You have recently joined a new company as a trainee data analyst. The company import a range of different speciality Cheeses from France and the Netherlands. They supply the cheese to a number of different restaurants and specialist delicatessens throughout the UK. The company face a number of challenges due to currency exchange rate fluctuations (between the Euro, that they buy the cheese in, and the pound that they sell it in) and the variations in economic growth. Their product is relatively expensive and sells better when economic growth is good and less well when it is poor. You have been asked to design and create a spreadsheet model which can predict the potential impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the company profit margins. The model should use the data collected by the company on average monthly sales of the top five best-selling cheeses in their range: |
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Cheese |
Cost per Kilo in Euros |
Average monthly sales based on a Euro to Pound exchange rate of 0.7 |
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Camembert |
28 |
900 |
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Emmental |
32 |
850 |
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Gruyere |
35 |
875 |
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Edam |
29 |
825 |
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Gouda |
31 |
700 |
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The typical margin applied to calculate the UK sales price is 40%. Profit is calculated by subtracting the cost per kilo in pounds from the sales price. The company have found that on average for each 10p rise in the sales price (based on the 0.7 exchange rate) the average monthly sales drops by 20 units. If the exchange rate drops below 0.7 then the sales increase by a similar amount. When the exchange rate increases the company can do one of two things: |
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Your model should show the impact of doing each of these on the overall profit the company makes. The model you develop should be designed to be used by people who are not experts in spreadsheets and should include a user interface which allows the user to enter the exchange rate and then choose to either change the margin or the prices. |
Task 1 |
Following on from the presentation you created for the manager of the company you now need to:
Present evidence that you have shown individual responsibility, effective time-management in your design and development of a data model making high-quality justified recommendations and decisions. For example, you need to show how you have:
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Checklist of evidence required |
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Criteria covered by this task: |
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Unit/Criteria reference |
To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to: |
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5/BC.D2 |
Evaluate the design and optimised data model against client requirements. |
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5/BC.D3 |
Demonstrate individual responsibility, creativity, and effective self-management in the design, development and review of a data model. |
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5/B.M2 |
Justify decisions made, showing how the design will fulfil its purpose and client requirements. |
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5/C.M3 |
Optimise the data model to meet client requirements. |
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5/B.P3 |
Produce designs for a data model which meet client requirements. |
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5/B.P4 |
Review the designs with others, to identify and inform improvements. |
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5/C.P5 |
Develop a data model to meet client requirements. |
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5/C.P6 |
Test the data model for correctness, functionality and acceptance. |
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5/C.P7 |
Review the extent to which the data model meets client requirements. |
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Sources of information to support you with this Assignment |
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Other assessment materials attached to this Assignment Brief |
e.g., work sheets, risk assessments, case study |
All You Need to Know About Unit 5 Data Modelling
Unit 5: Data Modelling focuses on understanding how data is structured, stored, and used within a system. It teaches the principles of designing data models that ensure efficiency, accuracy, and ease of access.
What is Data Modelling?
Data modelling is the process of creating a structured representation of data. It defines how data is organised, how different data elements relate to each other, and how they can be stored and retrieved efficiently.
Key Components of Data Modelling
- Entities – These are objects or concepts that store data, such as customers, products, or employees.
- Attributes – These describe the properties of entities, like a customer’s name, email, or phone number.
- Relationships – Define how entities are connected, such as a customer placing an order.
- Primary Keys – Unique identifiers for each record in an entity, ensuring no duplicates.
- Foreign Keys – Links between entities, establishing relationships between tables in a database.
Types of Data Models in Unit 5
- Conceptual Data Model – A high-level overview showing key entities and relationships.
- Logical Data Model – Defines attributes, relationships, and constraints in more detail without considering the database structure.
- Physical Data Model – Specifies how data will be physically stored in a database, including tables, columns, and indexes.
Importance of Data Modelling in Unit 5
- Ensures data integrity by reducing redundancy and inconsistency.
- Improves database performance by designing efficient structures.
- Enhances data retrieval for analysis and reporting.
- Supports better decision-making by providing a structured data foundation.
Final Thoughts
Unit 5: Data Modelling is essential for anyone working with databases. It provides the foundation for designing well-structured, efficient, and scalable data systems that support business operations and decision-making.
Sample Answer
Produce a design for the data model that meets the requirements described above including worksheet structure diagrams and a test plan. Your design should include a number of alternatives, for example to the way the user interface is designed.
Data Model Design Overview
This design follows a relational database approach, ensuring data is stored efficiently, reducing redundancy, and improving accessibility.
Entities and Attributes
Entity | Attributes (Fields) | Primary Key | Foreign Key |
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Customers | Customer_ID, Name, Email, Phone, Address | Customer_ID | N/A |
Orders | Order_ID, Customer_ID, Order_Date, Total_Amount | Order_ID | Customer_ID |
Products | Product_ID, Name, Price, Stock_Level | Product_ID | N/A |
Order_Items | Item_ID, Order_ID, Product_ID, Quantity, Subtotal | Item_ID | Order_ID, Product_ID |
2. Worksheet Structure Diagrams
Conceptual Diagram
Illustrates how data entities relate to each other.
scss[Customers] --- (Places) ---> [Orders] --- (Contains) ---> [Order_Items] --- (Includes) ---> [Products]
Logical Diagram
Tables and Relationships (Primary & Foreign Keys)
Customers (Customer_ID) <--- Orders (Order_ID, Customer_ID) Orders (Order_ID) <--- Order_Items (Item_ID, Order_ID, Product_ID) Products (Product_ID) <--- Order_Items (Product_ID)
This structure ensures normalisation, reducing data duplication.
3. User Interface (UI) Design Alternatives
Option 1: Form-Based UI
- Customers: A form to add/update customer details.