COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA

1. Course Designation ECON 1202. Course Title Introduction to Business Analytics3. Abbreviated Course Title

for BannerIntroduction to Business Analytics

4. Division Business and Technology5. Department Business Administration6. Course Description This course introduces students to the foundational concepts

of data analysis necessary to understand, interpret, display, and explain data. Lectures will cover statistical measurements of frequency, mathematical concepts related to data analysis, and ethical issues, all of which students will apply in their individual and group research on data sources and data interpretation. Students learn practical applications of data analysis and visualization.

7. Prerequisites/Corequisites None8. Placement ENGL 098/101

FNMT 017 or higher9. Hours and Credits 3-0-3 10. Class size (maximum) 3611. Programs where this course

appearsBusiness Leadership Proficiency Certificate Business Leadership AAS DegreeCorporate Social Responsibility Proficiency Certificate

12. Course Writer(s) Rebecca Garvin13. Facilitator (s) Cindy Giddle14. Recommended Starting

SemesterFall 2019

15. Course Revision or New Course

New Course

16. If this is a course revision, indicate which are being revised (check box)

☐Prerequisite(s) ☐Course Title ☐Course Description☐Credit Hours ☐Student Learning Outcomes

18. Course Attributes This course, along with BUSL 125: Customer Service Leadership, together meet the requirements for the Technological Competency requirement.

19. Date February 6, 2019 (updated 2-25-2019)

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A. Rationale

ECON 120: Introduction to Business Analytics, one of five core courses in the Business Leadership Proficiency Certificate, teaches practical application of data analysis and data visualization and is designed to increase students’ ability to understand, interpret, visualize, and present data. The past decade has ushered in a new technological revolution in almost every facet of our daily lives. In an improbably short time period, the speed, accessibility, and reliability of real-time data has vastly altered the way we live, from how we communicate, to how markets interact, and even how we travel. Data is everywhere, and with the newest technological advances—such as the Internet of Things, data sensors, and cloud technologies—the amount of “big data” available will only continue to grow exponentially. In order to thrive in our ever-changing society, it is important to understand how to interpret this seemingly ubiquitous information.

This course is designed to equip students in the Business Leadership Proficiency Certificate and Business Leadership AAS program with the introductory tools necessary to understand, interpret, visualize, and present data. By understanding the practical application of data analysis, students will be able to critically analyze the data presented to them through media, news outlets, and businesses, and make informed decisions about their workplaces.

Throughout the semester, students will learn through hands-on and tutorial-based instruction. It is not necessary for students to have any prior experience with spreadsheet and presentation software as this course will provide students with all tools necessary for an introductory, practical understanding of data visualization. After completion of this course, students will be familiar with economic and demographic data sources and understand the steps necessary to use that data to relay ideas clearly and concisely through data visualization.

This course meets three of the six the technological competency goals as listed under the College’s general education requirements. Through hands-on learning and take-home assignments, students use spreadsheet software to organize, analyze, and present data (Goal 2). In both individual and team projects, students learn about the College’s library information system as well as other online library databases available for research purposes (Goal 3). Through reviewing and analyzing an article on a current data privacy issue in the news, students will describe common privacy and security issues related to the handling of data (Goal 6).

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B. Course Learning Outcomes and Methods of Assessment

Course Learning OutcomeUpon successful completion of the course,

students will be able to:

Method of Assessment

1. Calculate statistical measurements of frequency (mean, mode, median, range) and mathematical concepts related to data analysis (percent and numeric changes).

Exam; individual project; team project

2. Create graphs, charts, maps, and tables using spreadsheet software to demonstrate data visualization techniques.

Take-home assignments; individual project; team project

3. Describe common ethical issues related to the use of information technology systems and the handling of data, including privacy and security issues.

Short essay assignment; individual project; team project

4. Research economic and demographic data sources, differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate data sources, and demonstrate proper sourcing of data.

Individual project; team project

5. Interpret economic and demographic data and justify conclusions through written and verbal communication.

Team project; individual project

C. Grading

Instructors may determine their own weights for assignments. What appears in the table below are recommendations; however, the team project is a required element of the course.

Exam: Mathematical and statistical concepts 20%(3) Take-Home Assignments: Microsoft data visualization assignments

30%

Short Essay Assignment: Data privacy issues in current events 10%Individual Research Proposal with PowerPoint presentation 10%Team Project: Group research project (Four sub-assignments) 20%Class Participation 10%Total 100%

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D. Planned Sequence of Topics

Week Topic

Stat

and

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h C

amp:

A

n In

trod

uctio

n to

E

xcel

1 Stat Camp: The Basics of Statistics Measures of Frequency Measures of Variability

2 Math Camp: Mathematical Concepts related to Data Analysis Percent v. Numeric Change Introduction into Indexing

Exam: Statistical and Mathematical Concepts

Dat

a V

isua

lizat

ion

3 Data Visualization using Microsoft Excel How two or more numbers are different or alike: Visualizing

comparisons Are we better or worse off? Displaying relative importance

Take-Home Assignment: Data Visualization Exercises in Microsoft Excel4 Data Visualization using Microsoft Excel

What the survey says: How to display survey results Where there are parts of a whole: Visualizing beyond the pie

chartTake-Home Assignment: Data Visualization Exercises in Microsoft Excel

5 Data Visualization using Microsoft Excel How this thing changes when that thing does: Communicating

correlation How things change over time: Depicting trends

Take-Home Assignment: Data Visualization Exercises in Microsoft Excel

How

to T

ell a

Sto

ry w

ith D

ata

6 How to tell a story with data: Where to get data? Explanation of individual and group projects

Appropriate data sources Cite your source! How to find data, cite data, and what not to do

with data CCP library resources, meeting with the CCP librarian and

spending time getting familiar with databases 7 How to tell a story with data: Data Integrity

Privacy issues with raw data Ethical issues with all data

Individual Essay: Data privacy issues in current events8 How to tell a story with data: Effective PowerPoint Skills

The Rules of PowerPoint Best practices presentation skills (in-class exercise) Best practices of data presentation (what not to do)

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Indi

vidu

al

Res

earc

h Pr

opos

als

9 Individual Mentored Research Week Bringing it all together: creating a research proposal. Each

student will create a short pitch of a business idea they would be interested in researching for the team project. Students will work on their pitches during class time with a template provided by instructor.

10 Individual Project Pitches Individual Pitch of Team Project Idea: PowerPoint presentation

Men

tore

d G

roup

Res

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11 Team Research, Proposal Writing: Each group will submit their idea for a business proposal to be

built off the group’s individual pitches. Team Assignment: One-page written research proposal

12 Team Research, Data Sources: Each group will submit their list of data sources with proper

citations that will be used in their research. Team Assignment: List and explanation of data sources

13 Team Research, Data Visualization and PowerPoint Presentations During this week, teams will work on gathering data and

finalizing their data visualizations for their PowerPoint Presentations. The instructor will aid in this process.

14 Team Research, Data Visualization and PowerPoint Presentations Each group will submit their PowerPoint presentations for

review by the instructor. The instructor will give any notes/suggestions prior to group presentations

Team Assignment: PowerPoint presentations dueFinals Week

Team Research Presentations Each group will present their research to the class through a

PowerPoint presentation (max 6 groups of 6 students, 15 minute presentations) during finals week.

Team Assignment: Presentations of research project

E. Student Learning Activities and Assignments

This course can be divided into five broad sections, each of which reviews and applies skills learned in previous sections. In the first eight weeks, through tutorials (in and out of class), short assignments, and in-class discussion, the students will be introduced to concepts and skills they will then apply in two related projects—first individual, then team—in the last six weeks.

1. Statistical and Mathematical Concepts: Students complete Excel exercises in-class on statistical and mathematical concepts that are necessary for data analysis. After the completion of these in-class exercises and discussions, there will be an exam.

2. Data Visualization Exercises: Students hone their data visualization skills by completing in-class exercises with the instructor. After going through the various data visualization modules, there will be three take-home assignments for students to create visualizations independently.

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3. Data Privacy Assignment: After learning about how to create data visualizations, and before getting into data sources, data citation, and how to make your point with data, it is important to have class discussions on data privacy. While the data used in the class will be macro-level data and publicly-available, students should know that there is a complex discussion occurring in society today about the ownership of data. Students choose from a list of articles involving a data privacy issue and answer a few questions about the central issues from the article of their choosing.

4. Individual Research Proposal: Prior to beginning the team project, various aspects of the research process will be included in class discussions and lectures, including how to properly cite data, where to find appropriate data sources (with help from the college’s librarian), a review of publicly-available, federally-funded data websites, and an overview of how to create PowerPoint presentations. After these topics are covered, students will create their own short presentation to demonstrate the scope and goals regarding data in their individual research project. This exercise will occur as an in-class assignment with assistance from the instructor.

5. Final Team Project: Students plan, create, and execute a team project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that they have gained in data collection, visualization, and presentation, bringing together all aspects of the course. The final team project is broken up into four sub-components (research proposal, data source explanation, PowerPoint and data visualization drafts, and the group presentation).

Please see the Appendix for a sample assignments and learning activities.

F. Required and Optional Texts/Readings/Materials

At this time, the following text is highly recommended:

Evergreen, Stephanie D. H. (2017). (5th) Effective Data Visualization: The Right Chart for the Right Data. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Ltd.

Effective Data Visualization: The Right Chart for the Right Data is an introductory paperback text that not only gives step-by-step narrative instruction on creating various types of visualization but also stresses the importance of understanding the best way to display data to clearly express an idea. The text is simple to comprehend and will be appropriate for all students.

In addition to the text Effective Data Visualization: The Right Chart for the Right Data, there are multiple online, open source introductions to excel textbooks that students can choose to use as a resource. The following is an example of an open source text: https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/beginningexcel/

Videos should also be used to support teaching for technology competency content.Example Videos:

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Teacher’s Tech, Microsoft Word – 2018 Beginners Tutorial, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC13M8FGlNc

Technology for Teachers and Students, The Beginner’s Guide to Excel – Excel Basics Tutorial, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwbho0CgEAE

Technology for Teachers and Students, Beginner’s Guide to PowerPoint – 2017 Tutorial, https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=microsoft+word+2016+tutorial+for+beginners

G. Resources Needed for This Course

A student tech classroom equipped with computers for all students is needed for this course.

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Appendix: Sample Assignments

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Part 1: Statistical and Mathematical Concepts

Student In-Class Excel Assignment Example:

Discussion questions:

1. Explain the difference between mean and median. Which gives a better measure of central tendency? Which can be greatly affected by outliers?

2. What is the range? Why is this important to know for data visualization purposes? 3. What does the standard deviation tell us about the population being measured? Why is

the standard deviation used more often than the variance in statistics and data visualization?

4. There can only be one mean. However, there can be multiple modes. Explain.

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Part 2: Data Visualization

Student Weekly Excel Take-Home Assignments Example:

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Part 3: How to tell a story with data and the privacy issues associated with data

Assignment: One-page essay on data privacy in the news

Assignment Explanation: In today’s society, the speed and availability of data is greater than ever. Personal and behavioral data are collected almost instantaneously through the public’s use of applications on “smart” devices. While this data can be used to create a more efficient, safer, and healthier society, it also creates a multitude of data privacy issues. Questions like “Who owns this data?” and “Should companies be able to sell data about their customers?” usher in important discussions around the future of our personal data. The purpose of this assignment is to include yourself in this conversation and become well-acquainted with the issues surrounding the expansion of our society’s data collection capabilities.

Assignment Criteria: Pick an article from the list provided. Answer the following questions in four to five paragraphs (minimum 300 words):

o What is the central data privacy issue of the article? o Given this issue, analyze the opposing sides’ view.o Formulate your own opinion of the issue and propose a possible solution

to this issue.

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Part 4: Individual Research Proposal

Assignment: PowerPoint Presentation

Assignment Explanation: The team project for this course is a group project in which you present a business idea using the data visualization techniques and data sources you have learned thus far. In order to decide on the type of business you would like research with your group, each student will create a short proposal on the business venture they would like to further research and present this proposal to the class. After all business ideas have been presented, individuals

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Data Privacy Issues Essay Rubric

Criteria Excellent Needs Improvement

Unacceptable

Essay Structure Essay is 300 words Essay is 300 words Essay does notor more or more meet length

300 words or more requirementEssay has a correct Essay has a

Essay title title title Essay is missingtitle

Points ( /10) 10 points 5 points 0 points

Explanation of key data privacy issue

Issue is clearly identifiedand explained

Explanation is oftenunclear

Explanation isunclearExamples areomitted

Points ( /40) 40 points 20 points 0 points

Analysis of data privacy issue

Analysis is thoughtful and clearly explained

Analysis is unclear at times

Search process is unclear or non-existent

Points ( /40) 40 points 20 points 0 points

Conclusion Conclusion is thoughtful and clearly explained

Conclusion is unclear at times

Conclusion is unclear or non-existent

Points ( /10) 10 points 5 points 0 points

Total Points:

will be sorted based on similar business ideas/industries (i.e., home health agency, restaurant/bar, marketing agency, daycare, etc.) and each team will pick an individual proposal to expand upon.

Assignment Criteria: Create a five slide PowerPoint presentation that answers the following questions:

1. What type of business are you proposing? 2. Why do you believe this business in needed?3. Who would buy your product or service?4. Where would you locate this business? 5. What type of employees and resources would you need for this

business?

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Individual Proposal Presentation RubricCriteria Mastery Developing Beginner

Presentation Content

___ of 40 points

Includes all of the required elements

Answers questions with specific terms and ideas

Includes most of the required elements

Answers the majority of questions with specific terms

and ideas

Includes some of the required elements

Does not address most questions and rarely uses specific terms and ideas

Data Visualizations

___ of 30 points

All data visualizations are understandable, necessary,

and cited correctly.

Some data visualizations are understandable, necessary,

and cited correctly.

Few data visualizations are understandable, necessary,

and cited correctly.

Communication Skills

___ of 20 points

Information communicated clearly and understandably

Maintains good eye contact

Voice is clear and audible

Handles unexpected changes in a calm, practiced manner

Some information is unclear or difficult to understand

Minimal loss of eye contact

It is occasionally difficult to understand the speaker’s

words

Unexpected changes cause minor delays or disruptions

Information is generally not communicated in clear or

logical way,

Does not maintain eye contact

The speaker’s words are often difficult to understand

Unexpected changes cause significant delays or

disruptionsTime

Management___ of 10 points

Presentation executed within the time limit and maintains a lively, engaging pace that holds the audience’s interest

Presentation may be slightly below or beyond the five-

minute mark

Presentation is markedly too short or far exceeds the five-

minute time limit

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Part 5: Group Research Project

Assignment Explanation: In the team project for this course, each team will present a business idea using the data visualization techniques and data sources you have learned. The point of this presentation is to secure funding for your proposed business (think Shark Tank), so you have to get your point across. In order to get your point across, you need a presentation that will prove that your business will be successful in the location that your group chooses, and to do that, you need data. And in order to make that data meaningful, you need to use your data visualization skills.

Each group will propose a business idea (restaurant, home health agency, marketing company, etc.) and compare three cities in which this business should be located. For consistency, Philadelphia will be one of the three cities for all groups. The other two locations will be decided upon by the groups.

Each group will collect economic and demographic data from the federally-funded data sources previously reviewed in class. Each group will compare and contrast, at a minimum, the following data for their proposed business in each of the three locations:

Local unemployment rate Average median wage Location quotient of industry Size of industry (number of firms, people employed) Additional data: demographic, crime, weather, prices, etc.

For example, if a group of students were interested in opening a home health care agency in Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, or Chicago, they would first compare and contrast the unemployment rates in the area, the average median wage, and the number of firms already in the area. Because home health care agencies tend to aid older Americans, it might be interesting for this group to also look into the age of the population in the three cities to see where there may be a greater need for this business. The group might also focus on the location quotient of home health agencies in these areas to check market saturation. While each group will have a slightly different approach, there are minimum data requirements that each group will need to analyze. The students will spend the last few weeks of class time (with guidance from the instructor) working on putting these data visualizations together and concluding where they believe their business would have the most success.

Throughout the last few weeks of the course, the groups will meet during class time to create the following sub-assignments which will help guide the project:

Sub-Assignment #1: One-page proposal Sub-Assignment #2: List and explanation of data sources Sub-Assignment #3: PowerPoint presentation drafts due to instructor for review Sub-Assignment #4: Group presentation (15 minutes during finals week)

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Sub-Assignment #1: One-page team proposal (based loosely on the individual project proposal selected)

Sub-Assignment #1 Explanation: The one-page proposal will help your group work through the types of questions you need to answer in your presentation and further develop your business idea. It will explain why your business is a good idea.

Sub-Assignment #1 Criteria: The one-page proposal should include the following:

A. The Business: Describe very briefly why your business needs to exist. What problem does your business solve for its customers?

B. The Market: Describe your key customers- who they are and what their key attributes are. If your company is targeting multiple customer groups (also called “segments”), describe each group here.

C. Your Competition: Describe other similar businesses in this area. What are these other businesses lacking that will differentiate your product from theirs?

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Sub-Assignment #2: Support for proposal and explanation of data sources

Sub-Assignment #2 Explanation: The proposal set up the type of data you will need to back up your claims within the proposal. You need data to prove the parts above, namely A) that there is problem that needs to be solved, B) that the problem is widespread in the area and amongst your target market, and C) that your business would solve this problem.

Sub-Assignment #2 Criteria: Using the provided blank template, walk through the proposal and determine what type of data you will need to show your investor in order to prove your point where you believe your business will have the most success.

Data Sources and ExplanationsWhat are you trying to prove? How would you prove this? What data would prove this? Data to be used (source)

Business Example: Proposed Brewery

Show that there is a gap in your market segment.

Show there are few or no other local breweries in the area compared to other towns.

Establishment data for the area.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW

Show that there is a market for your business.

Show there is a target market for craft beer through recent sales and demographic data.

Demographic data on individuals over 21 in the area and market expansion in recent years

U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder Data, Bureau of Economic Analysis Data

Your business is different from competitors.

There is enough trained labor in the area for your

business to thrive.

The location of your business is

profit maximizing.

Sub-Assignment #3: Copies of data visualizations and PowerPoint presentations due

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Sub-Assignment #3 Explanation: After creating your proposal and the chart describing the various types of data you will need to gather to create effective data visualizations, you will create a PowerPoint presentation for your group. A copy of this presentation is due a week prior to the day of the presentation for review and feedback.

Sub-Assignment #3 Criteria: The PowerPoint presentation should primarily consist of data visualizations, with very little text. It should include at least 8 data visualizations.

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Sub-Assignment #4: Team Project Presentation

Sub-Assignment #4 Explanation: The team presentation should be no longer than 15 minutes and each group member should present a portion of the presentation.

Sub-Assignment Criteria:

Team Project Presentation RubricCriteria Mastery Developing Beginner

Presentation Content

___ of 40 points

Includes all the required elements

Answers questions with specific terms and ideas

Includes most of the required elements

Answers the majority of questions with specific

terms and ideas

Includes some of the required elements

Does not address most questions and rarely uses specific terms and ideas

Data Visualizations

___ of 30 points

All data visualizations are understandable, necessary,

and cited correctly.

Some data visualizations are understandable, necessary,

and cited correctly.

Few data visualizations are understandable, necessary,

and cited correctly.

Communication Skills

___ of 20 points

Information communicated clearly and understandably

Maintains good eye contact

Voice is clear and audible

Handles unexpected changes in a calm, practiced manner

Some information is unclear or difficult to understand

Minimal loss of eye contact

It is occasionally difficult to understand the speaker’s

words

Unexpected changes cause minor delays or disruptions

Information is generally not communicated in clear or

logical way,

Does not maintain eye contact

The speaker’s words are often difficult to understand

Unexpected changes cause significant delays or

disruptionsTime

Management___ of 10 points

Presentation executed within the time limit and maintains a lively, engaging pace that holds the audience’s interest

Presentation may be slightly below or beyond the fifteen-

minute mark

Presentation is markedly too short or far exceeds the

fifteen-minute time limit

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