Foundations of Decision Analytics

Instructor

Benjamin Yeo

• Email: byeo@depaul.edu
• Phone: 312-362-8684

DePaul University School for New Learning
1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604

Course Description

This course is designed as an introduction to the field of analytics, an inductive approach to gaining insights on data, thus informing decision-making. It covers various fundamental techniques rooted in management science to solve problems in various functional domains, such as marketing, finance, economics and operations. Students will learn a wide variety of analytical and business intelligence tools to demonstrate their ability to execute, understand, present and discuss analytical results, thus building a strong foundation in data-driven decision making.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Apply quantitative methods to solve management problems in marketing, finance, economics and operations.
• Interpret and communicate results of analyses effectively
• Retrieve and manipulate data for analysis
• Evaluate scenarios to support optimal decision making

  Course Resources

  To buy your books, go to http://depaul-loop.bncollege.com

  Textbook

  MyITLab 2013. Pearson.
  ISBN: 9780133775075

  Course Competencies

  In this course, you will develop the following competencies:

  Competence	Competence Statement and Criteria
  S1X	Can implement data-driven solutions to business problems
  L6	Can use mathematical symbols, concepts, and methods to describe and solve problems
  FX	Can apply data-driven concepts and tools to one's focus area
  S5	Can explain and evaluate the nature and process of science

  Assessment

  Week Due	Assignments	Points
  Week 2	1.1 Discussion 1	2
  Week 3	2.1 Assignment 1	2
  Week 4	3.1 Assignment 2 3.2 Discussion 2	5 2
  Week 5	4.1 Assignment 3	5
  Week 6	5.1 Discussion 3 5.2 Term Project Proposal	2 15
  Week 7	6.1 Assignment 4	5
  Week 8	7.1 Assignment 5 7.2 Discussion 4	5 2
  Week 9	8.1 Assignment 6	5
  Week 10	9.1 Assignment 7 9.2 Discussion 5	5 2
  Week 11	10.1 Term Project 10.2 ePortfolio	30 10

  Percentage Distribution of Assessments

  Grading Category	% of Final Grade
  Assignments (x6)	30%
  ePortfolio	15%
  Discussion (x5)	10%
  Project proposal	15%
  Project (Paper)	30%
  Total	100%

   

  Grading Scale

  A = 95 to 100	A- = 91 to 94	B+ = 88 to 90
  B = 85 to 87	B- = 81 to 84	C+ = 77 to 80
  C = 73 to 76	C- = 69 to 72	D+ = 65 to 68
  D = 61 to 64	F = 60 or below	INC

  Grades below C- in SNL courses do not satisfy competence and are not counted toward graduation.

  Course Schedule

  Module	Readings	Assignments
  Module 1: Introduction (or Refresher)	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 1. Introduction to Excel [Video]. Online resource for digication (https://depaul.digication.com/gethelp/get_started/ ) Optional Module 1 Power Point Slides Ungraded simulation exercise  on MyITLab (Under Module 1)	1.1 Discussion 1 10.2 ePortfolio
  Module 2: Basic Quantitative Analysis	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 2. Quantitative Analysis [Video]. Optional Module 2 Power Point slides Simulation exercises 1 on MyITLab (Under Module 2)	2.1 Assignment 1
  Module 3: Depicting Data Visually	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 2. Quantitative Analysis [Video]. Optional Module 3 Power Point slides Simulation exercises 2 on MyITLab (Under Module 3)	3.1 Assignment 2 3.2 Discussion 2
  Module 4: Summarising Data for Analysis	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 5. Subtotals, Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts [Video] Optional Module 4 Power Point slides Simulation exercise 3 on MyITLab (Under Module 4)	4.1 Assignment 3
  Module 5: Data Modelling	Required Power Pivot Demo Optional Stikeleather, J. (2013). How to Tell a Story with Data. Harvard Business Review. April 24, 2013. https://hbr.org/2013/04/how-to-tell-a-story-with-data/ The 101 Guide To Telling a Compelling Story With Data. Maptive. https://www.maptive.com/101-guide-telling-compelling-story-data/ Segal, E. How to Tell Stories with Data (Really). http://blogs.ischool.berkeley.edu/i247s12/files/2012/03/InteractiveJournalism_Presentation.pdf	5.1 Discussion 3 5.2 Term Project Proposal
  Module 6: Decision Making I – What-If Analysis and Optimisation	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 6. What If Analysis: Using Decision Making Tools [Video]. Optional Module 6 Power Point slides Simulation exercise on MyITLab (Under Module 6 and 7)	6.1 Assignment 4
  Module 7: Decision Making II – What-If Analysis and Optimisation	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 6. What If Analysis: Using Decision Making Tools [Video]. Optional Module 6 Power Point slides Simulation exercise on MyITLab (Under Module 6 and 7)	7.1 Assignment 5 7.2 Discussion 4
  Module 8: Web Queries and Data Transformation	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 8. Imports, Web Queries, and XML: Managing Data [Video]. Optional Module 8 Power Point slides Simulation exercise on MyITLab (Under Module 8)	8.1 Assignment 6
  Module 9: Financial Functions	Required Poatsy, M., Mulbery, K., Davidson, J., and Grauer, R. (2013). Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2013, Comprehensive. Chapter 7. Specialized Functions: Logical, Lookup, Databases, and Finances [Video]. Optional Module 9 Power Point slides Simulation exercise on MyITLab (Under Module 9)	9.1 Assignment 7 9.2 Discussion 5
  Module 10: Using SPSS	Required Kolacz, H. (2016). Introductory Lab: Doing Statistics With SPSS 21. University of Alberta, Canada.	10.1 Term Project 10.2 ePortfolio

  Course Policies

  Grading Policies and Practices

  To complete the course, you must complete each of the assignments as described in the course and submit them to your instructor by the assigned deadline.  In addition, you must participate in the course discussion forum by responding to all instructor requests and by interacting with fellow classmates as necessary.

  Completed work must be uploaded on D2L. This includes all assignments and the ePortfolio. The discussions and recaps are completed on D2L. The due dates for each of the assignment are on the course calendar. All late submissions without an approved extension will receive a 5% penalty for each day late. All coursework, with or without an approved extension, must be turned in by the end of the 6th week. Afterwhich, no submissions will be accepted.

  General Assessment Criteria for All Writing Assignments

  All writing assignments are expected to conform to basic college-level standards of mechanics and presentation.

  Consider visiting the Writing Center to discuss your assignments for this course or any others. You may schedule appointments (30 or 50 minutes) on an as–needed or weekly basis, scheduling up to 3 hours worth of appointments per week. Online services include Feedback–by–Email and IM conferencing (with or without a webcam). All writing center services are free.

  Writing Center tutors are specially selected and trained graduate and undergraduate students who can help you at almost any stage of your writing. They will not do your work for you, but they can help you focus and develop your ideas, review your drafts, and polish your writing. They can answer questions about grammar, mechanics, different kinds of writing styles, and documentation formats. They also can answer questions and provide feedback online, through IM/webcam chats and email. Obviously, the tutors won’t necessarily be familiar with every class or subject, but they are able to provide valuable help from the perspective of an interested and careful reader as well as a serious and experienced student-writer.

  Schedule your appointments with enough time to think about and use the feedback you’ll receive. To schedule a Face-to-Face, Written Feedback by Email, or Online Appointment, visit www.depaul.edu/writing.

  Discussion Forums

  Discussion Forums are an important component of your online experience. This course contains discussion forums related to the topics you are studying each week. For requirements on your participation in the Discussion Forums, please see “Course Expectations” in the syllabus.

  A Course Q & A discussion forum has also been established to manage necessary, ongoing social and administrative activities. This is where the management and administrative tasks of the course are conducted, and where you can ask ‘process’ questions and receive answers throughout the course. Please feel free to answer any question if you feel you know the answer; this sharing of information is valuable to other students.

  Changes to Syllabus

  This syllabus is subject to change as necessary. If a change occurs, it will be clearly communicated to students.
  

College and University Policies

This course includes and adheres to the college and university policies described in the links below:

Academic Integrity Policy (UGRAD)

Academic Integrity Policy (GRAD)

Incomplete Policy

Course Withdrawal Timelines and Grade/Fee Consequences

Accommodations Based on the Impact of a Disability

Protection of Human Research Participants

APA citation format (GRAD)

Additional Course Resources

University Center for Writing-based Learning

SNL Writing Guide

Dean of Students Office