BUS5015 - Data Analytics and Management Assignment Guide – Nov.

2024

Introduction
Introduce the subject data analytics and management and how data helps companies to
make important decisions. Discuss how this is done using a case study company. Then,
briefly introduce the case study company. Finish off the introduction with a summary of
what the report entails.

Assignment Part 1 – LO2 and worth 25marks

Summarise and characterise the problem that needs a solution through data analysis.
Formulate a question that will be answered through analysis of the data set.
1- Discuss data analytics in general (include the three elements of academic writing).

a. Build a picture of this company and discuss how it uses data analytics and
management in its functions and how data helps it to make important decisions.
Conduct a brief SWOT analysis on the company.

b. Provide relevant definition/theories/concepts/ models for formulation of

research questions.
2- Discuss using data analytics in identifying problem within datasets (include the three
element of academic writing).
a. Acknowledge that regardless of the company’s efforts, there are still some areas
of weaknesses. Provide examples of the weaknesses, especially focusing on the
problem at hand.
b. Provide context and background information about the problem, including any
relevant industry or domain- specific details. This could be a very brief
comparison to another company with similar or very different problem or result.

3- Explain the data and identify a problem that you have observed within the data

a. Discuss problem-solving phases such as Recognising a problem, Defining a

problem, Structuring a problem, Analysing the problem, Interpreting results and
making a decision and Implementing the solution.

b. Explain that for the company to find solutions to the problem, they need to look
into certain areas of the business. These aspects will form your research
objectives.
c. Justify why you believe that the company will benefit from understanding these
aspects (rationale for the investigation).

d. Then, from these objectives, clearly identify and summarise the problem that
requires a data analysis solution.
 • Clearly articulate a research question or hypothesis that will be addressed
through data analysis.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the problem and its significance

Present their answer in a concise and well-structured manner.

• Ensure that the question is specific, measurable, and aligned with the
problem identified.

Assignment Part 2 – LO1 and worth 25 marks

Critically analyse the methods that appear to have been used to gather the data. You may
make assumptions. For example, you could assume that the data set was created from a
survey of customers, so you could critically analyse the survey design, execution, and
sampling.
1- Discuss at least two methods of data collection, with examples, definitions and
references.
a. Introduce the section by explaining how data collection is important but also
dependent on what the problem is.

b. Identify and describe the type of data primary or secondary and quantitative
or qualitative or mix. Methods used to gather it, based on assumptions or
information provided. E.g., Market research, observational studies, business
operation, published data, etc.
• Note: the data cannot be collected by students (primary). Only accessed by
student.
2- Critically evaluate (discussing the good and bad points as well as opposing
views/quotes from academics in the field) the methods discussed, with examples,
quotes along with references.

a. Critically analyse the data collection methods identified in the dataset. It

could help the structure if students introduce one method, and how it is
usually used and then, in another paragraph, analyse it in relation to the data,
so that both its strengths and weaknesses are discussed in tandem, with an
evaluation of their suitability and explain why they have been chosen.

b. Also, propose methods that could better suit the data for better insights.
c. Then, to enhance the section even more, discuss how the use of different sets
of data identified in the dataset (triangulation) are important to foster
company objectives.

d. You should incorporate theoretical models here depending on the dataset, for
example Triple Bottom Line for profit related datasets, Stakeholder theory or
 contract theory for customer-based datasets, etc. and contextualise them to
the specific case study company.

Assignment Part 3 – LO3, 4, and 5 and worth 50 marks

1- Specifically discuss the 5 steps (Collection, Cleaning, Manipulating, Analysis, and
Visualisation) or any other data analytics processes with definitions, examples, and
references.
a. Clearly explain and give examples of the data analytics activities performed to
address the research question.

E.g.,
Step of the process

1- Collection
2- Cleaning

3- Manipulating

4- Analysis
5- Visualisation

Data cleaning
1- Duplication

2- Missing data

3- Incomplete data
4- Corruption

5- Faulty processing

6- Arbitrary or non-transparent choices of start and end points.

7- Timeliness

2- Choose one or two or series of analytical processes/calculation (E.g. Excel derived

visualisations, statistical analysis, regression, corelation in excel) with definition
and references.

a. Analyse the data in line with the research objectives and research question.
b. Apply appropriate data analysis techniques, such as descriptive statistics,
segmentation, data visualization, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, or
machine learning algorithms, depending on the nature of the question and
the available data.
 c. Excel Formula/function used

d. Any statistical or analytical operation in Excel must be accompanied by a

screen shot of the function/formula used and as well as the rationale for
using the formula/function.
3- Ensure that you present the result of your analysis by writing your evaluation and
explaining the result of your analysis along with clear and meaningful graphics such
as charts.
a. Interpret and discuss the results of the analysis in relation to the research
question and the problem identified to give implications for the company.

b. To achieve full marks, you should demonstrate proficiency in applying data

analytics techniques to the given dataset. You should provide a
comprehensive analysis, effectively communicate the findings through clear
and visually appealing presentations using appropriate charts, graphs, or
tables.
c. Ensure that you present the result of your analysis by writing your evaluation
and explaining the result of your analysis.
4- Depending on or in relation to the results of your analysis provide at least three
recommendations of how the company can resolve the problem you identified in
Part one.

a. Provide meaningful and well-grounded recommendations or insights based

on the findings, implications, and other identified areas, supported by the
analysis.

Conclusion

Then, add a conclusion that sums up how well the recommendations are likely to benefit the
company.

Academic writing
1- Always include, theory, concept or models related to the question with valid and
Authentic citation.
2- Provide an example with valid and Authentic citation from industrial journals,
articles, books (e.g., module reading list) or related media reports as well as
reroutable consultancies (e.g., McKinsey and Company).
3- You provide your opinion with reference to the above two section.
Possible datasets

1- https://www.contextures.com/xlsampledata01.html
2- https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=521962

3- https://www.wisdomaxis.com/technology/software/data/for-reports/
4- https://www.wisdomaxis.com

5- http://www.mercury.webster.edu/aleshunas/Data%20Sets/Supplemental%20Excel%
20Data%20Sets.htm
6- https://dornsife.usc.edu/assets/sites/298/docs/ir211wk12sample.xls

7- https://www.learningcontainer.com/sample-excel-data-for-analysis/

8- https://mavenanalytics.io/data-playground?page=2&pageSize=5

Here is some more but not as good as the first link: (Free downloadable example datasets
for Spreadsheets on a variety of topics. Each data table has 1000 records (rows of data).)

https://www.thespreadsheetguru.com/blog/sample-data

https://www.learningcontainer.com/sample-excel-data-for-analysis/
Some more sources

www.statista.com
www.data.gov.uk

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/data-tools-and-resources/

https://www.kaggle.com/datasets?fileType=csv

Please ensure that you observe the following guidelines when using any dataset:

1- You are not allowed to conduct primary research for collection of data
2- The data set used should have a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 2000 records.

3- Data sets from your own company must be totally anonymised and as recommended
by the assignment. It should be accompanied with a consent for data access provided
on a headed not paper or a direct email from a line manager at the company. Email
should be sent to you (student) with the tutor copied in and must contain students
full name and number, line manager full name and post and must be a sent from
the company’s official email site/address. The redacted copy of the email should be
attached in the appendix.
 4- Data sets can be referred to by providing a reference/link in the assignment as well
as the reference list. Upload the dataset to your One Drive and when you copy the
link, edit the settings to allow for anyone at Arden to access it, then, you can copy
it and use it in your draft as well as the reference list.
5- Any statistical or analytical operations in Excel must be accompanied by a screen shot
of the function/formula used and as well as the rational for using the
formula/function.

Once you have got your dataset, you need to do some discussion about it. These are some
possible questions that you could find out about it.
1. What is the name of the data set?
2. Describe the data set accurately, using no more than 20 words.
3. How much data is in the data set?
4. What work was involved in collecting all this data together in one data set?
5. What was the main reason the data was collected?
6. Can you think of any other reasons?
7. Which IT applications does your organisation use to view or change the data?
8. What processing is normally done on the data?
9. What are the outputs from processing the data?
10. Who uses the outputs and for what purpose?
11. Does the data set contain any data which personally identifies actual people?
12. If so, is this sensitive personal data properly secured?

Other questions about the data

1.What is the data set used for?
2.Who uses the data?
3.How do people use the data?
4.What digital media is the data set stored on?
5.Is the data set good enough for its purpose(s)?
6.What questions would you ask to find out if it’s good enough?
7.Are there any errors or faults in the data?
8.Are the faults significant?
9.What can be done to correct the errors or faults?
10.Is it possible the data set is too old?
11.If so, what can be done about that?