Hoover

BUD 6800

Te ch Proje ct #1 – Data Analys is with Pivot Table s

50 Points Pos s ible

For this as s ignme nt – you will de mons trate your ability to us e Exce l Pivot table s to analyze data

and produce charts/graphs to aid you in pre s e nting your analys is and s upporting your

re comme ndations .

Cas e Background:: Hoover Medical Supplies, Inc, is a large manufacturing company located in Columbus, Ohio. The company is currently seeking to gain operational efficiencies in its supply chain by reducing the number

of transportation carriers that it is using from five to three. Brian Hoover, the CEO of Hoover Medical Supplies has hired you to analyze its data and make a clear recommendation about how to reduce transportation costs while retaining a high level of service from its best carriers. Hoover has customers in Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

Data Available : The HooverData_2021.xls file contains all the shipping invoices submitted by its current carriers and paid by Hoover. Shipping is billed by the pound at a rate that considers fuel costs, driver costs and truck

costs. The file also includes data collected by tracking the delivery schedule of the shipments - reflected in the column of Days Overdue. Late deliveries are not tolerated by Hoover’s customers and need to be minimized within its carrier pool.

Proje ct Focus : Carrier selection should be based on the assumptions that all environmental factors are equal and that historical cost trends will continue. Review the historical data from the past several years to determine your recommendation for the top three carriers that Hoover should continue to use. Be sure that the

three carriers recommended will provide adequate coverage of all states currently serviced. (Don’t assume carriers will expand their services to states not currently served.)

1) Analyze the last 24 months of Hoover’s carrier transactions found in the data

file:HooverData_2021.xls. .

2) Apply what you learned about the use of Excel Pivot Tables and do a thorough analysis of the data to determine which carriers provide the best service at the best price to the states that

Hoover services. Consider whether you should look at totals or averages in your analysis. Slice and Dice (pivot) the data a number of different ways to help you in your analysis. Look at each factor – service, price and quality. Spend some time thinking about the problem and how best to analyze the data.

3) Review your analysis and determine the top three carriers that you recommend to be reta ined.

Prepare a memo to Mr. Brian Hoover in which you detail your recommendation for the top three carriers with which Hoover should continue to do business. Organize your memo to be succinct

but informative. Be sure to support your recommendation with the facts and results of your analysis because there are some biases amongst your co-workers that may distort their view of the carriers. To better make your argument, your report must support your recommendation by

presenting the data using visualization techniques. Charts and graphs should be well designed and labeled, and include legends, titles, and values where appropriate.

Apply Excel Pivot Tables and do a thorough analysis of the data.

Proje ct De live rable s : You must demonstrate your ability to create and use pivot tables to complete this assignment. Save each created Pivot Tables in your Excel workbook under a separate worksheet (tab). Create Charts on the

data elements that you will use to justify your recommendation in the word document. Write a Me mo in MS-word with your recommendation of which three carriers Hoover should continue to do business with. Be sure to support your recommendation with facts and numbers from the data

because there are some biases amongst your co-workers that may distort their view of the carriers. To better make your argument, your report mus t include at least thre e charts and thre e table s (designed in Excel and copy and pasted into Word) that support your recommendation.

Use a formal and professional writing style and tone in your report. Us e a Me mo template (found in Micros oft Word). Address the memo to me – use your name in the “From” section. Check your grammar and spelling. Use complete sentences and bullet lists to succinctly but thoroughly state the

results of your analysis and your recommendation.

Upload your update d Exce l file – (with all your Pivot table s that you cre ate d to pe rform your analys is ) and MS-Word re port to the Blackboard as s ignme nt page . Just be sure to analyze the data

from all angles. I would like to remind you that this homework assignment must be completed and submitted individua lly.

Point bre akdown: Total 50 point

 15 points for Excel document – demonstrating the correct use of Pivot Tables and a thorough

analysis of the data (file must be posted to Blackboard to receive credit). I define thorough as 5 or more points of analysis.

 5 points for Prope r Analysis – Proper analysis uses the right variables, in the right form

 15 points for your Word Document – using a Me mo te mplate and a formal, professional tone

with attention to writing and style (also posted to Blackboard)

 10 points for the graphics (tables and charts) inserted into your Word Document to illustrate and support your recommendation

 10 points for clearly and concisely making a recommendation of 3 carriers to keep

 -50 Points for not using given Excel data