ISM542 – Business Analytics
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-Global Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
Course Description:
This course provides students with an overview of tools and techniques used to analyze business data for
comprehensive and functional solutions. The primary techniques used in this course will be forecasting,
simulation, and data modeling for complex problem analysis in medium to large organizations.
Course Overview:
This course presents proven best practices for successful business analytics. It also examines, in detail, the
tremendous advantages for an organization that utilizes business analytics for data-based, as opposed to
opinion-based, decision making.
It is important to integrate the technical staff with business analysts within an organization to form an effective
business analytics team. This team must be run by a business analytics leader with a strong technical
background and the authority to implement changes. The analytics team, its leadership, and why changes in
enterprise culture and organization may be needed are covered.
Once the business analytics team and leadership framework are established, the value of creating a
comprehensive business analytics plan is discussed, as well as the technical training and qualifications required
for data analyst personnel. Also explored are the importance of adequate data collection, use of statistical
software, data management, details of statistical modeling and sampling techniques, and database management
best practices.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Develop an understanding of the necessary cultural, management, personnel qualifications, statistical
tools, and data processing capabilities an organization must attain to create successful decisions using
business analytics.
2. Analyze case studies of successful and unsuccessful use of business analytics for decision making.
3. Evaluate the qualities of a successful business analytics leaders, managers, and team members.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Bartlett, R. (2013). A practitioner's guide to business analytics: Using data analysis tools to improve your
organization’s decision making and strategy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 9780071807593
NOTE: All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments, discussions, and/or
supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course itself. Please read through each course
module carefully.
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
• Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
• Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until
they achieve the scores they desire.
Week #
Readings
Assignments
1
Chapter 1 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
2
Chapters 2 & 3 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
3
Chapters 4 & 5 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
• Critical Thinking (100 points)
• Portfolio Topic (0 points)
4
Chapter 6 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
• Critical Thinking (100 points)
5
Chapter 7 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
• Critical Thinking (125 points)
• Portfolio Outline (0 points)
6
Chapters 8 & 9 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
• Critical Thinking (125 points)
7
Chapter 10 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
8
Chapters 11 & 12 in Business Analytics
• Discussion (25 points)
• Portfolio (350 points)
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 3
Critical Thinking: Leadership of the Analytics Team (100 points)
Write a response addressing this question: Why are the characteristics of leadership more important than management to guide a successful business analytics team? Explain and give rationale for your answer.
Your paper must be three to five pages in length, organized and well-written in conformity with CSU-Global APA and writing expectations. The CSU-Global APA Guide can be found in the Library under "APA Guide & Resources" under the Library Resources section.
In support of your response, cite and integrate at least two credible outside sources, as well as your textbook, for a total of three or more sources. Place these in a reference page formatted in accordance with APA style. This reference page does not count toward the total page requirement. The CSU-Global Library is a great place to find these resources.
Examine the Critical Thinking grading rubric, found on the Course Information page, to see how you will be graded for this assignment.
Portfolio: Topic (0 points):
Submit to the Week 3 Assignments Page, a list of the data elements to be presented in your Portfolio Project business analytics proposal. See the description of the Portfolio Project assignment found on the Week 8 Assignments Page for more information.
No points are assessed this week for this list of data elements, but points will be deducted from your final Portfolio grade if you fail to submit this assignment by the end of the week.
Begin thinking now about the outline, due in Week 5, that you will write for your Portfolio Project assignment. Contact your instructor by email if you have any questions.
Module 4
Critical Thinking: Analysis of Strategic Application of Business Analytics Results (100 points)
Research and locate examples, beyond those found in your textbook, of business analytics being successfully applied to strategic decision making. In addition, find examples of when business analytics has failed to be successfully applied to strategic decision making. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to conduct your research. For your analysis, settle on one good example of a successful outcome and one example of an unsuccessful outcome. For each—your example of success and your example of failure—address the following two perspectives:
1. Describe the actionable intelligence, or what it could have been, and the consequence to the organization in terms of revenue, market share, growth, and stock value.
2. Discuss the quality of the business analytics plan developed by the organization and describe three characteristic of each that made it a success, or a failure.
Your paper should be three to five pages in length. Include at least two references in addition to your course textbook. Your references, and your paper, must be formatted in accordance with CSU-Global APA writing expectations. The CSU-Global APA Guide can be found in the Library under "APA Guide & Resources" under the Library Resources section.
Module 5
Critical Thinking: Analysis of Business Analytics Results (125 points)
Research and locate examples, beyond those found in your textbook, of three business analytics results. Determine the statistical qualifications of:
1. the organization 2. the analytics leader
3. the analytics team members
The CSU-Global Library is a good place to conduct your research. In your analysis, address the following points:
1. Describe the types of statistical modeling used in the analysis.
2. Discuss the success or failure of the project and the causative relationship of this outcome to the statistical qualifications.
Your paper should be five to seven pages in length. Include at least two references in addition to your course textbook. Your references, and your paper, must be formatted in accordance with CSU-Global APA writing expectations. The CSU-Global APA Guide can be found in the Library under "APA Guide & Resources" under the Library Resources section.
Portfolio: Outline (0 points)
This week, submit an outline of your Portfolio Project to the Week 5 Assignments Page. Your outline should be in the form of a Word document and must list the major headings and sections required. Your Portfolio assignment
will develop a complete business analytics proposal for LECAL Properties Inc. See the description of the Portfolio Project assignment found on the Week 8 Assignments Page for more information.
This outline is a required component of the Portfolio Project assignment, due this week. No points will be assigned for this, but points will be deducted from your final grade on the Portfolio Project if you fail to submit this
assignment by week’s end.
Module 6
Critical Thinking: Postmortem Diagnostic of a Failed Sales Office Expansion (125 points)
In the past year, your satellite TV organization made the business decision to open two new sales offices in Omaha and San Diego due anticipated growth in those areas of satellite TV subscribers.
Unfortunately the growth of new customers never materialized and the company lost $5M instead. Also, the company’s stock dropped by 20% in the last two months, the two new sales offices were closed, and 15% of the employees were let go.
You have been hired as the new CIO to perform a postmortem evaluation of this situation and determine why the new $10M business analytics system failed to produce accurate information for decision making.
Outline some of the reasons the decision to open the two new offices may have failed and what might be improved in the future to get the company back on course.
Your paper should be five to seven pages in length. Include at least two references in addition to your course textbook. Your references, and your paper, must be formatted in accordance with CSU-Global APA writing expectations. The CSU-Global APA Guide can be found in the Library under "APA Guide & Resources" under the Library Resources section.
Module 8
Portfolio Project: Creation of a Business Analytics Team (350 points)
You are the CIO of LECAL Properties, Inc. Your company has created several successful retirement communities in the southern and southwestern states over the last 20 years.
Your CEO wants to determine the optimum locations to begin development of new sites for 10 more communities in the next two years.
In your paper, address these four questions:
1. What are the steps you would take to create a business analytics team? 2. How will you create stakeholder involvement?
3. How do you plan to utilize your company’s data warehouse business intelligence system?
4. How will you make use of your organization’s statistical resources to recommend the best locations for 10 new sites?
Additionally, your proposal should include information covered in the course modules, text and discussions. Be sure to apply what you have gained from the Critical Thinking assignments regarding the best practices to make the most effective use of business analytics.
In addition, address social media issues, since your company wants to utilize inputs from social media sites that seniors frequent to get a good grasp of their preferences for locations and retirement community amenities. This includes seniors looking for a retirement location, and those already living in one.
Your CEO and board of directors are fully prepared to fund cloud computing resources as needed to make use of the anticipated “big data” that will probably be streaming from online sources.
Your proposal should be 15-20 pages. Include at least five references in addition to your course textbook. Your references, and your paper, must be formatted in accordance with Global APA writing expectations. The CSU-Global APA Guide can be found in the Library under "APA Guide & Resources" under the Library Resources section.
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7-day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
45% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
FN* Students who have completed less than 60% of the graded assignments will be issued a grade of FN. Grades of FN may impact financial aid or military benefits.
I** Students must request an Incomplete through their course instructor. The faculty member will provide the student with the Request for Incomplete Grade form, which must be signed by the student and approved by the faculty member prior to the faculty member submitting to the Office of the Registrar. Incompletes cannot include unsubmitted assignments from the first six (6) weeks of the class as defined by the late policy and may only be awarded to students that have completed 60% of the graded coursework with a passing grade. Incomplete forms must be on file with the Office of the Registrar no later than Thursday of the final week of class.
