Read the Forecasting Demand Application. I have attached the reading below. Please provide answers to all four (4) questions.

Show your calculations in questions 1 and 2

1. How many FTE customer service agents are needed in another region of the Nashville metropolitan area that has a population of potential customers that equals approximately 40,000 in group A, 120,000 in group B, 80,000 in group C, and 40,000 in group D?

2. How many FTE customer service agents are needed in a region ofthe greater Charleston metropolitan area that has a population of potential customers that equals approximately 60,000 in group A, 180,000 in group B, 120,000 in group C, and 60,000 in group D?

3. Is there any other information that you might want to incorporate into your estimate of how many FTE customer service agents are needed in these regions? Where might you find out what other factors should be taken into account for staffing these regions?

4. How would you incorporate managerial judgment into your estimate of staff ing levels? How would you communicate your conclusions to TechFriend managers?

Forecasting Demand TechFriend provides advice to customers on how to use a wide variety of consumer electronics. Its tagline is "Helping you find your way through the digital maze." The advice it provides is designed to fill in a gap in typical manufacturing customer assis- tance. One specific way that TechFriend differentiates itself is by providing in-home consultations with individuals. Its services are also designed to ensure cross-device compatibility and integration. For example, TechFriend employees might show a family how to keep their Internet service, smartphone, and computers all working together. They also can provide impartial advice on purchases (as they receive no com- missions for sales). TechFriend has established itself in the twelve largest metropolitan areas in Georgia and Florida, with several small offices in large cities such as Atlanta, Miami, and Tampa. In total, there are 39 offices, with staffing levels for customer service agents ranging between 50 and 80 FTEs per office. These levels of staffing have evolved over time to match customer demand, so they are close to the capac- ity for each area. TechFriend intends to expand its reach to 10 new offices in urban areas in South Carolina and Tennessee, and it wants to develop forecasts of how many individuals will be needed in each area. To estimate the needed staffing levels, central HR representatives worked with their operations team to estimate a regression equation, in which the optimal number of FTE service agents per location was predicted by population data (in thousands) for different regions. Population figures were taken from census infor- mation and divided into group A (18 to 24 years old), group B (25 to 44 years old), group C (45 to 65 years old), and group D (65+ years old). The following regres- sion equation was estimated: FTE = 10 + 0.10(group A) + 0.20(group B) + 0.20(group C) + 0.05(group D).144 PART TWO Support Activities this regression equation can be used to predict the number of F TE service agent. needed to meet customer demand. For example, in one expected service area or the Nashville metropolitan area, the approximate population is about 50,000 if group A, 170,000 in group B, 100,000 in group C, and 60,000 in group D. The esti mated regression equation is then: FTE = 10 + 0.10 x 50 + 0.20 x 170 + 0.20 x 100 + 0.05 x 60, which equals: FTE = 10 + 5 + 34 + 20+3. So, this region would need about 72 FTEs. Using this information, answer the following questions