Suppose That I Am the Efficiency-Control Manager at a Fast-Food

question 2

Essay

Suppose that I am the efficiency-control manager at a fast-food restaurant. Part of my job is to determine how long it takes to get orders to our customers. I want to know whether our efficiency changes across all 100 of our restaurants over a 6-month period. I collect data to figure out the average length of time it takes to get orders to customers at the beginning of the 6-month period, three months into the study period, and at the end of the 6-month period. I get the following data (in seconds per order):
$\begin{array}{lccc}& \text {Beginning of 6 } &\text { 3 months into study } &\text { End of 6 -months months } \\&\text {months } \\\hline \text { Seconds per order } & 120 & 150 & \\\\\hline\end{array}$
a. Create a line graph to represent the data presented in the table above.
b. Interpret this graph. What does it tell you?
c. Now that I have seen my results and they suggest that we got slower in the middle of the study, I want to know whether this slow-down was consistent across the different regions where we have restaurants. So suppose I divide the restaurants into those in the east coast of the United States and those on the west coast. I get the following results:
$\begin{array}{lccc}& \text {Beginning of 6} &\text {3 months into study } &\text { End of 6-months months } \\&\text { months } \\\hline \text { Seconds per order in } & 125& 180& 110 \\ \text { the East } \\\\ \text { Seconds per order in } & 115& 120& 120 \\ \text { the West } \\\hline\end{array}$
Create a line graph of these means.
d. What is the between-subjects variable in this mixed-model ANOVA?
e. Looking at the data presented in the table and figure above, do you think there is a time X region interaction on the dependent variable?
f. Suppose that the ANOVA results produced a value for the interaction between Time of Assessment and Seconds per order of F_(2,98) = 4.36. Using an alpha level of .05, is this a statistically significant interaction?

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Definitions:

Evaluating Alternatives

The process of comparing and assessing different options in order to select the most appropriate or effective solution to a problem.

Gathering Information

The act of collecting data or facts from various sources for analysis or decision-making.

Risk Aversion

The tendency to choose options that entail fewer risks and less uncertainty.

Risks

Potential events or situations that could lead to harm or loss, often requiring management or mitigation in various contexts.