Ways to approach business forecasting
Please watch the video below and answer the following questions:
There are many ways to approach business forecasting. For example, there are both qualitative and quantitative methods. Some forecasts are based on highly sophisticated statistical methods; some are based on experience and examine past precedent, while others just follow a gut feeling.
The selection of a method depends on many factors such as the context of the forecast, the relevance and availability of historical data, the degree of desirable accuracy, and others.
After watching the TEDTalks video, should the executives have considered qualitative methods, quantitative method or both in the decisions. Please be specific.
What did you learn in this video that can apply to your professional life?
Sample Answer
According to the TEDTalks video, both qualitative and quantitative methods should be considered in the decisions.
- Qualitative methods are necessary to understand the reasons behind the data and to put the data into context. For example, in the case of Netflix, they used qualitative methods to understand what kind of shows their audience likes, what kind of producers they like, and what kind of actors they like. This information helped them to make the decision to license House of Cards, even though it was not in the data.
- Quantitative methods are necessary to identify patterns and trends in the data. For example, in the case of Amazon, they used quantitative methods to identify which TV shows were most popular with their viewers. This information helped them to make the decision to hold a competition for TV ideas.