Data Analytics & Business Intelligence (STAT 511)

OVERVIEW

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces students to different financial markets and their role in the economy and offers an
exploration of current developments in the world’s financial markets and institutions, including innovation,
globalization, with a focus on the actual practices of financial institutions, investors, and financial
instruments. The course also explores alternative investments techniques available in the global financial
markets including the underlying rationale for such investment types as well as providing an understanding
of the construction and management of relevant strategies. The course will provide students a general
grounding in the stock valuation approaches such as discounted cash flow models, market multiple
models as well as valuation of a young private company. The course emphasizes practical and real-world
applications of valuation methodologies and is targeted towards students interested in careers in corporate
finance, investment banking, security analysis, consulting, and private equity. The course will also introduce
students to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and learn to describe
the sustainability landscape and analyze sustainable technologies, strategies, and business models from the
perspective of managers, entrepreneurs, and investors.

2. REASON FOR THE COURSE

The course teaches the students to be able to pull apart the financial statements to get at the relevant
information for valuation; to identify “red flags” that indicate an impending liquidity crisis; to see clearly
how industry fundamentals and competitive forces directly affect financial results and, in the process, drive
stock valuation; to determine the valuation for any public or private company whether for purchase or sale,
investment of a minority interest, going public in an IPO, or restructuring; to assess whether a company is
creating value for its shareholders; to evaluate the reports of business valuation experts and to be able to
ask the “right” questions of these experts. Students will understand what determines the value of a firm
and how to estimate that value is a prerequisite for making rational business decisions.

3. STUDY HOURS

4. ROLE IN CURRICULUM


Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to this course other than the entrance requirements for the program.

SKILLS

  • LEARNING OUTCOMES
  • ASSESSMENT AND GRADING
  • TEACHING METHODS
  • STUDY PLAN
  • TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES

5. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

Knowledge Level of Learning Related PLO
Explain the concepts in emerging technologies (CK1)
Explain the concepts in emerging technologies (cloud computing, big data, data analytics, and artificial intelligence and machine learning)		 Understanding PC5
Cognitive Skills Level of Learning Related PLO
Design business metrics dashboards and reports (CC1)
Design business metrics dashboards and reports to reflect business strategy and performance indicators.		 Create PC5
Communication, Information Technology, and Numerical Skills Level of Learning Related PLO
Create engaging business performance dashboards (CCIT1)
Create engaging business performance dashboards using data analytics tools such as Tableau, Power Query, SQL.		 Create PCIT1
Interpersonal Skills and Responsibilities Level of Learning Related PLO
Work individually and in a team (CIP1)
Work individually and in a team to support data-driven business decisions utilizing the dashboards and reports from Tableau, Power Query, SQL.		 Evaluate PIP1

The learning outcomes of this course are centered into five basic areas: emerging technologies, data extraction, data transformation, reporting, and data visualization.

6. ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

Grades will be determined based on a grading score, calculated using the following assessments and score allocations:

Topic CLO Assessment and Scoring Skill
Weighting
for Grade
Participation In-class
tests (3)		 Projects Final
Exam
Explain the concepts in emerging technologies (CK1)   100     20%
Design business metrics dashboards and reports (CC1)     100   30%
Create engaging business performance dashboards (CCIT1)       100 30%
Work individually and in a team (CIP1) 100       20%

There will be two assignments; one is the individual project and another is the group:

Project 1 – Create Business Performance Reports using SQL

Work Arrangement: Individual
Output format : System/Tool Generated Reports (Template to be provided)
Language : English
Assignment : Students individually will create business performance reports using SQL. Data for a                                     sample company will be provided.

Project 2 – Create Business Performance Dashboards using Tableau

Work Arrangement: Group of two to four students [No more than 4 members in the
group] Output format : System/Tool Generated Reports (Template to be provided)
Language : English
Assignment : Students, in their assignment group, will create business performance dashboards
                         using Tableau. Each group will need to do a presentation of their report in the class.
                         Data for a sample company will be provided.

7. TEACHING METHODS

This course is taught with a variety of teaching methods such as lecture, demonstration, questioning and
discussion, and significant hands-on practice. Students will be assigned readings, homeworks, projects, and
in-class tests.

8. STUDY PLAN

The course targets the 50 lessons in the study plan below. Each lesson is 1.5 class hours each; there are a total of 75 class hours. The study plan below describes the learning outcome for each lesson, described in terms of what the student should be doing during the session and would be able to do at the end of the lesson. Readings & hands-on practice, wherever applicable, should be done by students as preparation before the start of each class. Implementation of this study plan may vary somewhat depending on the progress and needs of the students.

Lesson Lesson Learning Outcomes Teaching and Learning Activities, Assessment
1 Explain Data Analytics & Business Intelligence (CK1)

  • Course overview
  • Data Science, Data Analytics & Business Intelligence
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
2 Explain Data Analytics & Business Intelligence, continued (CK1)

  • Biases
  • Analytical Mindset
  • Data analysis process
  • Roles and stakeholders
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
3 Explain evolution of computing & evolving role of big data and AMIL – Part 1 (CK1)

  • Systems of Records
  • Systems of Insights
  • Evolution of computing – mainframes to distributed to cloud computing
  • Shift from Industry 3.0 to Industry 4.0 and role data analytics & AIML
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
4 Explain evolution of computing & evolving role of big data and AMIL – Part 2 (CK1)

  • Big Data – The changing paradigm
  • Overview of big data (including 3V to 5V shift)
  • Opportunities created by big data
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
5 Explain evolution of computing & evolving role of big data and AMIL – Part3 (CK1)

  • Artificial intelligence & machine learning (AIML)
  • Overview of artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning and deep learning
  • Opportunities created by AIML
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
6 Analyze data science, data analytics, and artificial intelligence relationship (CK1)

  • Overlap between data science, data analytics, and artificial intelligence
  • Data driven decision making
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
7 Explain data analytics tools landscape (CK1, CC1)

  • Tools for data analysis
  • Tools for data visualization
  • Tools for data engineering

Data Analysis Section
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
8 Assess data analysis tool sets (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Introduction to data analysis tool sets
  • Key features and comparisons of multiple tools
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
9 Explain data transformation and normalization (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Data transformation concepts
  • Data normalization concepts
  • Data transformation hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
10 Use Power Query to transform the data (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Data transformation hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
11 Use Power Query to extract information (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Extracting information concepts
  • Extracting information hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
12 Use Power Query for data consolidation & reporting (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Consolidating data concepts
  • Consolidating data hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
13 Use Power Query for debugging (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Debugging concepts
  • Debugging hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
14 Use multiple features of Power Query (CC1, CIP1)

  • Recap Power Query
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
15 Create performance reports and dashboards using Power Query (CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Practice Session with Learning Assessment
  • Hands-On Activity
16 Create performance reports and dashboards using Power Query (CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Practice Session with Learning Assessment, continued
  • Hands-On Activity
17 Quiz 1 (CK1, CC1, CCIT1)  
18 Configure SQL (Structured Query Language) (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Introduction
  • Set up the environment for SQL
  • Introduction to sample database for hands-on activities
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
19 Use SQL (Structured Query Language) to write basic queries (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Writing SQL queries hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
20 Explain data manipulation in SQL (Structured Query Language) (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Data manipulation concepts
  • Data manipulation hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
21 Use SQL (Structured Query Language) to manipulate data (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Data manipulation hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
22 Explain database management system concepts – Part 1 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Introduction to database systems
  • OLTP and data warehouse
  • Data normalization and denormalization
  • Concepts in structuring the data warehouse
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
23 Explain database management system concepts – Part 2 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • ERD Concepts
  • Joins and unions
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
24 Use SQL (Structured Query Language) to create views and dynamic results (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Creating views
  • Using subqueries for dynamic results
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
25 Create reports using SQL (Structured Query Language) (CC1, CCIT1)

  • SQL for reporting concepts
  • Query SQL in Excel
  • Create reports using CUBE
  • Create reports using ROLLUP
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
26 Use multiple features of SQL (Structured Query Language) – Part 1 (CC1, CIP1)

  • Recap SQL 1
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
27 Use multiple features of SQL (Structured Query Language) – Part 2 (CC1, CIP1)

  • Recap SQL 2
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
28 Create business performance reports using SQL (Structured Query Language) – Part 1 (CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Practice Session with Learning Assessment
  • Hands-on Activity
29 Create business performance reports using SQL (Structured Query Language) – Part 1 (CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Practice Session with Learning Assessment, continued
  • Hands-on Activity
30 Quiz 2 (CK1, CC1, CCIT1)  
31 Explain Data Visualization (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Concepts in data visualization
  • Scenario Analysis (class discussion & presentation)
  • Lecture
  • Group Discussion
32 Configure Tableau (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Tableau overview
  • Set up the environment
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
33 Design performance dashboard using case scenario (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Introduction to case study data
  • Design dashboard to reflect business performance
  • Import common data files
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
34 Use Tableau for data transformation (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Transform the data
  • Create the dataset
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
35 Use functions & tables in Tableau – Part 1 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Calculate business metrics using functions
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
36 Use functions & tables in Tableau – Part 2 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Calculate business metrics using functions, continued
  • Table calculations
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
37 Use data visualization components in Tableau – Part 1 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Visuals in Tableau
  • Tables & heatmaps
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
38 Use data visualization components in Tableau – Part 2 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Interactive line charts
  • Dynamic titles
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
39 Use data visualization components in Tableau – Part 3 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Lollipop, scatter charts
  • Tree maps
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
40 Design business metrics dashboards in Tableau – Part 1 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Creating Visuals Activity – Hands-on
  • Hands-on Activity
41 Design business metrics dashboards in Tableau – Part 2 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Tiled vs floating dashboards
  • Dashboard sizing
  • Hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
42 Design business metrics dashboards in Tableau – Part 3 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Placing & formatting of visuals
  • Create collapsible containers
  • hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
43 Design business metrics dashboards in Tableau – Part 4 (CC1, CCIT1)

  • Making dashboards interactive
  • hands-on
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Hands-on practice
44 Use multiple features of Tableau – Part 1 (CC1, CIP1)

  • Recap 1
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
45 Use multiple features of Tableau – Part 2 (CC1, CIP1)

  • Recap 2
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
46 Create business performance dashboards using Tableau – Part 1 (CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Practice Session with Learning Assessment
  • Hands-on Activity
47 Create business performance dashboards using Tableau – Part 2 (CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Practice Session with Learning Assessment, continued
  • Hands-on Activity
48 Quiz 3 (CK1, CC1, CCIT1)  
49 Analyze multiple features of Power Query, SQL and Tableau (CK1, CC1, CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Overall Recap Session 1
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
50 Create performance dashboards using Power Query, SQL and Tableau (CK1, CC1, CCIT1, CIP1)

  • Overall Recap Session 2
  • Lecture
  • Discussion

9. TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES

Textbooks

1. Visualization Analysis and Design (AK Peters Visualization Series) by Tamara Munzner.

References

1. Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals by Cole Nussbaumer
Knaflic: Wiley.
2. M Is for (Data) Monkey: A Guide to the M Language in Excel Power Query by Ken Puls & Miguel
Escobar.
3. Collect, Combine, and Transform Data Using Power Query in Excel and Power BI (Business Skills) 1st
Edition by Gil Raviv: Pearson Education.
4. The Developer’s Guide to Azure. E-book series: Microsoft Azure.
5. The Applied SQL Data Analytics Workshop: Develop your practical skills and prepare to become a
professional data analyst, 2nd Edition by Matt Goldwasser, Upom Malik, Benjamin Johnston: Packt.
6. Visual Analytics with Tableau 1st Edition by Alexander Loth: Wiley.

Education Resources