the University Canteen: Analysis Dilemmas

Prerequisite Conceptual Understanding

• • Richard I. Levin and David S. Rubin, “Chapter 2: Grouping and Displaying Data to Convey Meaning: Tables and Graphs”, Statistics for Management, 7^th Edition, Pearson Education, 2008

Synopsis

This caselet focusses on the concepts of Frequency Distribution and Ogive. The concepts are discussed based on the dilemma faced by the owner-manager of the University canteen, Raghu Raman (Raghu). The canteen sold various fast food and beverages. Over the last few months however, Raghu witnessed a steady drop in beverages’ sales. Based on his experience, he took all the measures, however, sales did not improve. Ramesh, Raghu’s friend advised him to do an analysis of the buying habits and age patterns of the customers. Raghu was confused how to get the required data that would help him in finding answers to his dilemma and relation between: (a) Age, Gender; and (b) Impressions on the service offered by canteen employees; and (c) Preference for beverages.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• • The basics of Frequency distribution, tables and graphs
• • Implications of Frequency distribution, tables and graphs

Assignment Questions

• I. How could you convert a raw data into useful information?
• II. How do you use frequency distributions to make effective decisions?

Teaching Plan

The Teaching Note follows a defined Teaching Plan [Annexure (TN)-I], to assist the faculty in conducting the classroom discussion.........