Business Analytics and Decision Support

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2024/05
Institute / School :Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability
Unit Title: Business Analytics and Decision Support
Unit ID: ITECH3101
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): (ITECH2004)
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 020307
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit
This unit will cover advanced business analytics and decision support, consisting of decision support systems (DSS), business intelligence (BI) and various decision-making techniques. Students will explore and examine theories and principles of business analytics and decision, including descriptive analytic, predictive analytic, and prescriptive analytic approaches. Students will have opportunities to apply these skills and knowledge to real-world business questions, comparing and selecting relevant analytic strategies, and formulating meaningful insights and solutions for supporting decision-making.
Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component: No
Supplementary Assessment:
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.Examine business analytics and decision making in managing information systems. 
K2.Differentiate between descriptive, predictive and prescriptive approaches in solving key business problem for managerial decision support.
K3.Compare the capabilities and limitations of related business analytic solutions for decision-making support systems.
Skills:
S1.Experimentally investigate business data using multiple analytic tools.
S2.Prepare descriptive or reporting analytics by using visualization techniques.
S3.Perform standard business analysis activities.
Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.Propose a solution to an identified business problem using business analytic tools and techniques to provide insights and aid decision-making.
A2.Communicate business decision-making strategies and solutions for a given scenario to a range of stakeholders.
Unit Content:

•Overview of business analytics and decision support.
•Foundations and technologies for decision making.
•Modern business analysis and AI.
•Visual analytics for business and decision making
•Descriptive analytic approaches.
•Predictive analytic approaches.
•Text analytics and sentiment analysis
•Social network, AI, IoT and decision making.
•Emerging trends in business analytics and decision making. 
•Unit review.

Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in:

•   Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication

•   Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening

•   Showing empathy for others

•   Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills

•   Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.

Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Creating a collegial environment

•   Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect

•   Inspiring and convincing others

•   Making informed decisions

•   Displaying initiative

N/A - Not Applicable
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Reflecting critically

•   Evaluating ideas, concepts and information

•   Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas

•   Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts

•   Forming creative solutions in problem solving.

Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information

•   Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely

•   Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media

•   Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups

•   Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities.

Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context
FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts

•   Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen

•   Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses

•   Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others

•   Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.

N/A - Not Applicable
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, S1, S2, S3

Work individually or in groups to analyse business problems based on real-world business scenarios, design alternative solutions and evaluate the relevant theories and techniques to support business decision-making.

Assignment(s)

30%- 40%

2.K1, K2, K3, S3, A1, A2

Design and develop a decision-support solution for an authentic business case. Draw upon relevant theories to justify your approach, choice of business analytics systems and techniques, and decision-making strategy, including alignment with the business problem. Formulate and present strategic recommendations to a stakeholder audience, considering both immediate operational improvements and long-term strategic objectives. Articulate how the proposed recommendations align with broader business transformation goals, and reflect on your learning.

Essay, Presentation and Reflection

30%- 50%

3.K1, K2, K3, S3, A1

Examinations/test will cover topics taught in the unit

Examination/test

20%-30%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency
1.Australian Computer Society - Core Body of Knowledge: 2023 accreditation
AttributeAssessedLevel
Core ICT Knowledge
Information & Data Science and Engineering
Nature of data, information and knowledge, meta-data, abstraction and representational quality YesIntermediate
Data Science and Engineering, data analytics, mining and visualisation, big data YesIntermediate
Professionalism as it applied in ICT
Professional Communication
Forms and styles of documentation - technical reports and specifications, progress reports YesIntermediate
2.Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA): Version 8
AttributeAssessedLevel
Development and implementation
Data and analytics
DATS Data science (Levels 2 - 7)

Applying mathematics, statistics, data mining and predictive modelling techniques to gain insights, predict behaviours and generate value from data.

Yes3
BINT Business intelligence (Levels 2 - 5)

Developing, producing and delivering regular and one-off management information to provide insights and aid decision-making.

Yes3
VISL Data visualisation (Levels 3 - 5)

Facilitating understanding of data by displaying concepts, ideas, and facts using graphical representations.

Yes3