Category: fb21-busad560

Module 8: Final Exam

Instructions for the final exam:

1. Create a video to answer six (6) essay questions.

  • Each student will create a video in one of two (2) formats
    • Zoom style screen recording (like my lectures), or
    • Homemade video (simply use your phone)
  • In your video you will provide oral answers to six (6) essay questions, posted in Bb.
  • You don’t need to actually write out essay answers. Instead, answer the questions orally, using your own words.
  • I want to see your face during the video. Don’t record audio only. This will help me better understand what you know and what you don’t know.
  • You can use visual elements (e.g., data graphics, browse to a website, show an article, etc.) if it helps (but not required).
  • Don’t read from a script, make it conversational, like answering questions in a job interview.
  • Be thorough but don’t drone on and on without purpose, i.e., don’t confuse length of answer with quality.

2. Your video should be approximately 5-10 minutes in length.

  • Speak clearly! If I can’t follow your commentary it may negatively impact your grade.
  • Don’t rush through it. Take time to explain yourself.
  • Don’t make the video unnecessarily long but don’t worry if you go a few minutes over.

3. Post your video and send me a link.

  • Post your video on YouTube.
  • (Yes, only YouTube. Why? Because if I allow you to post anywhere some will use an obscure platform and/or incompatible technology creating major headaches for me when grades are due.)
  • Post the link to your video in Bb.
  • Post the link only! Please do not try to actually upload your video on Bb.
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Module 7: Data Science Toolkit

Review:

  • Module 6
  • M5 Revisions
  • DataCamp

Presentation:

  • Video Lecture
  • Data Science
    • Combination of statistics + programming with big data
    • Hot like computer software development in the 1990’s
    • Salaries are high 

Assignment:

  1. Search for job openings in the industry you chose in Module 5 using keywords “analytics” or “data science”.
  2. Choose one of the job openings (whatever interests you most) and prepare a resume and cover letter you might submit to apply for the position. 
  3. Keep your resume/cover honest – don’t misrepresent yourself – but try to work in some of the concepts and keywords you’ve learned in this class to make your application more appealing.
  4. Submit one word doc with all three items below included.
    • Job advertisement
    • Resume
    • Cover letter
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Module 5: Prescriptive Analytics and Optimization

Review:

  • Module 4

Presentation:

  • Video Lecture
  • Prescriptive analytics
  • Discrete mathematics
  • Supply chain network optimization
  • Inventory safety stock optimization

Assignment:

  • Create an industry-specific “Analytics” Bibliography
    • Choose an industry of interest (e.g., Sports, Health Care, Finance)
    • Find written resources (journal or news articles, books, etc) using library databases, search engines, etc.
    • List them and write a brief description of each resource
    • Here’s a Help Sheet on how to write an annotated bibliography
  • I recorded a video session with Librarian, Isabel Sotoluna for this assignment. Watch it!
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Module 4: Predictive Analytics and Simulation

Review:

  • Module 3

Presentation:

Assignment:

  • Use the Stock and Bond Portfolio simulation
    • Allocate % Stocks vs Bonds
    • Enter Beginning Balance amount
    • Enter Annual Contribution amount
    • Enter Retirement Target amount
    • Run Simulation
    • Try different combinations and repeat
  • Essay Questions (~1-page per question)
    • Summarize your retirement savings expectations after experimenting with the simulation
    • How could you use a comparable simulation approach in your current business or later in your professional life?
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Module 3: Predictive Analytics and Time Series Forecasting

Review:

  • Module 2

Presentation:

Assignment:

  • Reading
  • Essay
    • 1-2 page essay, similar to Module 2
    • There are several issues (all very short, mostly graphical)
    • Use these issues to summarize the impact of Covid-19 on the automotive aftermarket industry.
    • How good were the forecasts?
    • How could this series of articles be improved?
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Module 1: Intro to Managerial Analytics

Module 1 Instructions:

  1. Watch this introductory video.
  2. Download and review the course syllabus.
  3. Purchase the required textbook on Amazon for only $16.50.
  4. Check your school email for an invitation to join my DataCamp.com classroom.
  5. Complete the Data Science for Business course.
  6. Read the guidelines below.

This course will consist of eight one-week modules, each module beginning Monday and ending the following Sunday. Each week you are responsible for contributing to Discussion forums in Bb and for completing an Assignment. I will provide descriptions and resources here each week and I will make an Announcement on Bb each time a new module post appears. Typically, I will also post one or more video lectures each week.

All assignments are due by 11:59pm on Sunday each week!

Discussions:

  • Each week you will earn up to 20 points by contributing to the discussion forums on Bb.
  • Ask a question or share something you learned that saved you time or helped you understand the material. The idea is to be curious and promote understanding.
  • Don’t regurgitate or summarize the material unless it’s part of a question or helpful insight.
  • Submit comments or questions during the week, no later than Friday. If you wait until Sat or Sun your input won’t help you or anyone else. (That said, better late than never for scoring).
  • Don’t login only once a week, make a few comments and logout 10 min later. I’ll notice if you’re doing the bare minimum.
  • Don’t skip Discussion all together. If I see nothing, you’ll get 0/20.

Assignments:

  • Each week you will earn up to 100 points by completing an assignment.
  • I will provide instructions. Please follow the instructions.
    • If I ask you to submit something via Bb or via Google Forms don’t email it instead. Grading is time consuming and handling special cases wastes my time.
    • Pay attention to format. If I ask you to submit an .xlsx file, don’t send a .pdf or other format.
  • Make it easy for me to identify where you are answering a question. If I can’t find it you may not get credit.
  • If you’re not sure what to do to complete an assignment, post a question on the discussion board! That’s the whole idea! Or you can send me an email if you prefer not to broadcast. Of course, this requires that you think about the assignment before Sunday night.
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