Statistical data analysis is the backbone of sound business decision making, and finding the right tool to analyse a particular business problem is the key. By learning the fundamentals of statistical reasoning and data analysis, you will be on the way to becoming a better manager, analyst or economist.

By providing a framework for solving statistical problems, this seventh Australian and New Zealand edition of Business Statistics teaches skills that you can use throughout your career. The book shows you how to analyse data effectively by focusing on the relationship between the kind of problem you face, the type of data involved and the appropriate statistical technique for solving the problem.

Business Statistics emphasises applications over theory. It illustrates how vital statistical methods and tools are for today's managers and analysts, and how to apply them to business problems using real-world data. Using a proven three-step Identify-Compute-Interpret (ICI) approach to problem solving, the text teaches you how to:
1. IDENTIFY the correct statistical technique by focusing on the problem objective and data type;
2. COMPUTE the statistics doing them by hand and using Excel; and
3. INTERPRET results in the context of the problem.

This unique approach enhances comprehension and practical skills.

The text's vast assortment of data-driven examples, exercises and cases covers the various functional areas of business, demonstrating the statistical applications that marketing managers, financial analysts, accountants, economists and others use. Learning resources such as CourseMate maximise study time to help you achieve the results you want. Completely up-to-date, the seventh edition offers comprehensive coverage, current examples and an increased focus on applications in the real world.

1. What is statistics?
Appendix 1 A Introduction to Microsoft Excel
2. Type of data, data collection and sampling

Part 1: Descriptive measures and probability
3. Graphical descriptive methods – Nominal Data
4. Graphical descriptive methods – Numerical Data
5. Numerical descriptive measures
Appendix 5 Summation Notation
6. Probability
7. Random variables and discrete probability distributions
8. Continuous probability distributions

Part 2: Statistical Inference
9. Statistical inference and sampling distributions
10. Estimation: describing a single population
11. Estimation: comparing two populations
12. Hypothesis testing: describing a single population
Appendix 13 Excel instructions
13. Hypothesis testing: comparing two populations
Appendix 14 Excel instructions
14. Inference about population variances
15. Analysis of Variance
16. Additional tests for nominal data: Chi-squared tests
17. Simple linear regression and correlation
18. Multiple regression
19. Model building
20. Nonparametric techniques
21. Statistical inference: Conclusion

Part 3: Applications
22. Time series analysis and forecasting
23. Index numbers
24. Decision analysis – online chapter

Statistical data analysis is the backbone of sound business decision making, and finding the right tool to analyse a particular business problem is the key. By learning the fundamentals of statistical reasoning and data analysis, you will be on the way to becoming a better manager, analyst or economist. By providing a framework for solving statistical problems, this seventh Australian and New Zealand edition of Business Statistics teaches skills that you can use throughout your career. The book shows you how to analyse data effectively by focusing on the relationship between the kind of problem you face, the type of data involved and the appropriate statistical technique for solving the problem. Business Statistics emphasises applications over theory. It illustrates how vital statistical methods and tools are for today's managers and analysts, and how to apply them to business problems using real-world data. Using a proven three-step Identify-Compute-Interpret (ICI) approach to problem solving, the text teaches you how to: 1. IDENTIFY the correct statistical technique by focusing on the problem objective and data type; 2. COMPUTE the statistics doing them by hand and using Excel; and 3. INTERPRET results in the context of the problem. This unique approach enhances comprehension and practical skills. The text's vast assortment of data-driven examples, exercises and cases covers the various functional areas of business, demonstrating the statistical applications that marketing managers, financial analysts, accountants, economists and others use. Learning resources such as CourseMate maximise study time to help you achieve the results you want. Completely up-to-date, the seventh edition offers comprehensive coverage, current examples and an increased focus on applications in the real world. Updated throughout with the latest research and examples Chapters 9 and 10 from previous edition now combined into one chapter Large number of digital resources to assist with delivery of material Increased focus on applications in the real world CourseMate provides enhanced revision tools: cases and scenarios, and the data sets, applets and solutions to self-tests