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Course profile

Methods of Business Analytics (BSAN2204)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Business School

This course introduces students to R for the purpose of business analytics and to basic programming concepts used in R. The focus is on an introduction to R, including R infrastructure and interfaces, manipulating and exploring data, predictive models, data export and output, and optimising R code.

The book/film Moneyball by Michael Louis has captured the popular imagination -- showing the value of analytics of improving decision making and achieving a desired outcome. Moneyball illustrates the application of analytics to professional sports, but there any many more applications and perhaps none more important than the application of analytics to business. The application of analytics can significantly improve organsiational outcomes across all aspects of business -- accounting/finance, people/talent, operations, marketing, social media, and supply chain. The course BSAN2204 R for Business Analytics is the first course in the business analytics major after the course BSAN2201 Principles of Business Analytics. The focus of R for Business Analytics is the methods of business analytics and their applications to solving business problems -- preparing students for and equipping them with the skills they need to complete the business analytics major and to pursue careers with the analytics advantage.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

Maths B or Maths C or MATH1040

Recommended companion or co-requisite courses

We recommend completing the following courses at the same time:

BISM2201 or BSAN2201

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

BISM2204

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Please note: Teaching staff doᅠnotᅠhave access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you emailᅠbusiness.mytimetable@uq.edu.auᅠfrom your UQ student email account with the following details:

  • Full name,
  • Student ID, and
  • the Course Code

Aims and outcomes

The primary aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of the methods of business analytics and to prepare students to successfully enter and complete the subsequent courses in the business analytics major. The methods include data visualisation, basic statistical analysis, predictive analytics/forecasting, data mining/machine learning, and text/web analytics. The course also provides an introduction to the use of R -- a mathematical computing environment for analytics used by millions around the world. The course leverages insights from the companion course -- Principles of Business Analytics -- to show how the methods of business analytics can solve real business problems.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Recognise and explain the role of R for business analytics.

LO2.

Explain the basic concepts used in R for managing and manipulating data.

LO3.

Apply R for basic business analytics tasks, including data visualisation and predictive analytics/forecasting.

LO4.

Compare and critically evaluate competing methods of business analytics.

LO5.

Demonstrate how business analytics can inform and improve managerial decision making.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Paper/ Report/ Annotation Project Report 1 50%

30/08/2024 4:00 pm

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project Project Report 2 50%

18/10/2024 4:00 pm

Assessment details

Project Report 1

Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
50%
Due date

30/08/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This first project report will provide an introduction to the dataset the MSD ("Million Song Dataset") and demonstrate your ability to use the basic methods of business analytics introduced in the first half of the semester (data visualisation, descriptive statistics and a basic linear regression model).

AI Statement

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.

Submission guidelines

Submit via submission link on Blackboard

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Project Report 2

Mode
Written
Category
Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
Weight
50%
Due date

18/10/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L02, L03, L04

Task description

This second report will provide both technical documentation of the R script used in your analysis and demonstrate your ability to extend your analysis using the methods of business analytics taught in the latter half of the semester.

AI Statement

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.

Submission guidelines

Submit via submission link via Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 29

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 46

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1
Seminar

Course Introduction

Course Introduction, software requirements and information about the first assessment will be provided during this seminar.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05

Week 2
Seminar

Introduction to the Million Song Dataset

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 3
Seminar

Data Visualisation

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04

Week 4
Seminar

Descriptive Analytics

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04

Week 5
Seminar

Linear Regression

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04

Week 6
Seminar

Project Report 1 Workshop

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05

Week 7
Seminar

Introduction to R Markdown

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05

Week 8
Seminar

Extensions to Linear Regression

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04

Week 9
Seminar

Dealing with Missing Data

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05

Mid Sem break
No student involvement (Breaks, information)

In-Semester Break

Week 10
Seminar

Project 2 Workshop

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05

Week 11
No student involvement (Breaks, information)

King's Birthday Public Holiday

Week 12
Seminar

Project 2 Workshop (Troubleshooting)

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05

Week 13
Seminar

Course Review

Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L05

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.