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Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will:

  • understand the scope and application of OLAP technology and business intelligence systems;
  • have knowledge of the major approaches to the development of business intelligence and reporting systems;
  • be able to design simple multi-dimensional databases;
  • be able to develop a simple business intelligence system using an OLAP tool;
  • be able to develop a simple reporting system;
  • be able to communicate and foster realistic expectations of the role of OLAP technology and business intelligence systems in management and decision support.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Prototype Business Intelligence Application: Part 1 Design Specification Document 25% The design specification document must be submitted for marking and feedback at the end of week 8. The revised version of the design specification (if the student wished to submit it) is due at the end of week 12.
Prototype Business Intelligence Application: Part 2 Development and Implementation 25% End of week 12.
Reflective Journal Posts Bonus of 3% added to overall assignment mark. Your last blog entry can be made anytime before the exam.
Examination 1 50% To be advised

Teaching Approach

  • Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
    This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.
    The lecture stream of the unit will present and critically analyze theories, case studies and industry trends. The lectures will use interactive web 2.0 technology to facilitate interaction.
  • Laboratory-based classes
    This teaching approach is practical learning.
    The laboratory classes will provide an exposure to the major technologies used in business intelligence. They will provide students with the skills required to work on the practical assignments.
  • Problem-based learning
    Students are encouraged to take responsibility for organising and directing their learning with support from their supervisors.
    Many of the concepts and theories in this area can't be understood without experience. The unit features a major practical assignment that provides students with a concrete realistic design and development activity that will help reinforce and clarify the material presented in the unit. 

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Required Resources

Prescribed Text(s) and Readings

There is no prescribed text for this unit.

The details of prescribed readings for each week's lecture and/or laboratory will be provided in the unit web site.

Required Software and/or Hardware

The unit will make extensive use of a wide variety of OLAP and business intelligence software packages including Microsoft Excel, Crystal Reports and Crystal Dashboard Designer.
The main tool that will be used is Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services 2008 R2. This product is installed in the computer laboratories we will be using, and is available for loan under a license agreement from Microsoft - so that students can install a copy on their personal computer for use on assignment and tutorial work.

A useful link:http://infotech.monash.edu/itsupport/msdnaa.html

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0 Familiarise yourself with the Moodle-based unit web site and read the Week 1 lecture readings No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to the unit; Introduction to business intelligence applications  
2 The nature of business intelligence applications  
3 Business intelligence case studies (I)  
4 Methods of business intelligence application development  
5 Business intelligence technology  
6 Multi-dimensional modelling (I)  
7 Multi-dimensional modelling (II)  
8 Multi-dimensional modelling (III) & Business performance measurement (I) Prototype Business Intelligence Application: Part 1 - Design Specification Document
9 Business performance measurement (II)  
10 Designing business intelligence application user interfaces  
11 Business intelligence case studies (II)  
12 The future of business intelligence applications; Industry guest speaker Prototype Business Intelligence Application: Part 2 - Developed and Implemented Application
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

  • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Prototype Business Intelligence Application: Part 1 Design Specification Document
    Description:
    This assessment task involves the creation of a documented design specification for a prototype business intelligence application. An application, based on this design specification, will be developed and implemented in Assessment Task 2.

    Students can use the feedback received on the design specification to improve the developed and implemented application.

    Students may choose to revise their design specification based on the feedback received and re-submit it for re-marking in week 12.

    The Moodle-based unit web site contains details of the submission requirements and the case study on which the prototype business intelligance application will be based.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The main criteria used to assess this submission will include:

    1. The ability of the system to answer the business questions posed by the case study.
    2. Quality of the justification of design choices made.
    3. The professionalism, presentation and clarity of the specifiaction.

    See the Moodle-based unit web site for details of the assessment criteria.

    Due date:
    The design specification document must be submitted for marking and feedback at the end of week 8. The revised version of the design specification (if the student wished to submit it) is due at the end of week 12.
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Prototype Business Intelligence Application: Part 2 Development and Implementation
    Description:
    Assessment Task 2 involves the development and implementation of a working prototype business intelligence application. The application will be based on the design specification created in Assessment Task 1.

    The Moodle-based unit web site contains details of the required submission and the case study the assignment work will be based on.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The main criteria used to assess this submission will include:

    1. The ability of the system to answer the business questions posed by the case study.
    2. The consistency of the system with the design specification (Assignment 2).
    3. The application of best-practice design principles to the display of data in the system's views and reports.

    See the Moodle-based unit web site for details of the assessment criteria.

    Due date:
    End of week 12.
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Reflective Journal Posts
    Description:
    Each student is invited to keep a reflective journal on the either the Moodle-based unit web site or the Faculty blog site blog.infotech.monash.edu.au or using a 3rd party site like the www.blogger.com system. This blog will provide the opportunity to reflect on the learning that takes place throughout the unit. Each week you will be able to make a new posting to your blog. The blog entries should include a reflection on what has happened in terms of your progress on assignment and tutorial work, your management of the assignment project and its tasks, what lessons have been learned to date and what you (and the staff) could do differently.

    To obtain the 3% bonus mark for this task you must complete a minimum of 10 weekly blog entries during the semester. Each blog post will be read and assessed by the chief examiner. To get the 3% bonus 6 of these posts should be assessed as "satisfactory".

    The 3% bonus will be added to the assignment component of the mark available for the unit.

    Note: The assignment component cannot exceed 50%. So, for example, a student who obtained 46/50 for their assignment work and who earns the bonus will get 49%. While a student who got 49/50 would get 50/50 - the maximum available - if they earned the bonus.

    For more details, please refer to the Moodle-based unit web site.
    Weighting:
    Bonus of 3% added to overall assignment mark.
    Criteria for assessment:
    For more details, please refer to the Moodle-based unit web site.
    Due date:
    Your last blog entry can be made anytime before the exam.

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    50%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None
    Remarks:
    The exam will be scheduled by the central Monash exams branch during the normal examination period at the end of the semester.

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Extensions and penalties

Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.

You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.

Returning assignments

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later

Other Information

Policies

Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Key educational policies include:

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis

READING LIST:

Extensive reading will be made available to students using the library's digital scanning service and has been posted on the unit web site.

Useful texts include:

  • Eckerson, W (2006) Performance Dashboards: Measuring, Monitoring, and Managing Your Business Wiley.
  • Thomsen, E. (2002). OLAP Solutions: Building Multidimensional Information Systems (2nd Ed.). Wiley.
  • Parmenter, D. (2007) Key Performance Indicators (KPI): Developing, Implementing and Using Winning KPIs Wiley.
  • Vitt ,E., Luckevich, M. & Misner, S. (2002). Business Intelligence. Microsoft Press.
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