BSN450 Business Intelligence


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:BSN450
Credit points:12
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

In this multidisciplinary business core unit, you will learn about approaches and technologies used by enterprises to research business problems and develop knowledge guiding effective business strategy. Through hands-on application of key theories and business research tools, you will gain skills in collecting and analysing data about the business environment (e.g., consumers and competitors) as well as its internal processes, and generate insights to help businesses create value through innovation, product development and process improvement. You will develop skills in conducting business research, working in team contexts and using powerful visualisation tools to present complex business insights to professional audiences. This unit is the first of two business core units that form the foundation for further study across the breadth of business disciplines, introducing you to business capabilities to prepare you for the future world of work and ignite your career.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Use data and digital tools to analyse and visualise real-world business problems to inform business decisions. [KS 1.2; HO 2.2]
  2. Critically analyse real world businesses and data to develop recommendations for organisations and solutions for business problems. [HO 2.1; HO 2.2]
  3. Apply reflexive approaches to break through personal decision-making biases and employ structured, evidence-based frameworks for researching and solving business problems. [KS 1.2; HO 2.2, TS 4.1]
  4. Work effectively in teams applying advanced research skills to investigate and frame complex and multi-disciplinary business cases and problems. [KS 1.2, HO 2.1, TS 4.2]
  5. Communicate complex ideas and business solutions to professional audiences using a range of digital and visual techniques. [KS 1.2; PC 3.1]

Content

In this unit, you will be introduced to:

  • Data analysis and visualisation techniques;
  • Methods for gathering internal and external data;
  • Approaches to managing data within an organisation; and
  • Theories and tools for generating and evaluating data-led strategy.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.

Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
1.2 Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.

Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
3.2 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.

Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.

Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

The unit will encourage students to link theoretical aspects with practical applications, enabling them to apply their knowledge to specific business cases. Lectures will provide an introduction to the theoretical concepts that will be supported by tutorial workshops. The tutorial workshops will reinforce theoretical concepts through the application of computer software and visualisation tools (e.g. Tableau). The unit will make use of online synchronous tools as well as face-to-face sessions (i.e. lectures and interactive workshops) to deliver the unit content.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

  • Informal: discussion and verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the learning objectives for both Discipline Knowledge and Other Graduate Capabilities. Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:

  • Receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and,
  • Demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Business Intelligence Plan

You will apply tools and techniques introduced in the unit to identify and evaluate a Business in its changing market, industry, and PESTEL environment, and describe how data can guide the Business to navigate itself in this environment. You are required to write up and submit your findings in a report, which needs to include a reflection on the personal biases that govern your decision-making process.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.1), PC (3.1), TS (4.1)

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 40
Length: 2,000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 5

Assessment: Business Case Report

As a team, you are required to undertake a detailed analysis of a business situated in a multi-disciplinary rich case study. The team will collect, analyse, and synthesise relevant data to deliver valuable insights on the future business direction. In this exercise, the team is encouraged to utilize frameworks introduced in the unit as well as apply those from different Business disciplines to propose an overall set of recommendations. The team is required to write-up and submit the analysis in the form of a professional report, which employs digital visualization techniques to help construct an argumentative narrative.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.1, 2.2), PC (3.1), TS (4.2)

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 60
Length: 3,000 words plus an online teamwork evaluation
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Weekly resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the Emergency video.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Business Case Report

KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills

Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, ULO5, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO5, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report

TS (4.1): Self-Reflection and Accountability

Relates to: ULO3, Business Intelligence Plan

TS (4.2): Teamwork Knowledge and Skills

Relates to: ULO4, Business Case Report

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS11 Master of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: Business Intelligence Plan
  2. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, ULO5, Business Case Report
  3. Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report
  4. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Business Case Report
  5. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO5, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report
  6. Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
    Relates to: ULO3, Business Intelligence Plan
  7. Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Business Case Report

BS37 Graduate Certificate in Business and Communication

  1. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, ULO5, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report
  2. Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report
  3. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Business Case Report
  4. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO5, Business Intelligence Plan, Business Case Report
  5. Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
    Relates to: ULO3, Business Intelligence Plan