week 2

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

Companies that use business analytics recognize the importance of a supporting culture in order to apply the business analytics to impact organizational operations.

Objectives

· Analyze how an organization’s culture influences the effective use of business analytics. (2.1)

Theory and Context

Bartlett (2013) lists five aspects an organization should seek in encouraging an analytics-driven culture (p. 67). Companies may define employee characteristics that they think will support this culture and keep them in mind when hiring.

Resources

Nerney, C. (2012, September 25). Jeanne Harris on building an analytical culture for big

data. Retrieved from

http://data-informed.com/jeanne-harris-how-to-create-analytical-culture/

Instructions

1. In this discussion, consider the five cultural aspects and provide an example of an organization that you are familiar with or have researched that demonstrates one of these cultural aspects and how it supports the use of analytics.

2. Post your responses in the discussion forum titled 2.2 Culture Discussion.

3. Use the Discussion Rubric below to ensure you have met all the criteria for this assignment.

Discussion Rubric

Learning Activity 2.3: Management vs. Leadership Discussion

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

The terms management and leadership are often used interchangeably. This quiz and associated discussion provides insight into the difference between management and leadership, and how understanding that difference is important to effectively using business analytics.

Objectives

· Evaluate the need to lead versus manage in an analytics driven culture. (2.2)

Theory and Context

Management and leadership must work together for the organization to achieve its purpose. An analytics-driven culture requires specific leadership characteristics to effectively integrate analytics in decision-making.

Resources

Gupta, A. (2009, May 6). Lead vs manage quiz. Retrieved from http://www.practical-

management.com/Analytics/Lead-Vs-Manage-Quiz.html

Instructions

1. Take the Lead versus Manage Quiz referenced above. Consider the feedback that comes along with your quiz results.

a. Based on the feedback and Bartlett’s (2013) discussion of leadership versus management – discuss specific leadership skills you think would be important in an organization’s leadership team for business analytics to be used effectively in decision-making.

2. Post your responses in the discussion forum titled 2.3 Management vs. Leadership Discussion.

3. Use the Discussion Rubric referenced earlier in this document to ensure you have met all the criteria for this assignment.

Discussion Rubric (above)

Learning Activity 2.4: Predictive Modeling

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

Predictive modeling is the use of predictors that have been determined to influence future outcomes in order to create a statistical model. There is no one form of predictive modeling. It can be simple – using a linear equation – or more complex using sophisticated software.

Objectives

· Apply predictive modeling to an organizational question. (2.3)

Theory and Context

Predictive analytics involves using information from historical data to identify patterns in order to determine possibilities for the future. Regression and trend analyses are both examples of predictive analytics.

Resources

The Corporate Genie. (2014, March 20). What is predictive analytics data mining [Video

file]? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOATC8ARHNs

Queensland Government. (1995-2007). Trend analysis for business improvement. Retrieved from https://www.business.qld.gov.au/_designs/content/guide-printing2?parent=53485&SQ_DESIGN_NAME=print_layout

wikiHow to do trend analysis in Excel. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Trend-Analysis-in-Excel

Instructions

1. Assume that for a given company, net profit will increase when sales increase. In this scenario, the linear relationship exists between sales (the independent variable) and net profit (the dependent variable).

2. Develop a trend and linear regression analysis for a public company of your choice.

a. Map the past 10 years of sales and net profit data.

b. Predict future values for the next two years for the dependent variable (net profit).

i. The website “Introducing Predictive Marketing: The Next Stage of Business Optimization” above provides information on the calculations.

3. Submit your exercise to your facilitator using the dropbox titled 2.4 Predictive Modeling by the end of the week.

Grading Guide

Learning Activity 2.5: Team Activity: Business Purpose Analysis

Introduction and Purpose of Assignment

During this class you will work in a team to evaluate a publicly traded company using various business analytical approaches.

Objectives

· Define a business problem that could be addressed through the use of business analytics. (2.4)

Theory and Context

Wells (2008) stresses three criteria that allow business analytics to be effective in an organization: a) Purposeful, b) Insightful, and c) Actionable. While you will be considering all these criteria throughout the course, this learning activity focuses on the criteria “Purposeful.” To provide information that helps businesses create an action, the first step is to define the Purpose of the analysis. The Purpose could be predictive—to predict what may happen in the future—or it could be to examine existing identified problems about which the business wants to gain additional insight.

Resources

Wells, D. (2008, April 8). Business analytics - Getting the point. Retrieved from

http://www.b-eye-network.com/view/7133

Instructions

1. This activity builds on the analysis your team started in Week One with your selected publicly traded company.

a. Review the business goals identified and the KPIs created in Week One. From that information, and information found on the company’s website, your team should identify a problem or scenario that the company could develop an analytical approach to evaluating.

i. Consider Wells’ definition of “Purposeful” and his examples.

ii. Other examples might be a company’s objective of sustainability, green initiatives, or global expansion. This Purpose may result in the restating of one or more KPI (depending on the Purpose).

2. In a 1-2 page paper,

a. Clearly define the Purpose of your selected publicly traded business for which the team intends to develop an analytical review.

b. Correlate this Purpose to the KPIs initially developed, or add an additional KPI that relates to this project.

3. Provide at least two sources.

4. APA formatting is required. Refer to the APA formatting documents available in the Course Documents in e360.

5. Use the Paper Writing Rubric referenced below to ensure you have met all the criteria for this assignment.

6. Use the Team rubric below to guide your collaboration efforts. The points in the Team rubric represent only your collaboration (10 pts). The remaining points assigned to this activity will represent the quality of the work (25 pts).

a. All group assignments should have a list provided after the References that indicates each individual’s contribution to the project.

7. Have one member of your team submit your paper to your facilitator using the dropbox titled 2.5 Team Activity: Business Purpose Analysis by the end of the week.