The Data and Decision Analytics course will provide students with the knowledge on how to analyze and dissect data into useful information. Students will use a variety of skills, including data collection, data assembly, and data dissemination to provide a synopsis of organizational operations. Students will create a comprehensive data proposal and use data to come to operational and strategic decisions.
COURSE AT A GLANCE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Data and Decision Analytics course will provide students with the knowledge on how to analyze and dissect data into useful information. Students will use a variety of skills, including data collection, data assembly, and data dissemination to provide a synopsis of organizational operations. Students will create a comprehensive data proposal and use data to come to operational and strategic decisions.
COURSE DESIGN
This course is designed to examine real world data analysis and reporting techniques in the new world of big data. This course will increase awareness of how data and data analytics can impact the success and failures of a business. The course reinforces the importance of knowing where to secure data, determining the appropriateness of data, and organizing and presenting data so effective business decisions can be made. The course resources include the course text, articles, and multimedia content. The discussion forums and written assignments are designed to promote a greater understanding of the major issues related to data that can impact organizations. As a result of these activities, students will be able to analyze data models, evaluate data sources, construct appropriate data graphics, and determine what data is necessary to promote organizational success.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
- Differentiate various types of data used to drive organizational functions.
- Create data visualization graphics incorporating appropriate data sets.
- Interpret data to assess organizational performance.
- Examine data analytic systems and technologies to improve organizational decision-making
capabilities. - Identify suitable data sets that can be used to make decisions about the organization.
- Produce a quality plan to support quality initiatives of the organization.
COURSE GRADING
Multiple measures of assessment are used in the course, allowing students opportunities to demonstrate their learning in more than one way and giving consideration to individual learning styles. Course components that will be assessed are noted below.
DISCUSSION FORUMS
Each week students will participate in the online discussion forum with classmates, as related to the week’s content. Activities and assessments that take place in the discussion forum replace the interactive dialogue that occurs in the traditional classroom setting. These activities include reflections, peer feedback, and role play activities. Each week, students’ initial discussion forum posts are due by 11:59 p.m. (in the time zone in which each student resides) on Day 3 (Thursday). Students will have until 11:59 p.m. on Day 7 (the following Monday) to make the required minimum number of response posts to classmates. Discussion forums represent 31% of the overall course grade.
JOURNALS
There are journal assignments due in Weeks 1 through 5 of this course. These journal entries will provide an opportunity for students to critically reflect on their own learning processes and their individual progress through the course. Journals represent 10% of the overall course grade.
ASSIGNMENTS
There are written assignments due in Weeks 1 through 5 of this course. These assignments must reflect college-level writing. Assignments represent 37% of the overall course grade.
FINAL PROJECT
The final assignment for this course is a Final Project. The purpose of the Walmart Expansion Analysis is for students to demonstrate the learning achieved in the course by gathering and interpreting real-world data to determine if Walmart should expand into a new foreign region. Students will be required to write a paper and give a video presentation on their findings. The Final Project represents 22% of the overall course grade.
