The best action for the analyst to show value from the onset of their work is to develop a meaningful question that can be answered with data the company already has in its possession. This way, the analyst can demonstrate the potential of analytics to solve relevant business problems, without spending too much time or resources on data collection or market research. The question should also be aligned with the organization's strategy and goals, and provide actionable insights for decision making12. References: 1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 202: Data Science for Business, Foster Provost and Tom Fawcett, 2013, p. 14.

Exploratory analysis is the approach that the analytics team should use as the next step, because it is a technique that allows them to examine the quality, structure, and characteristics of the data, without making any assumptions or hypotheses. Exploratory analysis can help the team identify any issues or anomalies in the data, such as missing values, outliers, or errors, and decide how to handle them. Exploratory analysis can also help the team discover any patterns, trends, or relationships in the data, and generate new research questions or hypotheses for further analysis. References:
*Business Analysis Certification in Data Analytics, CBDA | IIBA®, CBDA Competencies, Domain 3:
Analyze Data
*Understanding the Guide to Business Data Analytics, page 16
*CERTIFICATION IN BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS HANDBOOK - IIBA®, page 8, CBDA Exam Sample Questions and Self-Assessment, Question 8

According to the IIBA's Guide to Business Data Analytics, one of the steps in the data analysis process is to use the results to influence business decision making. This involves evaluating the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the potential options or solutions that are derived from the data analysis, and recommending the best option or solution that aligns with the business goals and objectives1. To evaluate the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the options or solutions, the data analysis team should consider the value to be delivered to specific parts of the organization and the impact of change for each one. The value to be delivered refers to the benefits, outcomes, or improvements that the option or solution will provide to the stakeholders, customers, or processes of the organization. The impact of change refers to the costs, risks, or challenges that the option or solution will entail for the implementation, adoption, or maintenance of the organization. By assessing the value and the impact of each option or solution, the data analysis team can compare and contrast the trade-offs, pros and cons, and strengths and weaknesses of each option or solution, and select the one that maximizes the value and minimizes the impact for the organization2.
The other options are not correct criteria for reaching a final recommendation. The functional unit with the most staff, the manager who wants the change the most, and the senior management are not relevant factors for evaluating the options or solutions, as they do not reflect the value or the impact of the options or solutions.
The functional unit with the most staff may not be the most affected or the most important part of the organization for the data analysis project. The manager who wants the change the most may not have the authority, influence, or expertise to make the best decision for the organization. The senior management may not be the only or the final decision makers for the data analysis project, as they may delegate, consult, or collaborate with other stakeholders or experts.
References:1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 572: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA,
2020, p. 58. : Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 57. : Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA,
2020, p. 58.

Explanation
Prescriptive analytics is the type of analytics that the retailer is using to maintain their pricing structure, because it is a technique that uses data and models to recommend the best course of action for a given situation. Prescriptive analytics can help the retailer optimize their prices based on the data collected from the competitors, the market conditions, and the customer preferences, and thus achieve their strategic goal of becoming the market leader. References:
*Business Analysis Certification in Data Analytics, CBDA | IIBA®, CBDA Competencies, Domain 3:
Analyze Data
*Understanding the Guide to Business Data Analytics, page 17
*CERTIFICATION IN BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS HANDBOOK - IIBA®, page 8, CBDA Exam Sample Questions and Self-Assessment, Question 11

Explanation
The best option for the team under these conditions is to identify and carefully document the assumptions for their recommendation, such as the expected impact of the regulatory changes, the risks and benefits of implementing the changes before or after the announcements, and the sensitivity of the results to different scenarios. This way, the team can communicate their findings and recommendations clearly and transparently, while also acknowledging the uncertainty and limitations of their analysis. This can help the decision makers to evaluate the trade-offs and make informed choices12. References: 1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 242: Data-Driven Decision Making: A Primer for Beginners, Anand Rao, 2018, 1.