This assignment is intended to help you learn how to apply statistical methods when analyzing operational data, evaluating the performance of current marketing strategies, and recommending actionable business decisions. This is an opportunity to build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills within the context of data analysis and interpretation. You’ll gain a first-hand understanding of how data analytics supports decision-making and adds value to an organization. Scenario:  Pastas R Us, Inc. is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in noodle-based dishes, soups, and salads. Since its inception, the business development team has favored opening new restaurants in areas (within a 3-mile radius) that satisfy the following demographic conditions: Median age between 25 – 45 years old Household median income above national average At least 15% college educated adult population Last year, the marketing department rolled out a Loyalty Card strategy to increase sales. Under this program, customers present their Loyalty Card when paying for their orders and receive some free food after making 10 purchases. The company has collected data from its 74 restaurants to track important variables such as average sales per customer, year-on-year sales growth, sales per sq. ft., Loyalty Card usage as a percentage of sales, and others. A key metric of financial performance in the restaurant industry is annual sales per sq. ft. For example, if a 1200 sq. ft. restaurant recorded $2 million in sales last year, then it sold $1,667 per sq. ft. Executive management wants to know whether the current expansion criteria can be improved. They want to evaluate the effectiveness of the Loyalty Card marketing strategy and identify feasible, actionable opportunities for improvement. As a member of the analytics department, you’ve been assigned the responsibility of conducting a thorough statistical analysis of the company’s available database to answer executive management’s questions. Report:  Write a 750-word statistical report that includes the following sections: Section 1: Scope and descriptive statistics Section 2: Analysis Section 3: Recommendations and Implementation Section 1 - Scope and descriptive statistics State the report’s objective. Discuss the nature of the current database. What variables were analyzed? Summarize your descriptive statistics findings from Excel. Use a table and insert appropriate graphs. Section 2 - Analysis  Using Excel, create scatter plots and display the regression equations for the following pairs of variables: “BachDeg%” versus “Sales/SqFt” “MedIncome” versus “Sales/SqFt” “MedAge” versus “Sales/SqFt” “LoyaltyCard(%)” versus “SalesGrowth(%)” In your report, include the scatter plots. For each scatter plot, designate the type of relationship observed (increasing/positive, decreasing/negative, or no relationship) and determine what you can conclude from these relationships. Section 3: Recommendations and implementation Based on your findings above, assess which expansion criteria seem to be more effective.Could any expansion criterion be changed or eliminated? If so, which one and why? Based on your findings above, does it appear as if the Loyalty Card is positively correlated with sales growth? Would you recommend changing this marketing strategy? Based on your previous findings, recommend marketing positioning that targets a specific demographic. (Hint: Are younger people patronizing the restaurants more than older people?) Indicate what information should be collected to track and evaluate the effectiveness of your recommendations. How can this data be collected? (Hint: Would you use survey/samples or census?)

6-8 Pages APA Style include references Your work on your strategic global marketing plan is complete. You now have a plan that will implement, manage, and support a global strategy, but it is far from organized. You e-mail Deborah to inform her that you are almost ready and that the initial planning is complete. A little while later, the phone rings and you see Deborah's name on the caller ID.“Hi, Deborah. What’s up?” you ask.“I’d like you to present to the advisory board next week,” Deborah says. “They are very curious about your findings and would like to know if globalization is a good opportunity for the company. The board wants to finalize their strategic plan, and this may be a key part of it.”After you hang up, you begin thinking through the different items that you will need to cover. As you finalize the marketing plan, complete the following:Is globalization a good move for the company?What is your rationale behind this decision? Synthesize analysis conducted in previous units, including strategic considerations, cultural considerations, competitive analysis and balanced scorecard.What geographic location should be a target for global expansion?What background information can you provide to support this decision?How will this decision support the overall goal of growth and expansion?How would you refute someone with the opposing perspective?

Write a 300-word strategy evaluation report on a chosen company.Research from the Internet and from printed information can enhance strategy evaluation. Competitors' performance information can help bring perspective to an organization's performance evaluation. It is also important to look at changes, externally and internally, as an indicator for the need to modify strategy.SHOW LESSBy successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:Competency 1: Evaluate key elements of the strategic planning process. Identify strategic information on competitors using appropriate research.Recommend strategies based on strategy evaluation research.Competency 3: Apply a sequential process for developing and implementing strategies, goals, objectives, and tactics as part of the strategic plan implementation. Identify new strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats.Interpret the effectiveness of a company's strategies.Competency MapCHECK YOUR PROGRESSUse this online tool to track your performance and progress through your course.Toggle DrawerContextA strategy evaluation framework can help achieve annual and long-term objectives. Evaluation allows an organization to use internal strengths and to capitalize on external opportunities as they surface, defending against market shifts and correcting internal weaknesses before they become a problem. Successful organizations formulate, implement, and evaluate strategies intentionally and continually evaluate their strategic position—shaping their future intentionally as opposed to being shaped by external forces. Strategic management allows an organization to make effective decisions, execute those decisions efficiently, and take corrective action. The key to effective strategy evaluation is the integration of intuition and analysis. Strategic management is first a people process and a mechanism for fostering organizational communication. The planning process is more important than the written plan. In fact, the written plan is only a snapshot and because of the rapid rate of change, leaders must plan continuously.SHOW LESSStrategic management also includes formulating, implementing, and evaluating organization-wide decisions that enable an organization to achieve its objectives (David, 2014). Formulation includes the organization's mission, internal and external assessments, and the establishment of strategies. Implementation includes the creation of short-term objectives and allocation of resources to achieve strategies. Evaluation reviews performance and recommends corrective action. There are many benefits to strategic planning, including financial and competitive sustainability in a global market. Globalization, e-commerce, and attention to the environment have become important strategic concerns. Engaging employees in the strategic management process can facilitate the implementation of a well-planned strategy and enhance competitive advantage. Through this course, you have learned about the importance of mission and involvement in a sequential planning process.ReferenceDavid, F. R. (2014). Strategic management: A competitive advantage approach, concepts & cases (15th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.Toggle DrawerQuestions to ConsiderTo deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.Consider market segmentation and product positioning as a strategy-implementation tool.Consider the nature of research and development in strategy implementation.Toggle DrawerResourcesSuggested ResourcesThe following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.Library ResourcesThe following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:Tovstiga, G. (2011). Strategy in practice: A practitioner's guide to strategic thinking. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.SHOW LESSCourse Library GuideA Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the BUS-FP4015 – Strategic Planning and Implementation Library Guide to help direct your research.Bookstore ResourcesThe resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. These resources are available from the Capella University Bookstore. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course ID with the specific –FP (FlexPath) course designation.David, F. R., & David, F. R. (2017). Strategic management: A competitive advantage approach, concepts & cases (16th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.Assessment InstructionsPreparationSelect an organization to analyze. Ideally, the company you choose will be a familiar one and one to which you have easy access, such as your place of employment or a company close to where you live. You may use the same organization for other assessments in this course.DeliverableComplete the following:Use the Capella library and the Internet to locate three articles written in the last six months, or as current as possible, about the industry of your selected organization.Consider the following questions as you do your research: What new opportunities and threats, or strengths and weaknesses seem to be emerging in this industry?Do you feel that your selected organization is using effective strategies?What recommendations would you offer?Write a 300-word document titled "Strategy Evaluation Report" in which you include the following: Summarize your organization's strategy and performance in the current year.Identify strategic information about your organization's competitors.Identify new opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses that seem to be emerging in the selected organization's industry.Interpret the effectiveness of your company's strategies.Recommend strategies based on strategy evaluation research.Use APA-formatted in-text citations for information you take from the articles, and provide complete references for all articles.Additional RequirementsWritten communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.APA formatting: Ensure that resources and citations are formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.Number of resources: Include a minimum of three current articles.Required length: The body of your document should be 300 words.Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.