Question

19. The following data are total sales for salespersons at a national computer supply company. Construct three graphs: (a) one showing that all employees are performing at a high level, (b) one showing that all are performing poorly, and (c) one showing that Charlie should be fired. Charlie $86,000 Matthew $88,100 Hanna 87,200 Ray 90,000 Noland 89,800 McNair 90,100

Answer 1

a.

Sales Data 100,000 90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 Charlie Hanna Noland Matthew Ray McNair

This graph seems to suggest that all the employees are performing at high levels as the lower bar is 0 and the upper bar is 100,000. It gives the impression that the employees are being judged on a scale of 0-100,000 and thus everyone is performing very well.

b.

Sales Data 150,000 140,000 130,000 120,000 110,000 100,000 90,000 - - 80,000 Charlie Hanna Noland Matthew Ray McNair

This graph gives the impression that the employees are being judged on the assumption that a sales of $80,000 is something of a base, i.e. it might be quite easy to sell $80,000 worth of computers every year or that the average sales have been much higher than this in the previous years. Thus it shows the sales record in poor light.

c.

Sales Data 90,000 89,500 89,000 88,500 88,000 87,500 87,000 86,500 86,000 85,500 Sales ($) Charlie Hanna Noland Matthew Ray McNair

By keeping the lower bound close to the lowest sales (i.e. Charlie's) and the upper bound to the highest given one, the graph looks like Charlie has done worse compared to others. In fact, neglecting the sales axis values, we get the impression that Charlie has sold less than 1/3rd of the next worst salesman (Hanna). This graph can be a basis for firing Charlie.