BUS 310 Master Syllabus

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BUS 310: Business Analytics II Master Syllabus

Course Instructor:
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Required Course Materials: 

  • Required textbook: Business Analytics, Methods, Models, and Decisions, 3rd edition, by James R. Evans, Pearson Higher Education, 2020, ISBN: 978-0-13-523167-8 
  • Additional readings will be assigned throughout the semester and will be posted on Canvas.

Course Website: Canvas

Course Description

Introduces modeling relationships contained in data and linear models to make predictions in business. Topics include estimation, hypotheses testing, statistical inference, analysis of variance and linear regression techniques. Fundamentals of linear programming to solve optimization problems in business. Apply analytical tools to gain insights from real-life datasets. Hands-on experience and application of the methods to data sets using spreadsheet software. 

BS Business Learning Goals 

By the end of the BS Business program, students will master:

  1. Ethical Reasoning: Students will utilize ethical principles when making business decisions.
  2. Communication: Students will employ effective written and oral communication skills for professional business environments.
  3. Critical Thinking: Students will analyze, evaluate, and generate solutions using core business disciplinary knowledge.
  4. Global Perspective: Students will integrate global perspectives in making business decisions and recommendations.
  5. Data Analytics Skills: Students will apply analytical tools including AI to make data-informed decisions and recommendations.
  6. Concentration-Specific Knowledge & Skills: Students will utilize knowledge and skills appropriate for specialization in their concentrations.

Course Objectives for Both BUS 210 and BUS 310 

  • Understand how managers use business analytics to formulate and solve business problems.
  • Prepare to be a strategic business partner in an organization.
  • Think critically about whether and how data can improve business performance, create opportunities, and/or create risks.

Course Objectives Specific to BUS 310

  • Understand the processes needed to analyze business data.
  • Make data driven decisions by using analytic tools such as estimation and hypothesis testing.
  • Gain skills to analyze business problems using more advanced functions in Excel.
  • Integrate statistics and management science to cover a variety of useful analytical methods.
  • Gain a basic understanding of linear optimization through an introduction to prescriptive analytics.

Course Topics

  1. Data Driven Decisions 
    1. Measuring Response 
      1. Sampling and Sampling Distributions 
      2. Estimation Theory 
    2. Comparing Results 
      1. Hypothesis Testing 
    3. Data analysis and statistical functions in Excel 
  2. Introduction to Predictive Analytics 
    1. Regression 
    2. Inference within Regression 
    3. Simple and Multiple Regression 
    4. Data analysis and statistical functions in Excel 
  3. Introduction to Prescriptive Analytics 
    1. Linear Optimization 
    2. Model Development and Excel Solver 

Approach to Learning 

This course examines the use of business analytics for understanding and analyzing business problems and for supporting business decision making. It is geared for the business professional engaged in decision making or decision support.  The emphasis is on business applications, and not mathematics. Students will possess an adequate level of proficiency in and comfort with spreadsheet software. The format will be lectures and hands-on exposure to data analytics tools, including complex Excel features. Discussions and questions are highly encouraged. 

Methods of Student Evaluation

Students will be evaluated based on homework, quizzes, exams, and other related class activities. 

 Grading

Homework, Excel assignments, case studies, class work, and quizzes 40% 

Exam 1 

 20%

Exam 2 

 20%
Exam 3 (final exam)  20%

Course Grade

  • Students must be officially registered in this section to receive a grade. It is the sole responsibility of the student to verify their own registration status. Specifically, you will not receive a grade if your name does not appear on the official class list. Registration problems should be directed to either the Costello College of Business academic advisors or to the Registrar’s Office. 
  • Disputes about a grade on assignments/exams/quizzes must be submitted in writing within a week after the grade has been posted. 
  • The final letter grade is assigned objectively and strictly according to the weighted average of the numerical scores of all exams, quizzes, and assignments. 
  • Final course letter grade assignments will be based on the following scale: 
Course Percent Grade Letter Grade Course Percent Grade Letter Grade
97.00 to 100 A+ 80.00 to 82.99 B-
93.00 to 96.99 A 77.00 to 79.99 C+
90.00 to 92.99 A- 70.00 to 76.99 C
87.00 to 89.99 B+ 60.00 to 69.99 D
83.00 to 86.99 B 0 to 59.99 F

Exams 

Exam dates are provided in the schedule. No make-up exams will be given except in a documented emergency. Each will involve a mix of mechanical skills and conceptual reasoning. The best possible preparation for them is regular attendance and completion of assigned homework and reading.

Attendance 

For in-person and synchronous sections, class attendance is an essential part of learning in this course. If you have to miss any lectures, you are responsible for obtaining any information given in the class. I will take attendance on random days. 

Homework, Quizzes, and Other Class Work 

Students are expected to read relevant sections of the textbook prior to attending class. Written homework, quizzes, and class work will be graded. Due dates are posted on Blackboard. Late assignments will not be accepted. Quizzes and class work are given at the discretion of the instructor and frequently reflect material that has recently been covered in class. To encourage attendance, instructors will not give makeup quizzes or class work.

Tentative Timeline

Week Dates Topic/Exam Schedule Notes
1   Course orientation Introduction First day of fall classes: 8/24
2   Review of BUS 210 topics   
3   Sampling and estimation (Chapter 6)  Labor Day: 9/7
4   Chapter 6   
5   Review for Exam 1   
6   Exam 1  
7   Statistical inference (Chapter 7)   
8   Trendlines and regression analysis (Chapter 8)  Fall break: 10/12 
9   Chapter 8   
10   Review for Exam 2  
11   Exam 2  Election day: 11/3
12   Linear optimization (Chapter 13)  
13   Chapter 13  
14   Chapter 13  Thanksgiving Recess: 11/25-11/29
15   Chapter 13   
16   Review for final exam
Final exam dates: 12/9-12/16		 Last day of fall classes: 12/7
Reading day: 12/8
Final exam schedule

Note. All assignments except quizzes are due by 11:59 pm on the designated dates. Quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class. Exams are cumulative, closed-book with both in-class and take home components. This timeline is tentative, and dates may change. Please refer to the latest information posted on Canvas. See semester academic calendar. 

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