Qnt 561 Business Research Methods Part Iii
Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS PART III
Business Research Methods Part III
University of Phoenix
Applied Business Research and Statistics 561
March 29, 2010
Business Research Methods Part III Team C’s Business Research Methods Part I analysis determined a problem within Toyota Motor Corporation’s recent recalls that posed a potential for decreased customer satisfaction, which has the additional potential for impacting sales. Part II proposed a sample design and appropriate collection methods, a sample survey, a presentation, and classification of findings. In Part III, the final piece of this essay, the statistical analysis from Part II will be discussed as well as the potential challenges and validity of the original research question and the data analysis that followed. Finally, the findings are presented in the proper response type, and classified in order of power in appendix A. The research question Team C proposed is “Is there a statistically significant relationship between customer satisfaction and Toyota sales in the U.S.?”
Statistical Analysis The previous data in Part II concluded that in Toyota’s 2009 fiscal year, the company sold 2.21 million units. Although the 2010 fiscal year is not yet complete, the company has sold 1,567,006 units as of the end of February 2010. After review of the monthly sales totals, it is reasonable to project that the March sales totals will not be sufficient to match the sales totals of fiscal year 2009, which was down 746 thousand units from the previous year. Although data is not yet available for the 2010 American Customer Satisfaction Index, the 2009 customer satisfaction rating for Toyota was 86. The 2008 customer satisfaction rating was also 86, up from 84 the previous year. Although there is a decline in sales during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, the customer satisfaction rating has held firm in the corresponding years. However, recent problems with recalls may have yet to be
Business Research Methods Part III
University of Phoenix
Applied Business Research and Statistics 561
March 29, 2010
Business Research Methods Part III Team C’s Business Research Methods Part I analysis determined a problem within Toyota Motor Corporation’s recent recalls that posed a potential for decreased customer satisfaction, which has the additional potential for impacting sales. Part II proposed a sample design and appropriate collection methods, a sample survey, a presentation, and classification of findings. In Part III, the final piece of this essay, the statistical analysis from Part II will be discussed as well as the potential challenges and validity of the original research question and the data analysis that followed. Finally, the findings are presented in the proper response type, and classified in order of power in appendix A. The research question Team C proposed is “Is there a statistically significant relationship between customer satisfaction and Toyota sales in the U.S.?”
Statistical Analysis The previous data in Part II concluded that in Toyota’s 2009 fiscal year, the company sold 2.21 million units. Although the 2010 fiscal year is not yet complete, the company has sold 1,567,006 units as of the end of February 2010. After review of the monthly sales totals, it is reasonable to project that the March sales totals will not be sufficient to match the sales totals of fiscal year 2009, which was down 746 thousand units from the previous year. Although data is not yet available for the 2010 American Customer Satisfaction Index, the 2009 customer satisfaction rating for Toyota was 86. The 2008 customer satisfaction rating was also 86, up from 84 the previous year. Although there is a decline in sales during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, the customer satisfaction rating has held firm in the corresponding years. However, recent problems with recalls may have yet to be
References: The American Consumer Satisfaction Index. (2006). ACSI Scores and Commentary. Retrieved from http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id= 149&Itemid=51I7&c=Toyota+%28Toyota%29 Bensinger, K. & Vartabedian, R. Los Angeles Times. (2010). Retrieved from: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/05/business/la-fi-toyota-complaints5-2010mar05 Cooper, D., & Schindler, P Itemid=51I7&c=Toyota+%28Toyota%29 Toyota USA Newsroom. (2010). Newsroom Home Page. Retrieved from Diagram 1: Research Question Construction Source: Cooper – Schindler, 2008