Case Study 2
30 marks
The purpose of Case Study 2 is to provide you an opportunity to solve a real business problem using quantitative technique discussed in the first 7 weeks of the semester. If you are working and your employer has been utilising management science techniques in solving business problems, this case study provides you an opportunity to learn from your experienced colleagues. It is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your quantitative competence to your employer. If your firm has yet to use management science techniques in problem solving, this case study can raise the awareness of scientific approach to business decision.

Part One 20 Marks Due date: 9th Sep
Your task is to identify a business problem which can be solved by one of the following techniques: Decision theory, regression, forecasting, inventory and linear programming. Prepare a report to the management stating clearly the problem you are tackling, the data source, the technique applied, the optimal solution (with process reaching the solution, tables and graphs), the appropriate course of action and recommendation.
If you are not working in a business organisation, your case study can be a report on forecasting (e.g. sales forecasting, market share, etc, etc) or a regression estimation for a listed company . We will have a discussion on topic selection in Week 1 tutorial.
Part One of Case Study 2 will be submitted in two copies: one copy for marking and the second copy for your peer to be used for their Part Two of the Case Study 2. No submission extension is granted.
The Part One will be marked according to whether the quantitative technique applied appropriately and whether the report is prepared properly.

Part Two 10 Marks Due Date: 30th Sep
You are the manager who received the report (from Part One). With the experience gained from Case Study 1, your task is to evaluate the report from a manager’s perspective for whether the report finding serve the objective of the report purported; whether the quantitative technique achieved what supposed to be, whether recommendation can be implemented.
Part Two is also submitted in two copies: one for marking and one for your feedback to the report writer.
The Part Two will be marked depends on how astute you can pinpoint the flaws in the report. Since Part One is marked before the submission of Part Two, your criticism on other students’ report will not affect their marks, but the report writer will benefit from your criticism. No submission extension is granted.