Practical Insights into Data Analytics
| Module title | Practical Insights into Data Analytics |
|---|---|
| Module code | MBAM913 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 10 |
| Module staff | Dr Stuart Robinson (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 4 days (+ 6 study weeks) |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
The module will include:
- How businesses use data to build, understand and report their sustainability goals.
- Applying current concepts in data and analytics to real examples.
- Using ‘Design Thinking’ to create information management systems.
- Introduction to tools for analysing numbers and text.
The module is jointly taught with experts from SAP, IBM and other partners (enterprise software and software-related services).
Internationalisation: the module will draw on recent scholarship in the areas of data and analytics published by researchers internationally (the UK, Europe, the United States) and case studies based on a variety of national contexts.
External Engagement: the module will be delivered in conjunction with SAP.
Employability: the module will offer an opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop analytical skills for those pursuing careers in planning and analytics.
Ethics and Corporate Responsibility: the module will look at ethics in data use where this is relevant to the individual topics.
Research in Teaching: the module will use the module leader’s research expertise in the areas of discussion; and engage you in independent research to produce an individual report.
Module aims - intentions of the module
Information is the lifeblood of business. Companies that manage information effectively can improve efficiency, be more responsive to market opportunities, achieve competitive advantage and operate more sustainably. As businesses drive towards sustainable strategies, they are looking for better information to guide decisions. Many companies are already gathering sustainability-related data but a critical next step is to build information systems and data analytics capabilities that will turn this raw data into actionable insights. This will enable companies to more effectively identify which actions are achieving their goals, detect risk or opportunity early, evaluate possible outcomes, allocate resources to achieve greatest returns; and measure the true impact of products. This module will explore the role of information and analytics in supporting the development of more sustainable strategies and the practical techniques managers can use to design effective information flows.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate awareness of current reporting guidelines for sustainability metrics and how these can be met in a business information architecture.
- 2. evaluate key terms and concepts in data and information management and be able to relate these to a typical business situation, including sustainability reporting systems and processes.
- 3. critically evaluate current approaches used for collection, management, communication and analysis of commercial, operational and sustainability data, and how this data is used to support decision-making.
- 4. build knowledge of Information Technology and the ability tuse technology strategically to support a companys goals, including sustainability goals.
- 5. apply Design Thinking techniques to the analysis of a specific business challenge and use these to identify required information flows.
- 6. develop and use data visualisation techniques to share original content and insight with a general management audience
- 7. demonstrate familiarity with analytical tools available for the analysis of numerical and textual data and use these to find, derive and evaluate information.
- 8. demonstrate familiarity with current developments and thinking in the information management industry, specifically around big data management, analytics, cloud and visualisation techniques.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. apply theoretical arguments, frameworks and concepts to the analysis of business and management scenarios. Link theoretical constructs and organisational practices.
- 10. critically articulate how different organisations and individuals approach practice and why differences exist.
- 11. demonstrate a critical awareness of different stakeholder perspectives and their contribution to problem-solving and delivering sustainable solutions.
- 12. demonstrate an integrated and holistic perspective when generating solutions
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 13. analyse and draw conclusions from unstructured problems and scenarios.
- 14. demonstrate analytical skills both with regard to data and to the design of information flows in organisations.
- 15. demonstrate cognitive skills of critical and reflective thinking.
- 16. demonstrate effective independent study and research skills.
Syllabus plan
Day 1 Workshop – Introduction to key concepts in data and analytics and their application to sustainable business.
Day 2 Workshop – Practical system building and information manipulation using IBM Cloud
Day 3 Workshop – Using Design Thinking techniques to understand business problems
Day 4 Telling the story with data - Infographics and Visualisation
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 72 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 28 | Interactive workshop, visit to major IT provider |
| Guided independent study | 72 | Reading, personal research exercise, assignment preparation and writing |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group exercises completed during workshops | 1 hour | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | 100 | 2 hours | 1 - 16 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | Resit exam (2 hours) | 1-16 | 6 weeks from briefing |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
An updated reading list is available on the module ELE page
Analytics tools
A level of familiarity with Microsoft Excel is expected. The student must have personal access to MS Office 2013 or higher (PC or MAC), this is available to all Exeter students free of charge during their time at the university
Access and training for the other software tools used in the module will be provided
| Credit value | 10 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 25/11/2014 |
| Last revision date | 04/04/2019 |
