Question #$3(20$ Marks$)$

Consider a shop that sales Television $($TV$)$ in Oman. You are required to collect sales data for the years $2013$ to $2023$ and determine the following. $($Note: The data can be collected in person or from the relevant websites. Data sources should be cited$).$

a$)$ Discuss the benefits of forecasting in a service company.

$[3$ marks$]$

b$)$ Use three moving$-$average forecasting methods to predict sales value for $2025.$

$[3$ marks$]$

c$)$ Use the exponential smoothing forecasting method and forecast for the next three years.

$[4$ marks$]$

d$)$ Use the trend projection forecasting method and answer the following:

i$.$ The least squares trend line and the predicted value for $2025$ sales.

$[3$ marks$]$

ii$.$ Discuss the predicted value of the sales.

$[3$ marks$]$

ii$.$ Are there differences in the forecasted values from the above three forecasting methods? Justify.

$[4$ marks$]$