Understanding Management Information .

P.G Communications is a producer of communication equipment such as PCs, mobile phones and pagers. Its head office is based in the UK but it manufactures products in Hong Kong. Established in 1978, it has developed a reputation for research and development. The business has made steady profits over the years.
P G Communications LTD is owned and managed by James Peter. Last year, James recruited a new business manager (Richard Kent) from outside the business. Richard was appointed as Head of Research & Development. Aged only 28, he had previously worked for Amstrad computers and lately Virgin Ltd where he gained rapid promotion to the position of Senior Sales Manager. Richard reports directly to James and has been asked to devise a strategy to increase the profitability of P G Communications LTD and to identify possible gaps in the market.

Richard considers that P G Communications LTD needs to implement a strategy of innovation. Based upon his previous experience at Virgin, Richard believes that there is a gap in the tablet PC market that could be exploited. Specifically, using P G Communications research and development strengths he hopes to develop a cheap and reliable tablet PC for the UK student market. Richard has commissioned primary market research to investigate the opinions of this target market. He would like the company to start developing a tablet PC designed specifically for the 18 to 35 age group.

TASK:
You are the IT development manager for PG Communications LTD. Richard has asked you to write a 2,500 words report on the UK Tablet PC market. Your main task is to research and collect data on the tablet market, highlighting trends and key factors that can help the business and also the following:

1. Using data collection methods identify the main types of tablets sold in the UK and comment on their features, capabilities, usage and prices. Also highlight the main factors that customers look for when buying a tablet. In collecting your data, you may use a combination of secondary, qualitative and quantitative data and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each type of data collection method. You may also access major databases. This will include published statistics, on-line databases and internet sources.

2. Analyse your research findings (e.g. usage of tablet PCs by age or income) by plotting the data collected in the form of charts and graphs using Excel. In addition to charts and graphs, explain the other means by which data can be summarised and presented in reports to support management decision making.

You are the IT development manager for PG Communications LTD. Richard has asked you to write a 2,500 words report on the UK Tablet PC market. Your main task is to research and collect data on the tablet market, highlighting trends and key factors that can help the business and also the following:

1. Using data collection methods identify the main types of tablets sold in the UK and comment on their features, capabilities, usage and prices. Also highlight the main factors that customers look for when buying a tablet. In collecting your data, you may use a combination of secondary, qualitative and quantitative data and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each type of data collection method. You may also access major databases. This will include published statistics, on-line databases and internet sources.

2. Analyse your research findings (e.g. usage of tablet PCs by age or income) by plotting the data collected in the form of charts and graphs using Excel. In addition to charts and graphs, explain the other means by which data can be summarised and presented in reports to support management decision making.