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COMM1110 Evidence-Based Problem Solving

Assessment 3: Case Project Part 1 Guideline

Project Overview

Suppose in June 2025, you are participating in a student project at Deloitte, a leading consulting and accounting firm in Australia.

Your client, CommGrocery, a Sydney-based supermarket chain, is grappling with a significant food waste issue, particularly in its deli meats and fresh bakery items sections. CommGrocery is keen to understand the root causes of this waste and is looking for actionable recommendations to address the problem.

The store offers a variety of deli meats, including ham and salami, as well as fresh bakery items like sandwiches, pastries, and other various types of baked goods. Due to their perishable nature, these items have a relatively short shelf life. The increasing food waste is not only leading to financial losses but also raising environmental concerns for CommGrocery.

Your primary task is to prepare an initial business analysis report on the rise in food waste within CommGrocery’s fresh food section. This report will serve as the basis for an internal discussion before presenting the findings and recommendations to CommGrocery.

Always ensure your assignments are completed independently. Using paid academic cheating services to complete your work is strictly prohibited. UNSW’s integrity department investigates academic misconduct, and if confirmed, students may receive a course grade of 0, an academic misconduct record, or even face exclusion from UNSW. Please do not take the risk.

Get Individual writing feedback on your draft: https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/feedback-hub

Get individual Excel support from our COMM 1110 teachers – Details

Section 1: Use Analysis Tools to Understand the Main Issue (40%)

2) Scope the Problem: Based on what we've learned in lectures and tutorials, use the "5Ws Framework" to further analyse the problem. Select any two of the 'W's, and for each one, create three questions that explore different aspects of the issue. Then, identify the evidence needed to collect in order to answer each question. For each piece of evidence, specify the type of evidence required (e.g., Scientific Literature, Organizational Evidence, Practitioner Expertise, or Stakeholder Evidence).

Instruction: Please use the table below to answer the question. All content within the 2W table will count toward the 1,500-word limit. Therefore, please integrate the 2W table directly into your report and present your response as text.

2ws	Questions to Explore the Problem	Evidence to collect	Type of Evidence
W..	1. 2. 3.	1. 2. 3.	1. 2. 3.
W..	1. 2. 3.	1. 2. 3.	1. 2. 3.

3) Break Down the Problem: The "Logic Tree" is another tool commonly used to analyse problems. Based on what we've learned in lectures and tutorials, construct a logic tree to systematically break the problem down into its key sub-parts

a) Your logic tree should follow the Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive (MECE) principle. Ensure that each sub-branch contains relevant, non-overlapping details that together fully address the topic. It’s acceptable for the same detail to appear in two sub-branches, provided it reflects a different perspective in each case. You may create the logic tree using PowerPoint (refer to the instruction video in the Week 2 folder on Moodle) or any other tool you prefer. All text must be clearly visible—marks may be deducted if any part of the image is blurry or difficult to read.

Please insert your logic tree as an image or screenshot in your report. Content inside the image will not count toward the word limit.

b) Prioritisation: Look at your logic tree and decide which parts (branches or sub-branches) are the most important to focus on next. Clearly explain why, from your perspective, these parts are more important than others in addressing the food waste issue. This analysis will help guide what you choose to focus on when working with your Excel data later

Hint: You may consider citing a few relevant external sources to support your reasoning.

Section 2: Excel Data Analysis and Interpretation as Evidence (40%)

Context: CommGrocery has identified that a substantial portion of the increase in food waste is due to an abundance of Deli meats and Fresh bakery items reaching their expiration dates before being sold. CommGrocery has shared an Excel dataset with you, and a detailed data description is provided on page 6 and 7.

Order Details: Each record in the Excel dataset represents a single order, consisting of 300 units of pre-packed deli meats or fresh bakery items.

CommGrocery Target: CommGrocery’s food waste allowance for deli meats is capped at 9%, meaning that in any given order of 300 units of pre-packed deli meat items, a maximum of 27 units can be wasted (i.e., remain unsold before expiry). For fresh bakery items, the waste allowance is capped at 11%, or up to 33 units per order.

CommGrocery's Operation: When orders arrive at the CommGrocery store, they are firstplaced in storage before being stocked on shelves for sale. Operational procedures are followed to ensure fresh products are consistently available to customers.

Excel Data Analysis Instructions:

a) Summary Statistics: Calculate the mean and standard deviation of food waste (using the column "Quantity_Wasted") separately for deli meats and fresh bakery items. Then, compare your results with CommGrocery’s food waste allowance targets. Based on your findings, provide a brief analysis and share your own insights on current performance. Are there any issues worth noting?

b) Monthly Analysis: Based on what we learned in the tutorials, create a PivotTable in Excel to conduct a separate monthly analysis of food waste for deli meats and fresh bakery items, using the column "Quantity_Wasted". Use the "Order_Arrival_Date" column to identify the month of each order. The main goal is to analyse how food waste changes month by month for both product categories. Insert appropriate Excel diagrams (such as a PivotTable, or another chart type you find suitable) to clearly present your findings alongside your written analysis in the report.

2) Investigate Product_ShelfLife

CommGrocery suspects that logistical issues may be causing delays in moving items from storage to the shelves. These delays could reduce the amount of time products are available for sale, potentially contributing to increased food waste.

Create a new variable: Create a new column called "Product_ShelfLife" to calculate the number of days each order remains on the shelf before reaching its expiration date.

Product_ShelfLife = “Order_ Expiration_Date” – “Shelf_Stocking_Date”

Conduct a monthly analysis of "Product_ShelfLife" for deli meats and fresh bakery items separately. Create a PivotTable to calculate and display the mean and standard deviation (SD) of "Product_ShelfLife" for each month within each product category. The main goal is to analyse how these two summary statistics change from month to month within each category. You may include PivotTables or other appropriate Excel charts to visually present your findings, alongside your written analysis in the report.

If you encounter the "#VALUE!" issue while creating the new column, click here for solution

a) Create a PivotTable to display the monthly trends in the mean and standard deviation (SD) of "Price" for deli meats and fresh bakery items separately. Use the "Order_Arrival_Date" column to group the data by month. Insert appropriate Excel diagrams (such as PivotTables or other suitable chart types) to visually present your findings.

Alongside your visuals, include a written analysis discussing how the monthly price trends may relate to the food waste you analysed in Part 1 of this section. Explain whether changes in price patterns appear to be linked to increases or decreases in food waste.

b) Conduct a further analysis of the monthly price trends for deli meats and fresh bakery items. In addition to calculating the mean and standard deviation (SD), select one or two additional statistics for analysis. These can be chosen from PivotTable options or other relevant measures you see fit (e.g., count, minimum, maximum, or median, etc). Use appropriate Excel diagrams to visually present your findings. In your report, provide a clear explanation of how these insights may be relevant to the food waste analysis you completed in Part 1 of this section. Discuss potential relationships between price trends and changes in food waste.

Section 3: Ethical Dilemmas Analysis (20%)

CommGrocery is exploring a new initiative to reduce food waste, where near-expiry deli meats and bakery items are repurposed into ready-to-eat meals or donated to local food charities.

The goal is to minimise unsold stock while supporting community access to food. However, some staff members have expressed concerns that offering near-expiry items—even as donations or prepared food—might lead customers to question the freshness and safety of these products, despite them being within the acceptable consumption period.

Choose one stakeholder affected by CommGrocery’s food waste policy (e.g., CommGrocery, consumers, local council, food banks, shelters, or manufacturers). Identify one ethical dilemma the stakeholder faces in relation to the policy and explain how CommGrocery’s efforts to reduce food waste could create an ethical impact or cause harm to this stakeholder.

Instruction: You are NOT required to use the “7-step Ethical Decision-Making Framework”.

Instead, your task is to identify one potential ethical dilemma from the perspective of your chosen stakeholder. To explore the dilemma, you may use the four ethical lenses taught in our Week 4 lecture and tutorials. You do not need to apply all four—it's acceptable to focus in-depth on a few of them to demonstrate different perspectives on the same ethical issue.

Hint: It may be helpful to cite a few relevant external sources to support your argument and strengthen your analysis.

Important Notes

Personal Excel Data Details

Each student will receive a personalised dataset consisting of 500 records, collected mainly from 1/01/2024 to 31/12/2024. Each observation in the dataset represents detailedinformation about individual food orders at CommGrocery.

Variables:

The dataset encompasses 8 variables, each providing different insights into the food waste issue at CommGrocery. Here is a brief overview of each variable included in the dataset: 

Variable Name	Description	Example Values
Order_ID	A unique identifier for each order.	43E4X6VIY
Order_Type	The type of food item in the order.	Deli meats or Fresh bakery items
Price	The Selling Price at which CommGrocery sells the item (Deli meats and Fresh bakery items) to their consumers. The price is in Australian dollar ($).	28.46
Order_Arrival_Date	The date the order arrives at the CommGrocery store (storage area). *Note: Multiple orders can arrive at the same date.	2/11/2024
Shelf_Stocking_Date	The date when the items are placed on the shelf for sale.	4/12/2024
Order_ Expiration_Date	The expiration date of the food items in the order.	11/01/2024
Quantity_Ordered	The total quantity of food items ordered in each order, expressed in number of units.	300 units
Quantity_Wasted	The total quantity (in number of units) of food items wasted in this order due to not being sold before expiration.	11 units

Rubric and Criteria for Assessment 3

Criteria		Fail	Pass	Credit	Distinction	High Distinction
1. Analytical Problem-Solving	40%	Does not define or scope the problem accurately. The logic tree is missing or inaccurately constructed. Didn’t address the assessment requirement.	The problem definition, 2W table, and logic tree are included but provide only basic or limited detail.	The problem definition, 2W table, and logic tree are included, with somewhat clearer and more relevant details that address the assessment question.	The problem definition, 2W table, and logic tree are included, with relevant and well-developed details that directly address the assessment question. The problem is clearly defined and accurately scoped. A fully MECE-compliant logic tree is constructed, providing clear and meaningful analysis and insights from the student’s perspective.	The problem is precisely defined and effectively scoped. The 2W table contain highly relevant details with a clear and insightful connection to the assessment question. A fully MECE-compliant logic tree is constructed and used as a foundation for deep analysis. The student goes beyond simple description by providing independent reasoning, thoughtful interpretation, and original insights based on the logic tree and 2W table. Their analysis demonstrates a deep understanding of the problem and showcases a high level of critical thinking from the student’s perspective.
2. Statistical Problem-Solving	40%	Does not apply or inaccurately applies statistical tools. Visual representation is unclear or inappropriate, and insights are missing. Didn’t address the assessment requirement.	Basic statistical tools are used, with some small errors. Charts or visuals are clear, but the explanation may be shallow.	Accurately applies statistical data analysis, uses appropriate visual representation, with somewhat clearer and more relevant details that address the assessment question.	The Excel data analysis is accurate and supported by clear, well-designed diagrams. The analysis includes relevant and well-developed details that directly address the assessment question, providing clear and meaningful insights from the student’s perspective for each question.	The Excel data analysis is accurate, comprehensive, and supported by clear, relevant diagrams. The student goes beyond simply describing charts or reporting values by offering independent reasoning, critical interpretation, and original insights for each question. The analysis clearly addresses the assessment task and demonstrates a strong understanding of the data's implications from the student’s perspective.
3. Ethical Dilemma Problem-Solving	20%	Provides a partial or limited description of an ethical dilemma, or the links with ethics are unclear. Didn’t address the assessment requirement.	An ethical dilemma is described in a general way, with some attention to the right details.	Provides a sound description of an appropriate and well-specified ethical dilemma with solid focus on relevant details and stakeholders.	Provides a clear and well-structured description of an appropriate and well defined ethical dilemma, with a strong focus on relevant details—such as the impact of the dilemma and its potential harm on the chosen stakeholder. The student fully addresses the assessment question and offers thoughtful analysis supported by ethical reasoning and meaningful insight from their perspective.	Provides a clear and well-structured description of a relevant and well defined ethical dilemma, with strong focus on specific impacts and potential harm to the chosen stakeholder. The student goes beyond simply restating definitions by applying independent ethical reasoning, drawing on relevant ethical lenses, and offering original, thoughtful insights. The analysis fully addresses the assessment question and demonstrates a deep understanding of the ethical complexity from the student’s perspective.

This Assessment 3 and 4 provides a valuable opportunity to practise conducting basic Excel data analysis and ethical analysis, and to use them as evidence to support your discussion of the food waste issue.

You are encouraged to analyse your Excel data using the knowledge gained from our lectures and tutorials to draw relevant insights or conclusions— this is what analysis involves. These skills will be beneficial for both your future studies and your professional career.