Key Skills: Application of Numbers Presented by Bill Haining

1. Interpret information from two different sources. At least one source must include a table, chart, graph or diagram. 2. Carry out and check calculations to do with: a. amounts or sizes b. scales or proportion c. handling statistics 3. Interpret the results of your calculations and present your findings in two different ways using charts or diagrams.

Application of Number tasks If you have carried out something at work that shows evidence of the same content, you may not need to complete all of the following tasks. Talk to your Trainer Assessor before you begin the tasks to decide which ones are best for you. You should complete either Task 1 and Task 3 or Task 2 and Task 3.

Task 1 – Customer complaints You have been asked to look at the number of customer complaints in your store over a period of time. In order to do this you will need to look at data for each month for the last six months. Agree with your department manager how and when you can access this information. Find the details of the number of complaints your store has logged and record your findings in a table. Draw some conclusions from your data, identifying key points that will be helpful in establishing your store’s performance. For example, where are the high and low numbers and what factors might help explain this? Discuss your findings with your TA and then draw a suitable char t to show the trend. Write an accompanying description for your Line Manager, explaining what you have found out about the number of complaints during the period. Remember to show your workings for all calculations and for the checks that you make to ensure accuracy. Make sure that your chart is correctly labelled

Task 2 – Accident statistics You have been asked to look at the number of workplace accidents in your store over a period of time. In order to do this you will need to look at the data for the number of accidents logged each month over the last six months. Agree with your department manager how and when you can access this information. Record your findings in a table. Draw some conclusions from your data, identifying key points that will be helpful in establishing your store’s record. For example, where are the high and low numbers and what factors might help explain this? Discuss your findings with your TA and then draw a suitable chart to show the trend. Write an accompanying description for your Line Manager explaining what you have found out about the number of accidents during the period. Remember to show your workings for each calculation and for the checks that you make to ensure accuracy. Make sure that your chart is correctly labelled.

Task 3 – Capturing the cube You have been asked by one of the Space colleague team for help in identifying how much space a seasonal product will need on the shop floor in your section. You will need to work out how many items of the product will fit into the space available on the shelf. This space is called the cube and the process you will follow in calculating the cube size is called ‘capturing the cube’. Choose a seasonal product that needs to be displayed to base this activity on. Look at a copy of the ‘Capturing the Cube’ coaching card, and identify from the diagram the shelf measurements you need to take. Write down the measurements and work out the volume of the cube (i.e. the space available for the product). Now measure the product item. Draw a sketch of the item and show the measurements on the sketch. Work out how many items of the product will fit into the dimensions of the cube. Draw a diagram on squared paper to show how the items will fit into the cube, identifying how many fit on the shelf in terms of depth and height. Use the squares as a suitable scale for your diagram. Show all your workings and how you have checked your answers.

THE END Thank you and good luck