Pre-assessment in Business Research
A Synopsis of the Article in Pre-assessment of Statistics in Managerial Problems
Business management involves a world of decision making. Decision making requires the collection of valid data and analysis of this data. In the collection of data, pre-assessment is to be done to be able to produce an analysis that will impact positively on the decision making. Pre-assessment is an important aspect of statistical design. It is important to be able to recognize potential problems and identify significant causes and effects that may create a negative impact on the analysis. Furthermore, pre-assessment is also required in the analysis of data. The method of analysis should be carefully pre-assessed to avoid problems such as difficulties of collection and measurement, incapability of collecting data, and potential sampling error. Finally, appropriate pre-assessment of statistical data is favored to be able to know the possible rewards of the analysis.
In business research, pre-assessment is needed to be able to anticipate probable problems and issues regarding a decision making process. In this article, the business research is about a bag printing company who wants to expand their product lines into a more profitable one. They formulated a process of statistical analysis to be able to identify and assess problems, also, collect and analyze data to be used as the basis for analysis and improvement of the statistical quality of the products being produced. The current measurement system is the repeat length method using pocket rulers. Assessment of the current measurement was done to improve the system. There were two critical points in the tests: the production press and the quality control lab. But the chosen testing subjects were the QC lab. The end of the measurement tests proved that the measurement system was not capable of producing proper specifications of a demanding customer.
The main problem in this business research is that the capability of the company's production processes to attract more discriminating customers and satisfy their demanding specifications. The measurement system in the past was inadequate to produce the proper analysis and synthesis of data. The specifications of customers are a wide range of possibilities, thus, it cannot be contained in one specific set of data. Another occurring problem is the faulty and full of error measurement systems that are not qualified to measure meaningful data and standard deviations. The existing pocket ruler repeat length method was tested using calibrated rulers.
For the selection of the study group, the company chose QC personnel and production workers in the QC lab. The subjects were not given any information on what is going to happen and what they are going to do. Furthermore, the rules to be used tend to expand and contract because of temperature changes. However, QC labs are air-conditioned rooms, unlike most production areas.
In the identification of key variables and operational definitions, the age of the current system is not capable of producing precise measurements. Therefore, a new age must be identified that gives accurate measurements and eliminates as many errors as possible.
Testing of the measurement systems provides some problems such as regular testing and calibration of tape measures and an out of control chart that is inconsistent with the measurements. Thus, a better calibration must be pursued.
The company did not have the proper collection of data, there was no actual operator assigned to the job. In the end, the company ended up producing wrong results. Pre-assessment is, therefore, a very important element in the utilization of statistical methodology in managerial decision making and problem solving. Furthermore, it ensures the correctness of the screened or measured material, preventing to commit many errors and inaccuracies.
