Task 1
You have been asked to write a brief overview of the mobile phone market in the UK. Specifically, Eco-Fone would like to know summary statistics with respect to work-related activities in the period 2016-17.
Prepare your one-paragraph overview based on information from Deloitte which can be found on page 19 and data in figure 6, page 20 at:
(https://www.deloitte.co.uk/mobileuk/assets/img/download/global-mobile-consumer-survey-2017_uk-cut.pdf)
and in Moodle.
Note that you should not copy verbatim the information contained in the Deloitte report. Based on the data, include your report your own mixed bar chart for 2016 (green) and 2017 (blue) for the only the top FOUR activities.
Task 2
Using an EXCEL spreadsheet, produce an appropriate line chart based on data contained in figure 3, page 13 of the Deloitte Report to represent UK adult smartphone use 2012-2017. Use your chart to forecast similar use in 2018 and 2019. Explain briefly why a linear forecast would not work well in this case. Which forecast model would work well?
Task 3
Having gained a better understanding of the smartphone market, you decide to start analysing a perceived increase in smartphone sales by older customers based on a BBC news article available at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41319684
Identify and summarise some of the features which make smartphones so popular with older customers.
Task 4
Currently, all of Eco-Fone’s operations are carried out at the two shops in the Borough of Richmond. The business has never operated across the border in Kingston but anecdotal evidence suggests that business is thriving. In order to initially answer Eco-Fone’s question “Should I expand my business to Kingston”, you have decided to use a ‘pros and cons method’ table (see figure T4). Complete the table and briefly summarise whether or not to expand to Kingston.
Should we expand our business to Kingston?
Pros Score/10 Cons Score/10
Total Pros Total Cons
Average Pros Average Cons
Figure T4. A ‘pros and cons method’ table for expanding to Kingston.
Task 5
If Eco-Fone does decide to expand, extended operations will require improved facilities and, as it happens, highly-suitable new premises for retail use are available in central Kingston. The new building is available for lease or sale but Eco-Fone already owns (subject to repayment mortgage) the two Borough of Richmond shops and prefers to own rather than lease. The asking price for the new building is £400,000 but this might be negotiable closer to £350,000.
a) Calculate the monthly cost of a 15-year repayment mortgage of £350,000, where interest is applied to the loan outstanding at the beginning of each year and the mortgage rate is 7% per annum. Show your Excel formula in your report Appendix.
b) Represent an appropriate graphic containing any of any of the eight logos of well-known commercial mortgage lenders in the UK.
Task 6
Eco-Fone’s two retail shops offer discounted mobile phones and accessories. Both shops have been running for several months and Eco-Fone now wants to compare the net taking from both shops. A sample of 40 net daily takings from the first shop has a mean £100 and a standard deviation of £20. A sample of 40 net daily takings from the second shop has a mean of £90 and a standard deviation of £40. Are the two shops’ net takings the same? Explain your findings.
Task 7
Each year Eco-Fone has regularly processed customer questionnaires in the form of hard-copy forms filled out both in the shops and as email attachments. The typical format of the questionnaires is shown in figure T7a.
Sample Solution
