BS4S48 - Strategic Business Analytics: Driving Decision Making 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BS4S48
Module Title: Strategic Business Analytics: Driving Decision Making
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Professional Development
Faculty Sub Group: Professional Development
Module Leader: Hai Nguyen
Module Team: Claire Reed, Davina Evans, Andrew Thompson
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100078 - business and management
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

This module introduces the analytical methods required to understand, interpret, research, and manage complex data.

Upon completion of the module, students will be able to confidently draw insight from data and identify patterns and trends of interest for future exploration.

Additionally, students will develop the skills necessary to navigate through emerging and disruptive technologies within the context of business data, equipping them to adapt to evolving technological landscapes and leverage innovative tools for enhanced decision-making and strategic planning.

Content Summary

 The module introduces fundamental concepts in Business Analytics, covering Business Intelligence, Centralised Data Management, Strategic Business Analysis, and professional standards for Business Analysis. Learners will gain an understanding of Data Types and Formats, Data Collection, and management strategies, including functional business data sources and assessment techniques.

The content supports learners in developing enhanced knowledge and critical appraisal skills for Statistical and Machine Learning Driven Analytics, encompassing Descriptive, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics. Learners will utilise this knowledge to scaffold their strategic and critical thinking in Decision Making, Data Modelling, Exploratory Data Analysis, and visualisation for managerial purposes.

Learner will be enabled to construct their strategic and critical understanding of appropriate methods for Decision Making and Data Modelling, Exploratory Data Analysis and visualisation for Managers. Furthermore, learners will acquire skills to navigate emerging Disruptive Technologies for business, employing a 3E (Empirical, Experiential, and Evidence) framework to incorporate concepts such as Big Data Technologies, the cloud with its evolving capabilities as opportunities, Sustainable technological and digital practices for managers and organisation, and AI-Enabled Analytics into business intelligence and decision-making processes.

The module also provides opportunities for learners to scaffold existing knowledge with Organisational and Behavioural biases impacting decision-making, Strategic Business Analytics in evolving Business functions, Business Data Governance, operational and process methodology, and Ethical considerations (reasoning and code) for Data and Business Analytics practices.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Practical Classes and Workshops 30
Independent Study 100
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 10
Formative assessment - independent 10
Active/Simulation based 10
Groupwork 10
Interdisciplinary Work 10
Problem/Challenge based learning 10
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Determine and use analytical techniques to assess practical situations and interpret real-world complex data.
LO2 To critically apply state-of-the art business concepts to make data-driven decisions.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Coursework (Asynchronous) Practical application of business analytics concepts within decision-making contexts. Through tasks emphasising data manipulation, analysis, and visualisation for business intelligence and decision making 0 2000 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 Write up to produce a comprehensive report on the practical coursework undertaken throughout the module. This report should delve into various aspects of the practical work, focusing particularly on sustainable practices, disruptive technology, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and intelligence ethics relevant to the practical tasks completed 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Coursework (Asynchronous)
Report 1

Reading List

AWS Skill Builder (n.d.). Self-paced digital training on AWS - AWS Skill Builder. [online] Available at: https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn.

Balakrishnan, N.R., Render, B., Stair, R. and Munson, C., (2017) Managerial Decision Modeling: Business Analytics with Spreadsheets. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Banasiewicz, A. D. (2019) Evidence-based decision-making: how to leverage available data & avoid cognitive biases. [Online]. New York, NY: Routledge.

Burk, S. and Miner, G.D., (2020) It's All Analytics!: The Foundations of Al, Big Data and Data Science Landscape for Professionals in Healthcare, Business, and Government. Productivity Press.

Davenport, T. H. & Mittal, N. (2023) All-in on AI: how smart companies win big with artificial intelligence. Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Review Press.

Fortino, A. G. (2021) Text analytics for business decisions: a case study approach. Dulles: Mercury Learning & Information.

Fryman, L. et al. (2017) The data and analytics playbook: proven methods for governed data & analytic quality. 1st edition. Cambridge, MA: Morgan Kaufmann.

Gordon, M.E., (2023) Business analytics: Combining data, analysis and judgement to inform decisions.

Gressel, S. et al. (2020) Management decision-making, big data and analytics. Los Angeles: SAGE.

Kimbrough, S.O. and Lau, H.C., (2018) Business analytics for decision making. Chapman and Hall/CRC.

Maisel, L.S., Zwerling, R.J. and Sorensen, J.H., (2022) AI-enabled Analytics for Business: A Roadmap for Becoming an Analytics Powerhouse. John Wiley & Sons.

Randolph-Seng, B, Gupta, M, & fan, W (eds) (2022) Analytics for Business Decisions, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Tractenberg, R.E., (2022) Ethical Practice of Statistics and Data Science. Ethics International Press.

Pinder, J.P., (2022) Introduction to business analytics using simulation. Academic Press.