Assignment Part 2: Dashboard (40% of assignment mark)
The second part consists of a working dashboard. You can choose to use either Microsoft PowerBI or Tableau to create your dashboard. Your dashboard should be accompanied by a
ief (maximum length one page) instruction on who and how we’ll use your dashboard. That is, it is a manual that should be supplied to any product. Marks are allocated as follows:
1. Visualisation (10): Use at least three different visualisations of which one must be a non-standard Excel visualisation like a geographical map or bu
le diagram. All diagrams must be clearly labelled.
2. Layout (10): Consider whitespace between diagrams, diagrams of reasonable size and alignment of the diagrams.
3. Interactive features (10): Provide interactive features like filters, slidebars and selections. Diagrams should be connected when you interact with them.
4. Overall (10): Overall impression of your dashboard and provided instruction.
Scope
You can choose to cover all areas of the organisation or focus on particular field of operation (eg: marketing, HR, manufacturing, environment sustainability, public relation). If you are doing a degree in that area, you might find that useful. Number of threats and/or opportunities should be at least 3 but it depends on what the dashboard shows.
For example: Apple Inc
One of Apple's strengths is being able to manufacture and deliver to millions of customers globally. A threat to that may be worker injury, equipment
eaking down or unreliable distribution. Which groups/users in Apple would want data to deal with those issues - what data would they need? In what form?
A company that needs to do a better job of recruiting the right staff - the dashboard then would be for HR managers.
Report structure
The structure should address the points listed in the assignment outline (at beginning of this guide). Include a title page, introduction and section headings. The title page should include your name and student ID.
Using bullet points are OK for some sections but you'll need sentences for each point (ie. just a bullet point list with no explanation won't work)
Referencing/Backing up your statements
Referencing is important: (a) expand your knowledge of the assignment topic and (b) provide evidence to the claims you make and (c) demonstrate you know what you are talking about to make a convincing proposal.
The general rule is if you are using information or data that is not of your own creation then you need to acknowledge it. Not only is this for academic integrity but to add weight to your recommendations – to show they are just not opinions.
This includes the screenshots, data you use and points taken from the lectures.
Avoid citing lecture material because it is not an official publication.
How many references?
That depends on how many points you are making. Generally more is better because you have used more sources to understand the topic and reinforce your points.
A minimum of 3 references is required. Just adding as many references as possible without using them is not the point.
If you plagiarise (ie. copy 1:1 from references) then you work will be examined by the School’s academic integrity officer. We want your understanding on the topic, not copied words from experts. This only demonstrates that you can research well.
Reference quality
The type (quality) of references makes a difference and this is considered in the marks as well. Feel free to use the readers and links from the lectures and Course Outline.
Avoid marketing/vendor sites and general websites - the quality is not assured, ie. anyone can get a website up regardless of their expertise and marketing material from software companies is usually biased. The exception would be news sites when you want to report an event.
Reference recency
Since BI is a fast moving area use references from the last 5 years*. Consider if you were the CEO receiving the proposal – in a fast changing business environment would you trust a report that is using data from 6 years ago? However, in some cases when you are not able to find recent data then explain that.
Example: agile methodology, self serve BI, big data, spatial data, more user-friendly/accessible predictive analytics, BI being initiated and funded by business not IT and cloud infrastructure that are new to mainstream BI in the last 5 years. These are significantly changing the approach to making BI available
Referencing style
Use the Harvard style of referencing in-text citations. Refer to section on ‘Harvard Rules’ and ‘Harvard Guide’ here http:
www.unisa.edu.au
eferencing
The references for data used can be included in the references section.
References must be available when the assignment is being marked.
Data to be used
In the report data should be included internal and external data. For the dashboard you should (can) only use external data that is provided for free and should be relevant to the questions the dashboard is going to answer (related to the opportunity or threat the organisation is facing).
Finding Data
Finding data about the industry of your organisation is very similar to finding references for your report. It is also a useful skill to develop and as a professional you will have to do it often in your career. It can be challenging to find good quality and reliable data, but it is getting easier! Done well, you can
ing new insight and value to an organisation if you can obtain information, especially if it is not already available from internal systems (eg: like benchmarking info).
A separate document on “Finding data” will be released and tutors will be able to give you feedback on the quality of the data that you have found before you start working on the analysis.
Importantly think about the questions you want to answer with your dashboard because this will focus your search (too much data is also a problem!). Publicly listed companies (those that have shares and are on a stock exchange) will often have an investor page. Many organisations have to report to government bodies like regulators (ASIC, ombudsmen, etc.). Look for annual reports and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or US and European equivalents) are useful. Federations, associations and industry bodies (like the Australian Bankers Association if you were studying a bank) are another source. Often the data will be confidential and you can't obtain it - so consider using data related to that industry/sector.
Examples:
· Qantas' performance is impacted by tourism, exchange rate, fuel prices, visa conditions, other airlines and te
orism.
· A physiotherapy practice you would look for health related data and aging population. Aging population is a hot topic especially in South Australia.
· Demographic information on which age groups use mobile phones.
The importance is the relevance to the question and the reliability of the data to answer the question - not so much the volume!
It is unlikely that you will find data directly related to your organisation. Instead search for data related to the industry.
Do not pay for any data.
Do not contact the organisation and ask for data.
Allow enough time to find and prepare the data – do not leave to the last minute.
Sample data sources
Generic:
· Gartner’s analysis by industry (see Using Gartner Resources tip sheet)
· IBIS World (via the UniSA Li
ary) using login UniversitySA and access01 as password.
· Australian Bureau of Statistics http:
www.abs.gov.au
· SA Government http:
data.sa.gov.au
· Australian Government http:
data.gov.au
· AURIN portal https:
portal.aurin.org.au
Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence
Assignment - Practical Part: Dashboard
Business Intelligence
1
Working Dashboard
Due date: Sunday, 13 May XXXXXXXXXX:59
Dashboard tool:
Microsoft PowerBI Desktop: (NOT Power BI Online!)
Submit one pbix file plus all your data sources
OR
Tableau: Submit one packaged Tableau twbx file (see in Tableau, menu File > Export Packaged Workbook) – this will include all data sources
We must be able to load the file – test it on a different computer! We always open it with the latest version of tool which is compatible with older versions.
Connecting to data:
Focus on external public free available data
See potential data sources provided in the BI Find Prepare Data.doc
Note: You will not be able to find specific data from the organisation – and this is also not the point of this assignment
Data or Audience or Company can be different to Assignment 1
More than one dataset will get more marks (try to connect datasets)
Business Intelligence
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Marking Criteria (40 points max)
Visualisation (10)
At least three different diagrams
At least one “Specialized Chart and Graph” (see Slides on Data Visualisation in Week 3)
All visualisation are labelled and easy to understand
Consistent colour scheme (e.g., one colour has one meaning and is explained in a legend)
Layout (10)
White space between diagrams
Diagrams are of reasonable size
Diagrams, legends and menus are aligned
Interactive features (10)
Provide interactive features like sliders, filters, selections, etc.
Diagrams are connected (e.g., when you select something in one diagram, the other diagram(s) are updated based on the selection)
Overall (10)
Easy to understand and not overloaded
One page “instructions” for the dashboard outlining: BI-users groups for this dashboard and how do they use it
Business Intelligence
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What you should submit
Dashboard file – Tableau or PowerBI
Data file – one Excel file or zip-archive with multiple Excel and/or CSV files used in your dashboard.
If you created a Packaged file in Tableau, then you don’t really need to provide data. However, it is better being safe than so
y – submit your data anyway.
If you “forget” to provide data and your dashboard is not a packaged file, then you will get 0 for Practical part of the assignment.
Instructions file – Word document with instructions: who will use your dashboard and how will they do it.
There is no word count limit
equirement attached. Make it roughly one page. It is OK if instructions are longer or shorter.
No need for a cover letter. Create a title matching your dashboard title.
Provide references to data sources
In total, there should be three files in your submission!
Business Intelligence
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Harvard Referencing Guide
Developed by Learning Advisers and Li
arians © UniSA, January 2017
Harvard Referencing Guide
UniSA
This guide will help you apply the Harvard referencing style to your writing at UniSA.
It is designed to help you understand the conventions and principles of this style and
make decisions about referencing. There are many different versions of the Harvard
style. This guide presents one consistent version for use at UniSA, which conforms
to the Australian Government standard guidelines presented in Snooks & Co (eds)
2002, Style manual for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn, Wiley & Sons,
Australia.
Developed by Learning Advisers and Li
arians © UniSA, January 2017
Minor revision and additions for January 2017 version
Topic Change made Page
2nd, revised or later edition of