Business Analytics

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Assignment Brief Page 1 of 4

Faculty of Business and Law

Assignment Brief

Module Title: Business Analytics Assignment Number and Weighting

CW2 (50%)

Module Code: 1004SSL Assignment Title CW2

Release Date: 25/03/19 Module Leader Amritpal Slaich

Submission Date/Time:

29/04/19 at 18:00:00 (6pm)

Module Team Evans Gyasi, Ahmad Daowd, Abdulrahman Al-Surmi, Amir Daneshvar, Chiwuokem Nwoko

Submission Time and Place:

Submission online through Turnitin ONLY

Assignment Information

Module learning outcomes being assessed:

LO1. Define and evaluate key concepts of business analytics

LO2. Critically apply business analytical skills in business cases.

LO3. Critically apply and interpret the outputs of data mining models and forecasting results for

end-users.

LO4. Solve managerial problems and make systematic decisions by applying business data analysis

techniques.

This is an individual coursework.

Your coursework consists of the following tasks. Some similar tasks will be performed in

seminars with the tutors’ guidance. However, some parts of these tasks will require

independent study.

Attempt all three tasks.

Maximum total word count: 2250 words

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Assignment Brief Page 2 of 4

For this individual coursework you will be assigned a set of time series data covering 5

years.

You are required to:

Experiment with different forecasting models and decide on the most appropriate time series

model for your data. Use your model to forecast the four quarterly figures for the year

following the end of your data. Compare your forecasts with the actual figures for that year,

which you will have been given. Investigate and give a brief explanation of how clustering

could be used as a part of your time series analysis. Write a well-structured report of your

findings.

The marking scheme is as follows:

 Report Structure and Presentation [10 Marks]

 Introduction to the data [10 Marks]

 Time series analysis [30 Marks]

 Forecasts [20 Marks]

 Critical explanation of using clustering as part of time series analysis [20 Marks]

 Copies of the 2 models in appendix of report [10 Marks]

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Assignment Brief Page 3 of 4

Assessment Criteria

Mark range Guidelines

70 – 100%

The work submitted shows an excellent level of understanding and application of time series modeling with accurate forecast for the four quarterly figures. In addition there will be an excellent critical explanation of using clustering as part of time series analysis. Copies of the 2 models have been included in the appendix of the report. The assignment must be written in a professional, clear, well-structured and coherent style.

60 – 69%

The work submitted demonstrates a good understanding and application of time series modeling with good forecasts for the four quarterly figures. In addition there will be a good critical explanation of using clustering as part of the time series analysis. Copies of the 2 models have been included in the appendix of the report. The assignment will be well organized, professionally written and presented with few errors.

50 – 59%

The work submitted demonstrates a reasonable understanding and application of time series modeling and includes forecasts for the four quarterly figures. In addition there will be a reasonable critical explanation of clustering could be used as part of the time series analysis. Copies of the 2 models have been included in the appendix of the report. In addition the assignment may not be particularly well structured, and/or clearly presented. It contains some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

40 - 49%

The work is incomplete with limited and basic understanding of time series modeling. The explanation of how clustering could be used as part of time series analysis is relatively basic. Copies of the models have been included in the appendix of the report. Not all the questions have been fully answered. The report could be structured more coherently. There are spelling mistakes, poorly structured sentences and/or grammatical mistakes making the work difficult to understand. General statements, which lack explanation.

35 – 39%

The work submitted includes limited understanding of time series modeling and explaining how clustering could be used as part of time series analysis. There is limited relevant content and little evidence of application to the questions. The report is unprofessional in presentation with some grammar and spelling mistakes. There may be fundamental errors to the report including poor structure and a lack of flow.

20 – 34%

The work submitted is poor and shows little effort. The work bears little relation to the assignment. Poor understanding of time series modeling and explaining of how clustering could be used as part of time series analysis. The report structure and presentation are poor with spelling and/or grammatical mistakes.

0 - 19% The work shows a complete failure to meet the requirements of the assignment. There is no link to the questions with limited understanding of the requirements and demonstrates little knowledge or evidence of relevant application. There are numerous fundamental errors in understanding and/or presentation of the material. Structure and presentation are poor. Spelling and grammar are poor.

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Assignment Brief Page 4 of 4

Word count The word limit for this coursework is 2250 words. It is recommended that you only use appendices (if needed) for supporting material and not for the substantive part of your work. There will be a penalty of a deduction of 10% of the mark (after internal moderation) for work exceeding the word limit by 10% or more. You must state the total number of words used for this coursework on the front cover of the assignment.

How to submit your assessment The assessment must be submitted by 18:00:00 on 29/04/2019. No paper copies are required. You can access the submission link through the module web.

 Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Please take care

to ensure that you have fully submitted your work.

 All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason (see below) will be given a mark of zero.

 The University wants you to do your best. However, we know that sometimes events happen which mean that you cannot submit your coursework by the deadline – these events should be beyond your control and not easy to predict. If this happens, you can apply for an extension to your deadline for up to two weeks, or if you need longer, you can apply for a deferral, which takes you to the next assessment period (for example, to the resit period following the main Assessment Boards). You must apply before the deadline. You will find information about the process and what is or is not considered to be an event beyond your control at https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Deferrals-and- Extension.aspx

 Students MUST keep a copy and/or an electronic file of their assignment.

 Checks will be made on your work using anti-plagiarism software and approved plagiarism checking websites.

GUIDELINES AND BACKGROUND TO THIS ASSIGNMENT Plagiarism As part of your study you will be involved in carrying out research and using this when writing up your coursework. It is important that you correctly acknowledge someone else’s writing, thoughts or ideas and that you do not attempt to pass this off as your own work. Doing so is known as plagiarism. It is not acceptable to copy from another source without acknowledging that it is someone else’s writing or thinking. This includes using paraphrasing as well as direct quotations. You are expected to correctly cite and reference the works of others. The Centre for Academic Writing provides documents to help you get this right. If you are unsure, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/caw. You can also check your understanding of academic conduct by completing the Good Academic Practice quiz available on Moodle. Moodle includes a plagiarism detection system and assessors are experienced enough to recognise plagiarism when it occurs. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections from a book or the Internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences. Please familiarise yourself with the CU Harvard Reference Style (on Moodle) and use it correctly to avoid a case of plagiarism or cheating being brought. Again, if you are unsure, please contact the Centre for Academic Writing, your Academic Personal Tutor or a member of the course team. Return of Marked Work You can expect to have marked work returned to you 15 working days after the submission date. If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informed. Marks and feedback will be provided online. As always, marks will have been internally moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed his / her review.