Reference no: EM131301466 , Length:

Purpose of the Assessment

This is the second of the two assignments required for this module (the other is the portfolio of activities). Both assignments are graded as pass/fail only. You need to pass both assignments in order to progress.

You have been learning about, and practising, a variety of statistical techniques for the analysis of quantitative data. In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to show that you are able to combine some statistical techniques in a logical way in order to analyse data and answer specific research questions related a real-case scenario.

You will find an SPSS data file called ‘Asia Banks Survey.sav' in the folder for this assignment on your NILE site. The ‘Variable View' of the SPSS data will give you an idea of what the variables in that data set represent. You do not have to understand the details of the various measures in order to complete this assignment successfully. You can (and may need to) create new variables based on this data, selectively analyse just some sub-sets of it and/or transform the data into new values to answer the assignment questions.

In order to pass this assignment you will need to show that you understand the principles and practice of using statistical techniques find evidence and make logical conclusions on quantitative based analysis. To do this you need to show that you are competent in choosing and treating appropriate data, applying established statistical techniques, performing the analysis and reporting your results. Some of the questions can be answered by basic statistical tests, others may need, for example, multivariate approaches. Some questions can be answered using several different methods and you will not be penalised for choosing more complex analyses - we are looking for understanding and basic competence at threshold level for passing. As always at this level, justification of what you have done is important.

You are not expected to provide a reference list, apart from any citations you may wish to make in justification of specific aspects of your chosen analytical methods. This is only done in exceptional circumstances (general appreciation of statistical techniques can be assumed in the reader and it would not be normal to reference techniques from text books for instance).

Background case

A major shareholder of four bank corporations in Asia has decided to develop the leadership skills of branch managers in the region. For this, after a competitive process they have selected the company Global Exec (Global Executive Training Ltd ) to develop a training programme in leadership throughout the different markets in Asia where the four banks operate.

Global Exec is a British-based consulting company which has developed a very good reputation on the quality of their Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource development programmes and their leadership training programme is particularly well-known for its high level of efficiency and effectiveness. Over the years the company has developed a standardised leadership development programme based on highly interactive activities based on social multimedia technologies, team development workshops and collaboration projects.

However, this is the first contract Global Exec has won for delivering their training programme in such a large regional scope involving different countries in Asia. They are aware that their standardised leadership training programme will have to be adapted for taking into account the different cultures, values and management attitudes predominant in the regions the banks operate.

In order to have a better understanding of the similarities and differences characteristic of the banks and regions where they will deliver their training programme, Global Exec has conducted a major survey with bank branch managers from the four banks. More specifically, the data was collected from a sample of bank branch managers mainly composed by respondents of three different races (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) and the banks have different racial mixes. Most of the banks have branches in five different regions (Northern, Central, South, West Coast, and East Asia). The four different Banks are identified as Nantong Bank* (Bank 1), Jaipur Bank* (Bank 2), Ampang Bank* (Bank 3) and Union Bank* (Bank 4).

Assignment activity

As a member of the Global Exec team of analysts, you are required to conduct some statistical analysis of the data and write a report that provides evidence and conclusions that will support the company's decision on the extent to which they can preserve standardised formats or make adjustments in the training programme they will deliver to the bank across different regions. Important issues concerning Global Exec's strategic decision are:

1. Are there similarities or differences between races in terms of Interpersonal Trust (variables IPT1-IPT5) and Age of branch managers (variable AGE)? What are the similarities or differences on these same aspects by Region?

2. Analyse correlation patterns involving he variables AGE, YORG, PR, PNB, FAIR, AMB, and IPT. Comment on any differences and on the pattern of relationship for some variables in the data set.

3. Use Factor Analysis to analyse the 15 variables measuring the construct ‘Job Related Tension' (JRT1-JRT15)and define a reduced number of factors for this group of variables. Store the found factors in your data, as new variables measuring specific aspects of Job Related Tension. Name them as JRTF1, JRTF2, and so forth according to the number of factors you have found in your factor analysis. For example, if you find 3 factors, name your stored variables as JRTF1, JRTF2 and JRTF3.

4. Can we predict....
a. ‘fairness of performance evaluation' (variable FAIR as dependent variable) from‘years in the organisation' (variable YORG) and AGE?
b. ‘interpersonal trust' (aggregate IPT) from AGE?
c. ‘worry about meeting targets' (aggregate TRT) from the new ‘job related tension' factors you have found on question 3 above?

Attachment:- Asia Banks Survey.rar