Big Data

MBA 680-72
Spring 2015

Instructor
Contact information

Office hours

Class time /
Room
Required
texts

Course
Description

Jeff Guan
Office: 302 College of Business
Telephone: 502-852-7154
Fax: 502-852-4799
Email: jeff.guan@louisville.edu
Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30-4:00p.m.
Or by appointment

II. Course Information

01/07-02/04 Wed 6:00p.m.--9:30p.m.
BS 211
A Guide to SQL, 8th Edition. Must be 8th edition.
This book will be referred to as Guide.
http://www.cengage.com/search/productOverview.do?
Ntt=a+guide+to+sql|
24513644710732936822042907026707133056&N=16&Ntk=APG
|P_EPI&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial
Used books on Amazon are $40 or so.
Additional resources to be provided by the instructor such as
articles, case studies, and websites.
Big Data represents a new era of computing an inflection point of
opportunity where data in any format may be explored and utilized for
breakthrough business insights whether that data is in-place, in-motion,
or at-rest. This course provides an exploratory experience with the most
important aspects of this emerging area. The topics include basics of data
science, typical big data platform/architecture in todays businesses,
business technologies that support big data, and some common
models/approaches in big data analytics. While these newer forms of data
are emerging and becoming more important in a business, the bulk of
business operations is and will continue to be supported predominantly by
the relational database technologies. Thus relational database technologies
1

are a necessary and natural part of any big data discussion. Due to the
nature of the topics in this class the classroom discussions and
assignments will be more technical than a typical MBA class. However,
no background beyond that in a typical undergraduate business school CIS
course is required. For UofL graduates such a course would be CIS 300. If
you have taken MBA 680 Technology Management, then you should be
well prepared for this course.
Prerequisites
An undergraduate course in a business school computer information
systems course or MBA 680 Technology Management.
Learning
objectives

Grading scale

Grading scheme

Introduction to basic concepts of the most dominant model for

structured business datathe relational database model, with
emphasis on the use of structured query language.
Introduction to the fundamentals of data science such as collection,
storage, retrieval, management, analysis, and preservation of large
amounts of data in a variety of forms
Discussion of the changing decision making culture and the impact
of knowledge work automation
Introduction to unstructured data analysis such as text mining
concepts and methods
III. Evaluation
97.0 - 100.0 : A+
93.0 - 96.9 : A
90.0 - 92.9 : A87.0 - 89.9 : B+
83.0 - 86.9 : B
80.0 - 82.9 : B77.0 - 79.9 : C+
73.0 - 76.9 : C
70.0 - 72.9 : C67.0 - 69.9 : D+
63.0 - 66.9 : D
60.0 - 62.9 : D00.0 - 59.9 : F
Grading component
Class participation
Assignments
Quizzes
Team Project
IV. Schedule
2

Weighted grading percentage

10%
40%
20%
20%

Week
1

Date
1/07

Topic

1/14

1/21

1/28

2/04

Introduction to Class
Discussion of the papers: Big Data: The Management
Revolution, Harvard Business Review, October 2012. You may
download the paper from UofL library online. Please read the
paper before the first class.
Introduction to the relational database model (Guide: chapters
1&2)
Quiz1 on Guide: chapters 1 and 2
Introduction to structured query language (Guide: chapters
4&5)
Quiz2 on Guide: chapter 4
More advanced features of SQL (Guide: chapter 5)
Introduction to SAS Enterprise Miner
Quiz3 on Guide: chapter 5
Introduction to text mining using SAS Text Miner
Knowledge work automation
Project presentations

Changes in the
syllabus

Syllabus is subject to change. In particular the order of topics to be

presented may change.

Team Project

Objective
A more in-depth exploration of a big data topic. I would particularly
like a paper that explores big data issues in the company you work
for, but you may choose any relevant topic in the general big data
area. You may also choose to provide a more in-depth
description/discussion of a topic we will discuss in class. Please limit
team size to 4.
Project topic
You will pick a topic but please make sure that you obtain permission
from the instructor before doing any serious work on the project. I
will help you identify a topic if you need any assistance.
Scope
Given the time constraint in this class the scope of the project should
be kept small and manageable. I expect the final project report to be
about 10 pages (double spaced, 12 point Times font, and 1 inch
margins).
Project Presentation
Each person will make a 10 minute presentation of their project at the
end of the class (last day of class). The presentation will be followed
by a 5 minute Q&A.
Milestones
Please note that you must submit the deliverable for each
milestone both electronically and in print. Each missed deliverable
will cost you 5% of the project grade.
Jan 14A one page project proposal is due. You will identify the
topic, a very rough outline, and propose a plan for how you will
research the topic. Please note this note this proposal is the result
based on communication and final approval from the instructor prior
to the due date.
Jan 21A detailed outline is due in which you will identify all the
main components of the paper and a brief description for each
component.
Jan 28A rough draft is due.
Feb 04Project presentation. Both the presentation outline and
the final paper are due in print and electronically.
Final Project ReportSuggested Structure
Cover page
Executive summaryno more than one page
Introduction to your topic. You will introduce the topic, motivate
the audience as to why the topic is important, and prepare the
audience for the rest of the presentation.
Detailed description of the topic--You may want to divide this part
4

into several sections.

Important issues to address in your paper
Why your selected topic is important
Clearly define the big data issue(s) you are describing
Existing solution if any
Business opportunities and risks
Managerial implications
Project PresentationAssume the audience to be
skeptical/uninformed business managers. Assume that some of the
audience may be just somewhat IT literate and some may not know
anything about the issues you are talking about.
GradingYour grade for the project will depend on the final
project report (80%) and the presentation (20%) minus any points
you have lost due to missed or incomplete deliverables.

V1. Student Responsibilities / College and University Issues

University of
This course will abide by University of Louisville student
Louisville student conduct and responsibilities with regards to ethics and related issues:
http://louisville.edu/dos/students/policies-procedures/studentconduct and
handbook.html#codeofstudentconduct
responsibilities
College of
This course will abide by College of Business student
Business student
conduct and responsibilities with regards to ethics and related issues:
http://business.louisville.edu/students/college-of-business-academic-dishonestyconduct and
policy
responsibilities
Religious holiday
conflict policy
University policy
on equal access

http://louisville.edu/diversity/resources/work-restricted-holy-day-policiescalendar.html
http://louisville.edu/disability/policies-procedures