Aims

This module aims to develop key practical thinking, skills and techniques required by industry for analysing business systems and principles/skills needed for developing a business analytics capability. The module will introduce systems thinking, a critical appreciation of business analysis and soft systems methodology, project management processes as well as a data analytics capability using industry standard software. These skills are of great value in the workplace and will enhance student employability through developing practice based skills.

The module is delivered by a combination of lectures and workshops together with directed learning and independent reading.

Independent learning requires students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the subject through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, reflection, research, and practical exercises.

Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and active experiential learning underpins the learning and teaching philosophy along with the explicit development of competence and cpability.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       Introduction to Business Analysis & Decision Making
•       Introduction Business Analytics and Business Intelligence
•       Introduction to organisations as systems and systems theory
•       Applying systems concepts as an underpinning method for enquiry
•       Problem framing – the importance of conceptual modelling
•       Project management as a key tool in data analytics development
•       Data visualisation and its role as a business decision support tool
•       Data Analytics in practice, employing and exploring industry standard analytical software tools

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures are used to present the underlying theory of information systems with emphasis on choosing appropriate methods in relation to business needs and dedicated applications.
Practical sessions will allow students to apply theory to a real world business case study and develop a real business analytics system.
The workshop environment helps students relate the taught material to real world business problems, considerations for designing a business analytics system and managing an IT project.
The analytical skills developed in the computer workshop to structure, query and analyse business data will provide valuable knowledge and skill outcomes, increase student confidence, increase data analysis capability all of which are highly sought after by industry.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module has been designed so that students will work on the elements required for their summative assessment during the teaching sessions throughout the semester.

Summative Assessment
Portfolio (semester 1) - Individual portfolio of practical systems modelling and project management outputs. Including a reflective commentary of each output, consisting of approximately 300 words per output. Semester 1 will be driven by students producing outputs that will feed into the portfolio with an the end point of semester 1 being the portfolio submission. (1800 words)

Report (semester 2) - Individual report analysing (using appropriate analytical software) a given data set to produce visualisations to inform and aid management decision making. Semester 2 will be driven by the exploration of at least one industry standard analytical software package, providing students with the necessary skills to analyse a given data set. (2000 words)

Feedback Strategy
Formative: At all points throughout the module, Q & A sessions will be held to allow for formative feedback on outputs produced.

Summative: For each component of assessment there is a respective standard marking criteria (rubric) that will indicate how marks are allocated to the work, alongside the annotated comments on the work and overall summary comments provided using electronic marking.