INFO/BSAD418 Group Assignment 1

1. INFO/BSAD418 Group Assignment 1

2. Goals • Your are a team of analysts that has been charged with: • Assessing a data set containing sales data to determine the measures, dimensions and hierarchies that are available for analysis (the “Assignment 1 dataset” on the Moodle page. • Based on the data available, develop 2 ‘dashboards’ – one strategic and one operational • Performing preliminary ‘data mining’ on the available data to assess the health of the organization from a sales perspective. • Due: March 11 beginning of class

3. Deliverable and grading • Word document • Three sections: • Data analysis (20%) • Dashboards (50% - 2 x 25%) • Data mining (20%) • Quality of your document (10%) • Overall format (how well your information is presented) • Grammar, spelling, etc. of narratives

4. Section 1: Data Analysis • Provide a brief (1 – 2 paragraph) summary of the data set. Describe content (what each row contains, time coverage, etc.) • Describe each column / group of columns: • Measures • Dimensions • Hierarchies • Use the tables presented on the next page to summarize your findings regarding the meaning and usefulness of the available data

5. Section 1: Data Analysis Measures – raw (available from dataset) Measures – Calculated identify at least 2 measures that could be calculated from ‘raw’ measures Cost of Sales is one apparently Dimensions – describe each column that is a dimension Hierarchies – give each hierarchy a name and visually show each hierarchy that is available from dimension attributes in the following format. Highest Level Lower level etc.

6. Section 2: Dashboards • You will create 2 dashboards: • Strategic: presents ‘KPIs’ to senior managers / executives • Operational: presents operational metrics to middle managers • Each dashboard should have 3-4 graphs / crosstabs that highlight important KPIs / operational metrics in a variety of ways (different measures, dimensions). • You will create your dashboard components in Excel and then export to your word document

7. Section 2: Dashboards • *Search up dashboard demos for examples • Make sure each component of the dashboard has a specific purpose and is easy to understand at a glance. • Note: your dashboard will be composed of ‘pictures’ only – non-operational • For each dashboard, create a narrative (1-2 pages minimum) that describes why you are presenting the information in the dashboards and describe how the users can interact with the dashboard. Be sure to describe each component (graph or table).

8. Succession Planning Dashboard Timeframe: Jan 2012 – Dec 2012 Note – this dashboard is just counts of retirees – you need more than one measure!!!

9. Succession Planning Dashboard Timeframe: Jan 2012 – Dec 2012 Business Unit: Finance

10. Data Mining • You will do some preliminary data mining (drilling, slicing and dicing) to identify at least 5 key (interesting) patterns or trends within the data. Each should represent something important that the organization needs to know for decision making: • Profitability +/- • Sales volumes +/- • Revenue +/- • For each item, you will provide at least 1 graphic / data table that clearly presents for findings as well as 1 – 2 paragraphs explaining what you have found and why its important. • NOTE: cannot be the same view as presented in a dashboard.

11. Suggestions • Start ASAP. There is a fair bit of work. • Divide and conquer. Work together on the data analysis (so everyone has a common understanding of the data) • Divide up dashboard and data mining work.