Instructions
Choose one of the two scenarios provided below (Healthcare or Business Management). Review your chosen scenario carefully and complete the four tasks that follow. This assignment assesses your ability to evaluate the statistical suitability of a problem, recommend a solution based on data, and construct and execute a hypothesis testing plan using appropriate statistical methods.
Scenario 1: Healthcare Management
Context:
You are a hospital administrator at GeneralCare Hospital. Recently, patient feedback has indicated growing dissatisfaction with wait times in the outpatient clinic. You are asked to analyze wait time data and determine whether the concern is statistically valid and actionable.
Data Collected:
- Average patient wait time: 55 minutes
- National average wait time benchmark: 45 minutes
- Standard deviation of wait times: 12 minutes
- Sample size of surveyed patients: 150
Tasks:
Evaluate Problem Suitability (CLO1):
- Is this issue appropriate for statistical analysis using hypothesis testing? Provide a clear justification.
- Identify the key factors you considered in determining whether this is a suitable problem for statistical evaluation.
Recommend Problem Resolution (CLO2):
- Based on the data provided, what initial recommendations would you make to clinic management regarding patient wait times?
- Address operational or contextual factors that may impact your recommendation.
Hypothesis Testing Plan (CLO4):
- State your null and alternative hypotheses to test whether GeneralCare Hospital’s wait times significantly exceed the national average.
- Identify and justify the appropriate hypothesis test for this scenario (e.g., z-test or t-test).
- Briefly outline the steps you would take to perform the test, including selection of a significance level.
Perform Analysis and Interpret Results:
- Conduct the hypothesis test using the provided data.
- Report the test statistic, p-value, and your conclusion.
- Clearly explain whether you reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis, and describe the implications for hospital management.
Scenario 2: Business Management – Human Resources
Context:
You are an HR analyst at a mid-sized professional services firm. Leadership recently implemented a revised onboarding and training program aimed at improving early-stage productivity for new employees. Now that the program has been in place for one quarter, you are asked to evaluate whether the program has had a statistically significant effect on new employee performance.
Data Collected:
- Average productivity score after training implementation: 82
- Historical average productivity score before the new program: 78
- Standard deviation of productivity scores: 10
- Sample size of new employees evaluated: 50
Tasks:
Evaluate Problem Suitability (CLO1):
- Is this employee performance issue appropriate for statistical analysis using hypothesis testing? Clearly justify your evaluation.
- What considerations are critical when determining whether this is a statistically suitable issue?
Recommend Problem Resolution (CLO2):
- Based on the descriptive data provided, what initial recommendations could you propose to HR leadership regarding the new onboarding program?
- Include any relevant ethical, operational, or strategic factors that may influence your recommendation.
Hypothesis Testing Plan (CLO4):
- Clearly state your null and alternative hypotheses to test whether the new training program significantly improved employee productivity.
- Identify and justify the appropriate hypothesis test (e.g., z-test, t-test) for this analysis.
- Briefly describe the steps you would take to conduct this hypothesis test.
Perform Analysis and Interpret Results:
- Conduct the hypothesis test using the provided data.
- Report the test statistic, p-value, and your conclusion.
- Clearly explain whether you reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis, and what this means for decisions about the future of the onboarding program.
Submission Guidelines / Criteria for Success
Clearly label your responses under each of the four numbered tasks.
- Submit a Word document report (500–750 words) with your written responses.
- Submit an Excel file that includes your statistical calculations, output, and any formulas used.
- Use professional and concise language appropriate for a business or healthcare management audience.