Assignment tasks/description
Procurement Analytics for
'Velocipede Cycles'
Velocipede Cycles, a highly successful and expanding Australian-based retail chain,
is at a critical juncture. For the past decade, the company has built its reputation on
stocking high-quality road, mountain, and gravel bikes, along with premium
components and accessories from leading global brands. With 15 stores now
operating across major cities, the company has seen impressive year-on-year sales
growth, solidifying its position in the competitive cycling market.
However, a recent internal review has flagged a worrying trend: while sales revenue
continues to climb, the company's net profit margins are starting to shrink. The senior
management team, led by CEO Jane Smith and COO Mark Williams, suspects that
the problem lies not with sales, but with the efficiency and management of the
procurement process. They believe that their current purchasing strategy, which has
evolved organically over time, is no longer fit for purpose. Key concerns include a
lack of clear insight into what they are paying for high-demand items like carbon
frames and electronic groupsets, inconsistent pricing across different suppliers for
the same items, and an over-reliance on a few key vendors that could expose the
business to significant supply chain risks.
The team has acknowledged that they lack the time and resources to manually
review thousands of purchasing records. They have therefore commissioned your
team of junior analysts to conduct a deep-dive into the company's historical
purchasing data from the last two years. The goal is to move beyond simple cost
tracking and to provide a strategic, data-driven perspective on the entire
procurement function. Your analysis should not only identify past inefficiencies but,
more importantly, highlight future opportunities for savings and risk mitigation.
Your final report, to be presented to the senior management team, must be more
than just a summary of data. It needs to be a professional, visually compelling, and
actionable document. The executives are time-poor and not highly technical, so your
visualisations must be clear, intuitive, and tell a compelling story. Your insights
should directly inform their decisions on whether to renegotiate supplier contracts,
consolidate purchasing, or diversify their supply chain to ensure the long-term health
and profitability of Velocipede Cycles.
Your Tasks
Your group of 3-4 analysts must produce an analytics & visualisation report for the
senior management team containing key insights (and/or foresights) based on the
dataset. The report must contain Task 1 & 2 AND three selections from Task 3 - Task
6.
● Task 1: Data Quality Assessment
Your first task is to perform a data quality assessment on the provided dataset.
Identify and document any missing values, inconsistencies, logical errors, formatting
issues, or other issues. Explain the data wrangling and cleaning steps you've taken
to prepare the data for analysis, providing a clear rationale for your decisions (e.g.,
imputation of values, removal of outliers, standardising data types) as an appendix.
In the main report, the Data Quality Assessment section ought to provide the
summary-level explanation of the assessment of the quality of the dataset and
assurance that post-data wrangling, the data is sufficiently of good quality to provide
confidence in the analysis and the insights produced.
● Task 2: KPI Monitoring & Executive Overview
Your first task is to establish the baseline for procurement performance. You need to
develop an analysis that provides a comprehensive overview of key purchasing
metrics. This analysis will serve as the "first line of defence" for executives to monitor
the health of the procurement function at a glance.
● Task 3: Cost Savings Analysis
This task focuses on quantifying the effectiveness of the procurement team by
identifying realised savings or losses on a per-item basis. This will help management
understand which products are driving savings and which are costing the business
more than they should.
● Task 4: Risk Assessment & Supplier Dependency
Your goal is to identify vulnerabilities in the supply chain that could disrupt business
operations. Velocipede Cycles is particularly concerned about sourcing critical,
high-value components, as a disruption here could halt bike builds and sales.
● Task 5: Opportunity Identification & Supplier Consolidation
This task is about finding opportunities to improve purchasing power and streamline
operations. Management wants to know where they can get the most value for their
spend and reduce the administrative burden of managing too many contracts.
● Task 6: Supplier Performance Evaluation
This final task involves assessing and ranking the performance of individual
suppliers to inform future purchasing decisions. The goal is to build a fair and
objective system for identifying who the company should be working with more
closely.
Expected Deliverables
1. The Report: This report will include a data quality assessment, the
insights from the four tasks with compelling data visualisations, and
relevant references. Each insight must be supported by a compelling and
well-designed data visualisation. These visualisations serve as the primary
evidence for your claims. The quality, clarity, and appropriateness of your
visualisations are critical, as they must be able to stand on their own to tell
a part of the story.
2. Tableau Workbook Package (.twbx)
3. Tableau Prep Builder Packaged Flow File (.tflx)
4. Infographic
The client has requested an infographic summarising the key findings of
your analysis. This infographic should visually present clear, concise
purpose-driven data visualisations and relevant graphical elements. It
needs to be highly engaging and easy to understand, guiding the client
through the most critical insights with a logical flow. The aim is to present
complex information quickly and impactful.
This group assignment requires your team's ability to conduct data analysis
appropriate for the target audience (i.e., senior management). It requires the
application of data analytics & visualisation techniques. Your report containing
insights/foresights supported by appropriate data visualisation should provide Senior
Management with the ability to develop a data-driven actionable strategy for
optimising their organisation.
This group of senior management team is sophisticated and very critical. They will
not be satisfied being given statements and/or recommendations. They will scrutinise
the information you give them. Hence, your line manager specifically requested your
team to also provide strong groundings on every insights, information, trends,
recommendations and conclusion.
Remember:
1. This is not about rewriting parts of the assigned case/task, so please avoid
copying part(s) of the case/task narrative;
2. As part of a case study analysis, critical thinking, synthesis, analysis, and
your professional views are critical to the task. These need to be informed
and supported by the appropriate literature (i.e., in-text references) and
the data analysis;
3. Refer to the marking rubric for the required scholarly references (i.e.,
journal papers, conference papers) is required. It is important that you
employ only resources which are accepted as being scholarly and
academically reliable (i.e., journal papers, conference papers). Corporate
website, Wikipedia or the individual opinions expressed in some Blogs and
Web articles are nice to read and may contain valuable information, but
these are not regarded as “scholarly references”. The Swinburne
University library database features many useful and high quality
references. If you have difficulty in using this database you will find the
library tutorials helpful;
4. Marks on the scholarly aspect will not be allocated solely based on the
number of quality references, but rather, on how the references are used
to support/enrich the statements/analysis within the report;
5. All references should be appropriately cited using the APA referencing
style;
6. It is expected that all work submitted would have been proof-read & edited
to avoid spelling & grammar oddities/mistakes. The resulting written work
needs to be presented in a professional manner and format: i.e., Pages
need to be numbered, evidence of attention to layout and structure needs
to be demonstrated. The written submission is to be formatted as a report,
word-processed in 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing. The word count does
not include the executive summary, table of contents, references and
appendices;
7. Analysis of the data provided and its presentation would be a key element
of this assignment;
8. Infographic to capture and present the key aspects of your findings is
required.
9. For this assignment, Generative AI (Gen-AI) tools are permitted to enhance your
learning and deepen your understanding of the subject matter. However, it is
crucial that these tools are not used to generate or write any part of your
assignment content for submission. Any indication of such inappropriate use
will lead to a formal interview and a potential referral to academic misconduct
proceedings. To support your learning, this unit also features an AI-powered
virtual assistant, which you are encouraged to engage with for clarification and
guidance.
Rubric
CriteriaRatingsPts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome
Quality of Analysis
Quality of Case Analysis and Data Analysis in relation to the Case Study
12 to >9.6 PtsExcellentOutstanding, insightful work. Goes beyond requirements of the task to develop a
response, which is thoughtful, reflective, and considers alternative views and makes connections among
ideas and information from different sources. -- Systematically and methodically discriminates between
assertion or personal opinion and information substantiated by robust and relevant evidence. Identifies and
rectifies logical flaws. -- Consistently demonstrates well-informed and well-balanced arguments throughout
the written work.
9.6 to >8.4 PtsVery GoodVery good work. Purposefully and logically developed. Thoroughly addresses all
aspects of the task. Synthesis of details and concepts from various sources or topics shows evidence of
sound understanding and thoughtful examination.-- Systematically discriminates between assertion or
personal opinion and information substantiated by relevant evidence. Identifies logical flaws.--
Demonstrates informed and balanced arguments/considerations of key issues throughout the written work.
8.4 to >7.2 PtsGoodGood work. Generally clear, accurate and relevant. Adequately addresses all
requirements of the task. Demonstrates understanding of key concepts, with evidence of some thoughtful
examination and reflection. Tends to focus on one interpretation. -- Discriminates between assertion or
personal opinion and information substantiated by relevant evidence. Identifies logical flaws.--
Demonstrates good attempts to present informed arguments/considerations of key issues throughout the
written work.
7.2 to >5.9 PtsAcceptableSatisfactory work. Shows basic understanding of concepts with minimal
evidence of reflection or thoughtful analysis. Complies with the basic requirements, relies on limited
sources of information, little integration of concepts.-- Discriminates between assertion or personal opinion
and information substantiated by evidence.-- Demonstrates reasonable attempts to present informed
arguments/considerations of key issues throughout the written work.
5.9 to >0 PtsNeeds ImprovementUnsatisfactory work. Fails to address the topic in a meaningful way. May
be extremely brief, inaccurate, not logical or undeveloped. Conflates or confuses assertion and personal
opinion with information substantiated by robust evidence. Lacks logic or confuses logic with emotion.
12 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome
Quality of Viz
Quality of the Data Visualization
12 to >9.6 PtsExcellentOverall the data visualisations are of exceptional quality. No omissions or further
clarifications required. The well designed data visualisations (with appropriate metrics and data visuals)
added additional value to the data and provide the reader with an effective overview of the analysed data.
There are excellent demonstration of advanced techniques in processing and analysing the data, including
in generating the viz.
9.6 to >8.4 PtsVery GoodThe dashboard and the data sets provided are designed appropriately with the
user/viewer in mind. Only minor omissions and clarifications required in improving the data visuals. There
are ample demonstrations of more advanced techniques in processing and analysing the data, including in
generating the viz.
8.4 to >7.2 PtsGoodThe data visuals meet the requirement very well. There are some demonstration of
more advanced techniques in processing and analysing the data, including in generating the viz. There are
some areas that required further revision, also some of the visuals are not as effective as needed to
accurately reflect the data.
7.2 to >5.9 PtsAcceptableThe data visuals meet the basic requirements of this assessment. There are
several instance where improvements and additional clarifications is/are required. Also several required
areas are either missing or incomplete
5.9 to >0 PtsNeeds ImprovementThe data visuals presented are either incomplete or missing too many
required elements that rendered the majority of the data ineffectual.
12 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome
Academic rigor
Academic rigor and references, justifications, literature sources and evidence of wider
readings
6 to >4.8 PtsExcellentConsistently demonstrates skilful use of high-quality, credible, relevant literature
sources to support and develop appropriate ideas. Consistently demonstrates appropriate APA referencing
style (as in-text refs and in the reference list)
4.8 to >4.2 PtsVery GoodDemonstrates skilful use of high-quality, credible, relevant literature sources to
support appropriate ideas. Demonstrates appropriate APA referencing style (as in-text refs and in the
reference list) subject to minor amendments.
4.2 to >3.6 PtsGoodDemonstrates consistent use of credible, relevant literature sources to support
appropriate ideas. Demonstrates the use of APA referencing style (as in-text refs and in the reference list),
but further major amendments are required.
3.6 to >2.95 PtsAcceptableDemonstrates use of credible, relevant literature sources to support ideas.
Demonstrates the use of APA referencing style (as in-text refs and in the reference list), but further major
amendments are required
2.95 to >0 PtsNeeds ImprovementDemonstrates limited or inconsistent use of credible, relevant literature
sources to support ideas. Demonstrates limited or inconsistent use of APA referencing style.
6 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome
Quality of Data Cleaning
Quality of Data Cleaning
6 to >4.2 PtsExcellentCritical elements of the dataset are appropriately reviewed, most data integrity
issues are resolved, most of data anomalies have been recorded and addressed
4.2 to >2.95 PtsGoodSome critical aspects of the issues related to the dataset are addressed. However,
more work needs to be done to ensure dataset is of acceptable quality to produce an accurate analysis
2.95 to >0 PtsNeeds ImprovementLimited evidence of dataset review with major flaws in the dataset still
remain
6 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome
Infographic Quality
Infographic Quality
4 to >2.8 PtsExcellentExcellent representation of the critical and interesting findings with visually
appealing presentation
2.8 to >1.97 PtsGoodThe infographic includes several key findings of the data analysis with good
presentation (i.e., alignment, consistency, contrast, proportion, colour) and accuracy
1.97 to >0 PtsNeeds ImprovementThe infographic requires further improvements to enhance accuracy,
visual appeal, and to appropriately represent the key aspects of the data analysis
4 pts