he issue/scenario: A bio-tech firm has provided you with 1 years’ worth of sales for a sample of 45 sales staff. Some of its sales staff are engineers and others are not. You are to analyze this data to help the company determine whether there are any differences in the sales between engineers and non-engineers. Arguably, perhaps engineers are better able to answer technical questions, but may not have the same skills as others. Additionally, the company would like to use this data to obtain an estimate of its average (annual) sales and how they compare to last year. To aid you, the following “guiding steps”: Use a bivariate tabular method to study the relationship between “Sales” and “Engineer.” Based on this analysis, are engineers better or worse than non-engineers at Sales (higher sales are considered better)?

The issue/scenario: A bio-tech firm has provided you with 1 years’ worth of sales for a sample of 45 sales staff. Some of its sales staff are engineers and others are not. You are to analyze this data to help the company determine whether there are any differences in the sales between engineers and non-engineers. Arguably, perhaps engineers are better able to answer technical questions, but may not have the same skills as others. Additionally, the company would like to use this data to obtain an estimate of its average (annual) sales and how they compare to last year.

To aid you, the following “guiding steps”:

1. Use a bivariate tabular method to study the relationship between “Sales” and “Engineer.” Based on this analysis, are engineers better or worse than non-engineers at Sales (higher sales are considered better)? 
2. Provide a statistical description of the variable “Sales” (for engineers and non-engineers combined). Use this to determine whether there is a lot of volatility in sales, whether there are any outliers, whether the data is skewed, etc. 
3. Now, provide a statistical description of the difference in sales between engineers and non-engineers. What are the key similarities and differences that you observe between these two groups (provide at least one similarity, and one difference)? 
4. Provide a graphical summary of your answer in (c.) 
5. Provide a point estimate of the average sales by all employees (i.e., by both engineers and non-engineers). 
6. Provide an improved estimate average sale, i.e., one that is more accurate that your answer in (d.): 
7. Last year sales averaged 105.6 units. Use your answers to (f) to whether this year’s sales (provided in your data) are different from last year’s sales. 

      8. Provide an improved estimate of sales of engineers and non-engineers (separately).