COMM1110 Evidence-Based Problem Solving
Assessment 3: Case project part 1
Guideline and Marking Rubric

Due date: Week 5, 11.59 am (Midday), Friday 11 October

Project Overview
Assume in September 2024, you are an intern consultant at Deloitte, a leading consulting and
financial firm in Australia.
Your client, Greenleaf Grocery, a mainly Sydney-based retail grocery chain facing a pressing
issue: a notable increase in food waste, especially in the fresh food (fresh dairy products and
Bakery) section. GreenLeaf Grocery is eager to delve into the root causes of this waste surge and
seeks actionable recommendations to tackle the problem head-on.
GreenLeaf Grocery offers a range of fresh dairy products including milk, yogurt, cream, cheese,
and more. Their bakery section features freshly handmade bread, croissants, muffins, cakes, and
other delights. Due to their handmade nature, these products have a relatively short expiry date.
Unfortunately, the rising trend in food waste poses a significant challenge, contributing to both
financial losses and environmental concerns.

Objective for “Assessment 3 – Case Project Part 1”
Scenario: As an intern Business consultant at Deloitte in September 2024, your primary task is
to prepare an initial business analysis report for an internal meeting on the rise in food waste at
GreenLeaf Grocery’s fresh food section. You are preparing some analysis for a Deloitte internal
meeting before presenting results to GreenLeaf Grocery.
• Analytical: Identify potential factors and drivers contributing to the increase in food waste.
• Statistical: Analyse GreenLeaf Grocery’s data to identify trends and patterns in food waste.
• Ethics: Assess the ethical dilemmas associated with food waste.

This type of report is typical for a manager in the workplace , making it an excellent practice for
your future career. Please note that this Assessment 3 report will set the foundation for your
final report, Assessment 4 – Case Project Part 2, which is due in Week 11.
Word Limit: 1,500 words with a 10% buffer, allowing for a maximum of 1,650 words without penalty.
There’s no minimum word requirement, so any word count below 1,650 is acceptable.

Structure and Format: No need to include an introduction or executive summary. Start your report
directly with Section 1. Write in a business report style (eg, using an essay format, formal
language, headings, and subheadings to make your report clear and easy to read). Ensure you
include your full name and student ID in the footer of each page.

Referencing Style: While referencing is optional, if you choose to cite external information, adhere
to the Harvard referencing style for any sources cited in your report. (see the guideline link – How to
Cite Different Sources with Harvard Referencing | UNSW Australia)

Guidelines for your Assessment 3 report

Section 1: Use Analytical Tools to Explore the Main Problem (40%)
This section is approximately 600 words (guide only, not a word limit).

1) Define the Main Problem: Define the main problem concisely to provide clarity on the main
issue requiring resolution for this assignment. Ensure that your report readers grasp a clear
understanding of the background story and the primary focus of your report.

2) Scope the Problem: Based on what we’ve learned in lectures and tutorials, use the “5Ws
Framework Tool” (What, Where, When, Who, Why) to analyze and define the problem. Select
any two ‘W’, and for each ‘W’ you choose, create at least three questions to explore different
dimensions of the problem. Next, identify the evidence required to answer each question you
created. For each piece of evidence, specify the type of evidence needed (eg, Scientific
Literature, Organizational Evidence, Practitioner Expertise, or Stakeholder Evidence).
Instruction: Use the table below to organize your questions, evidence, and types of evidence.
Please integrate the 5W table provided directly into your report and type out your response as
text. All content within the 2W table will count towards the 1,500-word limit, so avoid using
screenshots.
3) Break Down the Problem: The “Logic Tree” is another tool commonly used to analyze
problems. Based on what we’ve learned in lectures and tutorials, construct a logic tree to
systematically analyze the problem. Break the problem down into its sub-parts to pinpoint
specific areas of concern and identify the key drivers contributing to the issue.
Instruction:
a) The logic tree needs to meet the Mutually Exclusive , Collectively Exhaustive (MECE)
Requirements. You can create the logic tree using PowerPoint (instruction video available in
Week 2’s folder on Moodle) or any other tool you prefer. Ensure that all details in your logic
tree are clearly visible. Marks may be deducted if your tutor cannot read the details due to
blurriness. Please attach your logic tree as an image to your report. The logic tree image will
NOT count towards the word limit.
b) Prioritisation: Determine and justify which branches and/or sub -branches of your logic tree
should be prioritized for further analysis. Provide a detailed explanation of your analytical
process and clearly explain the rationale behind your choices. This prioritization will help guide
your data analysis later.
2ws Questions to Explore the
Problem
Evidence to collect Type of Evidence

Section 2: Data and Statistical Analysis (40%):
This section is approximately 600 words (guide only, not a word limit).
Context:
After presenting your logic tree and having a detailed discussion with GreenLeaf Grocery, it
has been identified that a substantial portion of the increase in food waste is due to an
abundance of freshly made Dairy and Bakery products reaching their expiration dates before
being sold. GreenLeaf Grocery has shared a dataset with you, concentrating on these two food
items. A detailed description of the dataset is provided on page 6.
Order Details: Each record in the Excel dataset represents a single order, comprising 200 pre-
packed Dairy and Bakery items. The dataset provides insights into the quantities wasted due
to items remaining unsold before their expiration date
GreenLeaf Grocery Food Waste Allowance Target: GreenLeaf Grocery’s food waste allowance
percentage for Dairy is capped at 7.5%, implying that in any given order of 200 pre-packed
Dairy items, a maximum of 15 items should be wasted due to reaching expiration before being
sold. The waste percentage for Bakery is capped at 11.5% (a maximum of 23 Items per order).
GreenLeaf Grocery’s Operation: When orders arrive at the GreenLeaf Grocery store, they are
initially placed in the storage area before being stocked on the shelves for sale. Operational
protocols with specific targets for shelving fresh food items are implemented to optimize the
availability of fresh products to customers while minimizing waste due to expiration.
• For Dairy: Target is to • For Bakery: Target is to have the items on the shelf for at least 6 days
before
the expiry
date, given an expiration date of 8 days post-arrival at the storage area.
Data and Statistical Analysis Instructions:
1) Analyse Food Waste:
a) Summary Statistics: Calculate the mean and standard deviation of food waste (variable
“Quantity_Wasted” ) separately for Dairy and Bakery. Next, compare these results with
GreenLeaf Grocery’s food waste allowance target.
b) Monthly Analysis: Based on what we learned from our tutorials, creating PivotTable in Excel to
conduct a separate monthly analysis of Dairy and Bakery waste, using the “Order_Arrival_Date”
column to determine the order month. The primary objective is to illustrate the changes in
Dairy and Bakery waste monthly. Choose suitable visual diagrams to present your analysis
effectively in your report.

2) Investigate Shelf Longevity
GreenLeaf Grocery suspects that logistic issues may be causing delays in moving items from
storage to the shelves. This delay could reduce the display time of food items, contributing to
increased food waste due to items reaching their expiration dates before being sold.
a) Create a new variable: Create a new column named “Shelf_Longevity” to calculate the
shelf time (in days) of each order. This variable represents the duration each order stays
on the shelf before expiration

Shelf_Longevity = “Order_ Expiration_Date” – “Shelf_Display_Date”
Monthly Data Analysis: Conduct a monthly analysis of “Shelf_Longevity” for Dairy and Bakery
items separately. First, calculate the mean and standard deviation (SD) for each month for
each category. Focus on how these two key summary statistics vary each month. Present
your findings using appropriate diagrams in your report and include a clear summary of the
main findings and key insights.

3) Analyse “Number of Orders” and “Prices”
a) Analyse the monthly trends in “the total number of Orders” (ie, the total number of orders
each month) for Dairy and Bakery items separately. Provide a detailed explanation of your
analysis and select appropriate diagrams to present your findings.
b) Analyse the monthly trends in “prices ” for Dairy and Bakery items separately. First,
calculate the mean and standard deviation (SD) for each month for each category. Focus
on these two key summary statistics in your analysis. Provide a detailed explanation of
your analysis and select appropriate diagrams to present your findings in the report.
c) Additional Analysis and Insights: Let’s conduct further analysis on the monthly trends in
“prices” for Dairy and Bakery items separately. In addition to standard deviation and
average, choose one or two other statistics ( such as range, maximum, minimum,
median, etc.) to analyze. Select appropriate diagrams to present your findings and
include a clear summary of the main findings and key insights. Please emphasize how
these insights are relevant to addressing the food waste issue.

Section 3: Ethical Dilemmas with the Ethics Toolbox (20%)
This section is approximately 300 words (guide only, not a word limit).
GreenLeaf Grocery has decided to donate food that is approaching its expiration date (or even
past the expiry date) but is still safe to eat. However, concerns about possible liability and
food safety might prevent donations.
Your task is to select one stakeholder impacted by GreenLeaf Grocery’s food donation
decision. Stakeholders may include GreenLeaf Grocery, local residents and consumers, the
local council, Local community organizations, such as shelters, community kitchens, or food
bank, food bank, or product manufacturers.
Please identify one ethical dilemma faced by your chosen stakeholder due to this food
donation decision. Reflect on the ethical concerns and challenges related to food waste at
GreenLeaf Grocery. Assess the potential harm to individuals or entities, such as the
environment, and elaborate on your reasoning. Ensure clarity and conciseness in your
explanation, focusing on the ethical implications and considerations of the identified dilemma
within the context of GreenLeaf Grocery’s food waste issue.
Instruction: You are NOT required to apply the full 7-step Ethical Decision-making Framework;
your task is to identify one potential ethical dilemma from the perspective of your chosen
stakeholder. You can consider using the 4 ethical lenses taught in our week 4 lectures and
tutorials.

Download Your Personal Excel Data for Your Report

You can access and download your personalized dataset for Assessment 3 through
the following link:
Click to download your data – COMM1110 Evidence-Based Problem Solving (shinyapps.io)

Steps to Download Your Personal Excel Data

1. Open the provided link above and then click the “Project Data” button.
2. Enter your student ID (without the “z”) and click “Load Project Data” to access
your personalized dataset.
3. Once your data loads, download it by clicking “Download Data” (Note: It will be
in CSV format).
4. Open the downloaded CSV file and save it as an “Excel Workbook (.xlsx)”
before conducting any analysis. This ensures that your work can be properly
saved.

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