UNIVERSIY OF MIAMI - SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Syllabus – BUS 150 – Business Analytics Spring 2018

Tuesday & Thursdays - Dooly Memorial 318

Section N 8:00 AM
Section P 11:00 PM

Instructor: Jose R Sevilla.

Telephone: 305-284-6799
Office Location: Jenkins 423-D
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM or by Appointment
E-mail: [email protected] (best method to contact instructor)

This Syllabus is subject to change at any time during the Spring Semester

Course Materials:

Textbooks:

1. New Perspectives Microsoft® Office 365™ & Excel 2016, Intermediate by

Parsons/Oja/Carey/DesJardins. You may buy/rent a new or used copy of the textbook
from the University of Miami Bookstore (ISBN 9781337251433) or any bookseller site
of your choosing, i.e., Amazon, Barnes, and Noble. Please, note that at these sites you
can search for either ISBN 9781337251433 or ISBN 9781305880412.

2. Tableau Your Data! 2nd Edition by Daniel G. Murray, with the InterWorks Team
(Wiley). You may buy/rent a new or used copy of the textbook from the University of
Miami Bookstore. Publication Date: January 2016 ISBN-10: 1119001196 ISBN-13:
978-1119001195.

Software:

1. Microsoft Excel 2016. If you do not have the Microsoft Office package on your
computer, download it without cost from the UM website
http://www.miami.edu/it/index.php/services/. Scroll down the screen and click the
“Learn More” link under the Software heading, then click “Microsoft Office Suite,” and
then the appropriate link for students. 

2. Tableau 10.3 License for Students (Free).

 Download the latest version of Tableau Desktop here
 Click on the link above and select Get Started. On the form, enter your school email
address for Business E-mail and enter the name of your school for Organization.
 Activate with your product key: ____________TBA____________________

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Hardware:

A Windows laptop is highly recommended, especially with the Excel software. Please note that
the Apple version of Excel is different than the Windows version and not all features are present
in the Mac version.

We do not support the Apple version in class, and all tests and assignments are in Microsoft
Excel 2016 (Windows version) when possible. If you have a Mac and it is not set up to run
Windows, you have several options.

1. One option is to have Boot Camp installed on your laptop. You can do this on your
own, or you can take your Mac to the UM Student Technology Help Desk (located in
Modular B behind the Lowe Art Museum).
2. Another possible option could be to buy an inexpensive Windows-based PC and
download MS Office as instructed above.

Either way, you choose, you are responsible for knowing the different Excel commands and
features using Window or Apple OS environment.

Course Description

This course has two sections: Excel and Tableau and is designed to build logic skills and
analytic thinking while learning to use spreadsheet and visualization software to support
business-oriented problem solving and decision-making.

More specifically, the course aims to develop the student’s ability to solve problems, to
organize and analyze data, and to distribute information to others through the practical use of
collaborative technologies and the Web. Case problems will cover areas such as accounting,
finance, and marketing, statistics, and operations management.

BUS 150 is a practical class, meaning that the learning is very “hands-on.” The software is best
to learn by practice on the computer. The textbooks are your instruction manuals/guides.

Learning Objectives

On completing the course, the student should be able to:

1. Successfully build and use spreadsheets to analyze/solve business problems for decision
making.
2. Use data visualization software to present spreadsheet data in an easily understandable
format.
3. Produce professional-quality printed spreadsheets, charts, and graphs for business
decision making.
4. Complete the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Exam for Excel.
5. Utilize Tableau software data visualization software for business decision making.

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Gradebook Points %
Participation, Attendance &
20 10.00%
Preparation
Exam 1 - Excel 30 15.00%
Exam 2 - Excel 30 15.00%
Exam 3 - Tableau 30 15.00%
Tableau Group Project 50 25.00%
Final Exam 40 20.00%
Total Points 200 100.00%

Grade Band Policy: The use of grade bands prepares students for a competitive classroom
environment. Thus, the individuals best compare with the work and performance of their
colleagues.

School of Business Grade Band Policy: “The average of the quality points in each regular
section of an undergraduate business class must be between 3.1 and 3.3”. For more information
read University of Miami - School of Business Grade Band Policy.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT POLICY* SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

The following are policies students in force in the School of Business courses unless the
instructors establish alternative guidelines.

1. Ethics Policy: Any student found breaking the Honor Code will be referred to the Dean
and may be removed from the program.

2. Cell Phones, Smartphones, PDAs and Other Electronic equipment must be turn off
and store in the students' backpack or purse. Texting, surfing the web, studying or
doing homework for another class will not be tolerated. The student will be asked to
leave the classroom.

3. Attendance is mandatory. Faculty will excuse absences only in cases of documented

serious illness, religious observance, civic obligation or participation in an activity
approved by the Academic Deans Policy Council. No examination or another graded
class event will be scheduled on a primary religious holy day.

Preparation: Students must be ready for class by completing the readings in the textbook and
completing the Module/Chapter as described in the Reading/Lecture Schedule. Data for the
Excel Module Exercises and Tableau ZIP files must be downloaded from Blackboard before
your first class. Class preparation and participation is an integral element in the successful
completion of this course. Therefore, attendance will be taken every day at the beginning of
class. More than two absences during the semester and repeated tardiness will adversely
affect the class attendance grade.

The class participation grade will also be adversely affected by the lack of contribution in the
class lecture, not being prepared for class (i.e., not completing the required readings and hands-
on exercises), inappropriate class behavior, and violation of the class policies.

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Arriving Late, Leaving Early, Coming & Going: Classes start on time, and students must
arrive to class on time and stay to the end of the class period. Students may enter class late only
if permitted by the instructor, and just if they can do so without disrupting the class.

1. Leaving class early arriving late or will have an impact on the course grade as
determined by the instructor.

2. Please note that instructors are not obligated to admit late students or to readmit students
who leave class.

Late Submission of Assignments/Homework: Late assignments will not be allowed unless

they are due to severe illness or a family emergency. Doctor’s documentation is required.
Instructors may make exceptions to this policy for reasons of religious observance or civic
obligation, only if not completed before the due date and the student makes arrangements for
late submission with the instructor in advance.

General Behavior: Students will conduct themselves with respect and professionalism toward
faculty, students, and others present in class and will follow the rules prescribed by the
instructor for classroom behavior. Students who fail to do so may be asked to leave the
classroom with a grade penalty.

Collaboration on Graded Assignments: Students may not work together on graded

assignments unless the instructor gives express permission or unless explicitly indicated on the
course syllabus.

Disabilities Information: Accommodations for students with disabilities are available to those
students who have secured the proper documentation from UM's Office for Student Disabilities.
Students should contact the Office of Disabilities to obtain appropriate accommodations as per
ODS policies

Exam Reschedule: makeup exams will not be accepted or will incur a grade penalty unless
they are due to severe illness or a family emergency. A current written medical excuse is
required. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Notices of religious observation or civic obligations must be presented two weeks before
the event.

Peer Review Rubric: to ensure that Group team members receive a grade commensurate with
their participation, all team members will be asked to assess the performance of their peers on
the team. High evaluations will result in team members receiving the group’s grade for the
projects and presentation. Lower combined scores, as assessed by the rest of the team, will
mean a member will receive only a proportion of the team’s overall grade. For example, assume
a team gets a grade of 90% on the project. A team member receiving an 80% assessment of
contribution from the rest of the group will get a grade of 72% on the project (.90 x .80).”

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Group Presentation Rubric: Students must be prepared to demonstrate in their oral group
presentations the following:

1. Organization
2. Content
3. Subject Knowledge
4. Style/Excel and Tableau Mechanics
5. Communication and Time Management.

*Endorsed by the Vice Deans and Department Chairs

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BUS 150 SPRING SEMESTER 2018 - COURSE SCHEDULE

JANUARY 2018
TUE 16 THUR 18
MD2
SYLLABUS REVIEW
FORMATTING WORKBOOK
MD1 TEXT & DATA Pg. 65-93

GETTING STARTED WITH

EXCEL Pg. 30-57

TUE 23 THUR 25
MD2 MD3

FORMATTING WORKBOOK PERFORMING CALCULATIONS

TEXT & DATA Pg. 94-122 WITH FORMULAS &
FUNCTIONS Pg.131-153

TUE 30 FEBRUARY - THUR 1

MD3 MD4

PERFORMING ANALYZING & CHARTING

CALCULATIONS WITH FINANCIAL DATA Pg. 187-218
FORMULAS & FUNCTIONS
Pg.154-179

FEBRUARY 2018
TUE 6 THUR 8
MD5
MD4
WORKING WITH EXCEL
ANALYZING & CHARTING TABLES, PIVOT TABLES &
FINANCIAL DATA Pg.219-249 PIVOT CHARTS Pg.257-277

EXAM REVIEW TBD

TUE 13 THUR 15
MD5
EXAM I
WORKING WITH EXCEL
TABLES, PIVOT TABLES &
PIVOT CHARTS Pg.278 -318

TUE 20 THUR 22
MD6 MD6

MANAGING MULTIPLE MANAGING MULTIPLE

WORKSHEETS & WORKBOOKS WORKSHEETS & WORKBOOKS
Pg.327-354 Pg.355-380

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FEBRUARY 2018
TUE 27 MARCH - THUR 1
MD7 MD8

DEVELOPING AN EXCEL WORKING WITH ADVANCED

APPLICATION Pg.387-404 FUNCTIONS
Pg.463-490

MARCH 2018
TUE 6 THUR 8
MD8

WORKING WITH ADVANCED

FUNCTIONS EXAM II
Pg.491-521

EXAM REVIEW TBD

MON 12 WED 14 FRI 16

SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK

TABLEAU THUR 22
TUE 20 CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 1
CONNECTING YOUR DATA
CREATING VISUAL Pg.43-67
ANALYTICS WITH TABLEAU
DESKTOP Pg.1-41
TUE 27 THUR 29
CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3

CONNECTING YOUR DATA BUILDING YOUR FIRST

Pg.68-92 VIZUALIZATION (VIZ)
Pg.93-122

APRIL 2018
TUE 3 THUR 5
CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4

BUILDING YOUR FIRST CREATING CALCULATION TO

VIZUALIZATION (VIZ) ENHANCE DATA
Pg.123-154 Pg.155-179

EXAM REVIEW TBD

TUE 10 THUR 12
CHAPTER 5

EXAM III USING MAPS TO IMPROVE

INSIGHT Pg.192-204

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APRIL 2018
TUE 17 TUE 19
CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

WITH DASHBOARDS WITH DASHBOARDS
Pg.286-312 Pg.313-339

TUE 24 THUR 26

FINAL PROJECT Q&A FINAL PROJECT Q&A

FINAL EXAMS - May 2018

THUR 3

FINAL EXAM

SECTION N
8:00AM – 9:25 AM
THUR 3

FINAL EXAM

SECTION P
11:00AM – 12:25 PM

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE AS PER THE REGISTRAR’S WEBSITE