Business Analytics

Fall 2011

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course builds upon the fundamentals of business reporting taught in CIS 2640. The need to transform data into actionable intelligence continues to grow in organizations.  Business Analytics addresses that need with three areas of concentration:

• Robust capability with software tools
• Application of software tools to business information needs in case scenarios
• Automation of task and flow control of established processes

Students receive directed assignments to build competency with software analytical tools, and are expected to apply that knowledge to business cases to create actionable reports.

KEY COURSE OUTCOMES
Students who successfully complete this course should be able to

• Apply sophisticated spreadsheet functions and formulas to address information needs
• Apply software to satisfy complex information requirements
• Deliver the results of a complex analysis in a chart or dashboard format
• Transform business information objectives into analytical subcomponents, and apply software tools to deliver those objectives
• Automate an established process using recorded code and software syntax

REPORTING TECHNIQUES

Course content focuses on reporting tools of Excel including  Excel 2010 Tables, Excel Pivot tables, PowerPivot, VBA macros, and Excel-SQL data mining algorithms.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Books and Learning materials:

• CIS 5550 Fall 2011 Case Book

Storage media (Thumb/USB drives, or WMU H drive) to store in-class exercises and provide backups of electronic course materials.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Mansfield, R. (2008) Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 2007, Sybex, ISBN: 9780470279595 Available without charge from Ebrary http://www.wmich.edu/library/cg/363/

VBA And Macros: Microsoft Excel 2010
Jelen, W & Syrstad, T
http://www.mrexcel.com/2010Books/vbamac2010.html

Fall 2011 Course Schedule with Grade Breakdown

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Class attendance and preparation

To ensure a positive learning experience and your productivity in this course, you are expected to be present at each class meeting (labs or lectures) throughout the semester. No matter whether your excuses are legitimate or not, the maximum absences permitted in the semester is 3. If you have more than three (3) absences in this class, your grade for this course may be dropped by a letter grade. Except emergencies, any class absence due to critical reasons must be pre-approved by the instructor at least 24 hours in advance. Such approval may be easily obtained by sending e-mails to the instructor. Please use the E-Learning email system for the course.

Starting early can be very helpful.  Please reivew the assignments and projects before coming to class.

Exams

Exams will be based on lectures, textbooks, reading assignments, supplementary materials and labs. All exams are closed books. Exam format can include true/false, multiple choice, jumbled sentence, fill-in-the-blanks, and/or short essays.  Exams may also include submission of files from analytical software.

Assignments and Projects

Assignments are due on the date specified in eE-Learning. The course Schedule and Grading section includes a link to a comprehensive course schedule with due dates listed for asssignments, projects, and exams.  You will be allowed ONE (1) late assignment. This assignment can be turned in 3 calendar days after the due date. This late assignment offer will be available to you only ONE (1) time during the semester and I encourage you to save it for an emergency situation. System failure, no backup disk, virus infection, being too busy, and other such excuses are not acceptable. As in the real world, you are responsible to make sure you are prepared. When you decide to take advantage of this offer, you should clearly indicate your intention in writing through email before the due date. If this is not followed, your assignment will be treated as a normal one and it will result in penalty in your grades. No assignment should be turned in after the final exam. This means that the late assignment cannot be used for the last assignment.

Unless explicitly assigned for groups, all assignments must be individually and independently completed. Should two or more students turn in substantially the same assignment, in the judgment of the instructor, the assignment will be considered a group effort. All involved in a group effort will receive a zero grade for the assignment. A student involved in group efforts for more than once will receive a grade of E for the course.

Assignment grades are awarded based on content and structural completeness, correctness, clarity, and neatness. There will be no makeup or extra assignments for any individual student.

Make-up exams

Students wishing to take a make-up exam should contact the instructor prior to the exams to receive his permission. Missed exams may only be handled with a documented excuse. Written verification for the student’s inability to take an exam will definitely be required. A documented excuse consists of a letterhead from a medical doctor and/or other responsible agents. Documentation will not be considered if it is not provided to the instructor within one week after the exam. If any of this is not followed, the grade is automatically zero for that exam. Makeup exams will be different from regular ones. There is no makeup for quizzes.

Communication

You are responsible for reading all discussions, messages and announcements on E-Learning.   For issues that need to be resolved privately, you may leave a voice message or send your questions through email.

Academic Integrity

You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse.  If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with your instructor if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test

Look over http://osc.wmich.edu and www.wmich.edu/registrar for code of honor and general academic policies on such issues as diversity, religious observance, student disabilities, etc.

COURSE WORK REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SCALE

GRADING SCALE

INCOMPLETE POLICY

This is a temporary grade, which the instructor may give to a student when illness, necessary absence, or other reasons beyond the control of the student prevent completion of course requirements by the end of the semester or session. This situation must be supported with documentation.

This grade may not be given as a substitute for a failing grade. A grade of "I'' must be removed by the instructor who gave it or, in exceptional circumstances, by the department chairperson. If the unfinished work is not completed and the "I'' grade is not removed within one calendar year of the assignment of the "I,'' the grade shall be converted to an "E'' (failure). Students who receive an incomplete grade in a course must not reregister for the course in order to remove the "I.''