North South University: School of Business & Economics

MBA & EMBA Programs

Course Name: Business Statistics (BUS511.5), Semester: Summer 2023
Assessed Research Project, Total: 30 Marks
Q1. A supermarket manager decides to investigate how long it takes to unload deliveries from a
truck. An initial consideration of the problem suggests that the unloading time could depend on
both the volume of the delivery and the weight of the delivery. In addition, the supermarket has
a day shift and a night shift, and the manager suspects that the unloading times may be different
for the two shifts. Twenty two deliveries are selected at random for the day and night shifts, and
the unloading times are measured together with the volumes and weights of the deliveries. The
data set obtained is presented in the following Table. .

Volume of Weight of load Shift Unloading time

load (𝑚3 ) (1000 kg) (miniutes)
79 43 Day 48
76 46 Day 42
84 43 Day 44
66 32 Day 33
98 56 Day 53
98 57 Day 58
92 56 Day 52
73 38 Day 34
80 44 Day 40
62 37 Day 24
87 45 Night 47
120 48 Day 49
67 44 Night 32
62 37 Night 30
76 36 Night 39
93 55 Night 56
61 41 Night 23
53 32 Night 20
63 43 Night 35
77 49 Night 42
59 40 Night 19
60 43 Night 100

Part A

(i) Identify the type of each variable and their corresponding measurement of scale.
(ii) In the context of this problem, determine the dependent and independent variables.
 (iii) Using the above information create an SPSS data set named “Project” in an efficient
way.
(iv) Obtain the frequency distribution/ summary statistics for each variable.
(v) Display the above information in a graphical way.
(vi) Perform appropriate bivariate analyses in a sensible way.
(vii) Investigate the effects of volume of load, weight of load and shift on unloading time
using a suitable statistical technique (modeling).
(viii) Mention the methodology or technique which you have used to carry out the above
investigation.
(ix) Suppose the supermarket manager’s friend is not interested in considering the shift
variable in the model although the manager wants to include it. Solve their debate
using an appropriate way (you may need to perform hypotheses).

Part B

Check whether there exists any outliers or not in the above data set (check separately for each
variable). If you find any outlier in the above data set for any variable then delete the row which
consists of outlier as a remedy measure. Repeat all the tasks you are asked to do in Part A to see
where there is any effect of outlier, and compare the results obtained from Part A and Part B.

(x) Write a non-technical report for your boss in the context of the above data analysis.

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