MGRCM0017
Supply Chain Analytics
Coursework
Administration
• This is the second of two assessments for this unit.
• This is an individual coursework.
• This contributes to 50% of the total unit mark.
• The submission deadline is Wednesday, 2 April, 2025, at 1pm, on Blackboard.
• Please use either Times New Roman or Calibri, with a font size of 12, 1.5 line spacing, and justified alignment.
• A suggested guideline for length is 1,500 words (excluding references, tables, figures, and appendices). The actual length may vary, but prioritize the quality of the analysis and report over quantity. Learn to report effectively and succinctly, selecting tables/figures thoughtfully based on their relevance to the content.
Coursework Description
Suppose you are a consultant hired by UOB Dining, a restaurant chain company operating multiple restaurants nationwide. The company has provided you with a dataset containing the average number of customers for restaurants randomly selected in regions A and B, respectively. Specifically, the data file “assessment_region_a.csv” contains the monthly average number of customers who visited sample restaurants in Region A, while “assessment_region_b.csv” contains the daily average number of customers who visited sample restaurants in Region B. The dataset for Region B includes additional information such as weather, temperature, feeling temperature, and humidity.
As a consultant for UOB Dining, your task is to analyze these datasets, prepare a report recommending a forecasting method for predicting the number of customers in each region, and generate customer forecasts. Additionally, provide a concise overview of your chosen forecasting methods to help UOB Dining’s management team understand customer forecasting techniques.
For each region, choose the most suitable forecasting method, selecting between exponential smoothing and regression. Alternatively, you may explore other methods if appropriate.
Coursework Organization
With this coursework, your report should encompass at least the following elements:
• Executive Summary:
• Summarize the purpose, methodology, findings, and recommendations of the report.
• Introduction:
• Discuss the importance of forecasting these variables for the organization.
• Highlight how the forecasts might be used.
• Include descriptive statistics of the variables used in your forecasts.
• Forecasting for Region A:
• Justify the choice of the forecasting method explored.
• Provide a brief overview of the chosen forecasting method.
• Discuss assumptions made during the completion of this work.
• Forecasting for Region B:
• Justify the choice of the forecasting method explored.
• Provide a brief overview of the chosen forecasting method.
• Discuss assumptions made during the completion of this work.
• Findings:
• Present results obtained from your analysis.
• Discuss your findings.
• Compare the accuracy of different methods, if applicable.
• Provide recommendations on the most appropriate forecasting method.
• Include the production of required future forecasts.
• Offer qualitative commentary on the confidence in your forecasts.
• Conclusion:
• Summarize the key points of your work.
• Provide a conclusion based on your findings.
• Discuss suggestions for extending the work if time and resources were available.
• References:
• Include a list of all references used in the report.
• Appendix:
• Include all R codes used in the analysis.
Marking
You will be assessed on:
• The correctness of your model choices and applications
• The correctness and details in your interpretations ofthe output
• The clarity of the interpretation of your analysis and presentation of recommendations for management’s understanding
• The structure and presentation style of the report with due regards to target audience
• Depth of thought and research on discussion of assumptions underlying the work
• Breadth of thinking demonstrated in conducting and presenting ideas for any relevant extended analysis beyond the basic brief (especially if based on your own independent reading)
Intended Learning Outcomes
This assignment assesses the following unit ILOs:
• Demonstrate understanding of the main descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytical models and tools for supply chain management
• Apply the main descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytical models and tools available for analysing supply chain management
• Use computer software for analysing and modelling projects and problems.
• Interpret analytical results to form. an opinion on a given business question
• Demonstrate a critical approach to the selection of analytical tools for a given problems and the opportunities and limitations inherent in both the tool and the application environment.
• Distinguish different approaches when communicating technical information, whether orally or written, to different audiences, whether specialist or generalist, strategic or tactical.