The Commerce Department reported receiving the following applications for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award: from large manufacturing firms, from large service firms, and from small businesses. a. Is type of business a categorical or quantitative variable

Categorical variable

Explanation:

Categorical variable are variables that are not numerical, take on values that are names or labels.It places the individual into a category, categorical variable is also called qualitative variable.

While quantitative variable is a numerical variable, they represent a measurable quantity i.e variables whose values result from counting or measuring something(measurement)

Therefore, the type of variable used here is categorical because the type of business will not be numerical.

answer; ///(d); determining who competes most closely   with whom evaluating whether industry driving forces and competitive pressure favor some strategic groups and hurt others, and ascertaining whether the profit potential of different strategic groups varies due to the strengths and weaknesses in each groups respective market positions;