M1a: Organizing and Interpreting Data Scenario Assignment

Scenario Script

Caption Text: After several productive years, Princess Foods Corporation has amassed

enough capital, marketing identity, and operational expertise to make a major push into new

product lines and markets. To help manage this growth, Princess Foods Corporation has hired

you as a consultant.

Princess Foods Corporation has been considering a new offering, a premium, high-quality ice

cream that is low in sugar and calories. This new "Tiara" line will be offered to customers in

exotic flavors, such as Avocado Sea Salt, Ginger Rosewater, and Rosemary Goat Milk, and will

use locally sourced, organic ingredients.

Bonnie: Well, I suppose we might as well just throw you into the fire. We've been piloting the

"Tiara" line for the past 50 weeks. I have a presentation to the board on Tuesday and they're

going to be expecting an update on the pilot. Could you wade through this data and put together

a short report for me? I'm glad you're here.

Here's the raw data. Can you organize this?

Assignment

Bonnie has an upcoming presentation to the board and would like to include some market

research from the pilot period.

In the Excel spreadsheet are the profits and losses in thousands for Princess Foods Corporation

for 50 weeks. The data reflects the performance of the "Tiara" line during the period of the pilot.

2294

1601

4567

3461

97

2423

-617

20

3640

3920

-387

3755

1440

3709

454

2080

3197

-2827

5600

3681

1417

184

-404

2056

-795

-2258

258

-1021

4773

-142

3154

3273

2403

3505

4942

2086

3006

1578

3780

3636

308

3063

3368

3535

2311

-732

5453

1939

3484

3293

M1b: Empirical Rule as it Relates to Normal Distribution Scenario

Assignment

Scenario Script

Caption: Production at the Burlington facility of the Princess Foods Corporation has been found

to occur at a normal distribution. While some weeks are extremely productive and others fall far

enough below the average to be considered especially unproductive, production generally

follows the pattern of a bell curve.

Bonnie: I'm still concerned that the quality control issues will cause production to drop too low.

We have another board meeting in a few weeks. If production dips that week, we are in bad

shape.

Caption: Depending on the timing, an off week could have an inordinately large impact on the

business if that bad week is enough to make shareholders skittish.

Bonnie: Can you to do some research on the probability that production will stay above targets

on any given week?

Assignment

Use the empirical rule to draw conclusions about the data set below assuming a normal

distribution and to determine the probability of Modules produced per week at Princess Foods

Corporation.

Production has been determined to be a normal distribution

Average production is 12,000 Modules per week with a standard deviation of 600

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the probability that next week's production is between 11,400 to 13,200?

2. What is the probability that next week's production be less than10,200?

3. What is the probability that next week's production is between 12,600 and 13,800?

Due Dates

11:59pm ET, Sunday.

Grading Criteria and Guidelines

Grading criteria and detailed instructions for submission of assignments are available on the

course website. Please use the memo template provided in the Assignments area.