Define the assignment
Audience: an operational manager. Deliver a reproducible analysis, a source-validation log, one useful visual or table and a 250-word decision note. Suggested duration: 60–90 minutes. All source records are fictional.
Investigation plan
Calculate opening+receipts-shipped-damaged; compare counts; list every exception; prioritize a recount and movement-log check.
Exercises
1. Write the metric definition and grain. 2. Validate keys and units. 3. Calculate independently using two methods. 4. Show excluded/exception records. 5. Write one recommendation and one unanswered question.
Worked control totals
Expected closing by SKU14,15,13,2,11,40; counted 14,14,13,2,11,40. P02 difference-1; all other differences 0. Total expected 95, counted 94.
Interpretation and limitations
No unit costs, count timestamps or movement evidence are supplied; do not estimate loss value or blame a person. A strong answer proposes the next evidence needed and avoids presenting a descriptive result as an established cause.
Self-review rubric
Score 0–2 each for scope, arithmetic, validation, explanation and reproducibility. For each score link to a concrete artifact. A total score is a self-check, not certification or employment evidence.
Try the activity before reading its reference. Keep your sources, commands and assumptions with your work. Companion activities are unsaved self-practice and do not award a certificate or change lesson progress.