NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

NUS Business School

Department of Analytics & Operations

DAO2702/DSC2008 Programming for Business Analytics

Session: Semester 1, 2022/2023
Instructor: Peng Xiong [email protected]

Description:

This module is an introductory course to business analytics and data science. It covers basic Python
programming and preliminary statistics, with a great emphasis on addressing practical business problems and
real datasets. Data science is an interdisciplinary field that requires business insights and expertise, proficiency
in programming, as well as a strong background in mathematics and statistics. Therefore, lectures and exercises
in this semester would focus on trainings in the following perspectives:
• Python programming and Pythonic coding styles
• Analytical and visualization packages
• Math and statistics
• Practical business insights and problem solving skills

Scopes:
1. Basics of Python programming
1. Data structures and flow control
2. Functions and packages
2. Data analysis with Python
1. Analytical tools: NumPy, SciPy, Pandas
2. Data visualization: Matplotlib
3. Data collection and cleaning
3. Statistical inference
1. Sampling and inference
2. Confidence intervals
3. Hypothesis testing
4. Linear regression (not tested)
1. Model assumptions and interpretations
2. Package Statsmodels for regression analysis

Software:

Anaconda: installation

Reference Books:
Python programming:
• Python data science handbook, by Jake VanderPlas
Data visualization:
• Storytelling with data, by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic

Online Resources:
• Python tutor: https://pythontutor.com/
• Programming for Business Analytics: https://share.streamlit.io/xiongpengnus/learn_dao/main/web.py or
https://nus-biz-dao.herokuapp.com/
• Storytelling with data: https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/blog
Class Materials:
• Offline lecture video uploaded to Canvas
• Jupyter Notebook files as lecture notes
• Jupyter Notebook files as exercises
• Slides as supplementary
• The folder "Advanced topics" provides supplementary reading materials. They are not tested but may be
helpful for your project.

Workload:

• Students are required to watch the offline videos and work on the exercises before attending the lecture.
• Face-to-face lecture sessions are used for discussing exercise questions. Lectures will not be recorded.
• Face-to-face tutorial sessions are used for Q&A and extra exercises.

2 marks improvement 1.6 marks improvement

in final exam in final exam
No significant improvement
in final exam
Week 𝑵 − 𝟏 Week 𝑵 Week 𝑵 + 𝟏

Upload notes, and Discuss exercise solution Q&A and extra exercise
exercise for Lecture 𝑵 for Lecture 𝑵 (in lecture) for Lecture 𝑵 (in tutorial)

Assessments:
Continuous Assessment:
Class Participation 10%
• Answering questions posted by the instructor on the forum.
• All given questions are open-ended, to make sure that everyone would have a chance to participate.
• The class participation will be given according to 1) the quality of the posts; 2) the time of the posts.

Group Project 20% for report and 15% for presentation

• Team work. Each team has five to six members.
• You may choose your own teammates (in the same tutorial session) by filling a survey. All team
members need to fill the survey. If you fail to fill the survey before the deadline, we will randomly
assign you to a team. The random team may have fewer members.
• If you ask for changing to another team after the deadline without valid reasons, then there will
be a 20% penalty on your report.
• An eight-page (4 pieces of double-sided paper) report and a formal 10 to 15-minute presentation.
• In the video, please provide the name of the current presenter, otherwise there will be a 20%
penalty on your presentation.
• All files should be zipped into a zip file with the name: Project_<tutorial session name>_<team name>.
Please make sure that you follow the name convention, otherwise there will be a 20% penalty.
 • Your grade of the project would also be affect by the peer evaluation of your teammates. Zero mark for
zero contribution!
• Zero mark for plagiarism.
• More details can be found from Appendix B.

Final Examination: 55%

• Close-book examination using ExamSoft.
• A number of multiple-choice questions and a written question.
• You are allowed to take a double-sided A4 cheat-sheet and a calculator with you. Other notes or
electronic devices are prohibited.
• All topics covered in lectures/exercises (except for Lecture 13 and advanced topics) could be tested.

Schedule:

Week 1 Course Overview and Introduction to Programming and Jupyter Notebook

Week 2 Introduction to Python Programming

Week 3 Control Flows of Python Programs

Week 4 Built-in Data Structures I

Week 5 Built-in Data Structures II

Week 6 Functions, Modules, and Packages

Recess

Week 7 Lovely Pandas

Week 8 Storytelling with Data

Week 9 Sweet NumPy

Week 10 Review of Probability

Week 11 Random Sampling

Week 12 Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing

Week 13 Regression Analysis (Not Tested)

FAQ:

Lecture and tutorial registrations

What if I want to change lecture sessions or have difficulties in securing a tutorial slot?
Please contact the BBA office or ModReg as soon as possible. The instructor and tutors do not have the
access to the module registration system, so it does not help to email them.

Project

Are the cover page, table of contents, reference, and appendices counted in the 8-page limit of the
report?
The cover page, table of contents, reference, and appendices are not counted in the 8-page limit. Do not
place your key findings and important diagrams in the appendices.

Is it allowed to place data visualizations in appendices?

Please make sure that the graders can read your report without referring to the appendices.

Are we supposed to include code in the project report or presentation?

Code is submitted in a separate file. Please avoid showing code in your project report or presentation.

Are there any requirements for the font, line spacing and margin of the report?
There is no specific requirement on the font, spacing, margin of the report. You could use any page layouts
as long as the report is clear and neat for reading (as A4-size).

What if my presentation recording file is too large to be uploaded to Canvas?

You could upload the recordings to a cloud storage drive and enclose the link of the drive in the submitted
zip file.

Is the peer evaluation survey anonymous? Is it compulsory? What shall I do if one of my teammates
is not contributing to the project?
The peer evaluation survey is totally anonymous. Only the instructor and tutors can see your responses.
The peer evaluation survey is entirely optional, and there is no need for the whole team to fill the survey.
You can totally ignore it if you have nothing to report.
If your teammates are not contributing, it is better to communicate with them first and solve the issue
internally. If the issue cannot be settled internally and they still refuse to contribute, please keep all
evidence, and file a report in the peer evaluation survey. Your report will be taken into consideration in
grading the project.

Final Exam

What are the topics to be tested in the final exam?

All topics covered in lectures/exercises could be tested. Only Lecture 13 and the advanced topics will not
be tested.

Where can I find the time and venue for the final exam?
Please visit the EduRec: https://myedurec.nus.edu.sg/psp/cs90prd/?cmd=login

What are needed in the paper-based exam?

1) The double-sided A4 size cheat sheet
2) A scientific calculator (a graphic /programmable calculator is allowed, but it will not give you special
advantages in the exam)
3) A laptop with ExamSoft installed. No other electronic device is allowed.
Appendix A: Important dates

Dates Consequences of missing the dates

Deadline of the project group survey 16/09/2022 at 11:59 PM You will be randomly assigned to a team.

Deadline of submitting the project 11/11/2022 at 11:59 PM 20% penalty on late submission.

The forum of instructors' questions expire 11/11/2022 at 11:59 PM No posts can be made on the forum after this date.

Deadline of the peer evaluation survey 25/11/2022 at 11:59 PM Peer evaluation cannot be submitted after this date
Appendix B: Project Guidelines

Submission
Each team must submit a zip file containing:
• A formal eight-page (4 pieces of double-sided paper) report saved as a PDF file (no code should appear in the formal
report).
• Your source code saved as HTML files.
• A video presentation (about 10~15 minutes) where each team member participates in the presentation. It can
be recorded by ordinary smart phones, as long as it is able to show the presenters and the slides clearly.
The zip file name must follow the format: Project_<tutorial session name>_<team name>. Please make sure
that you follow the name convention, otherwise there will be a 20% penalty.
Any files submitted after the deadline are considered late submission. There will be a 20% penalty for late
submission within 24 hours after the deadline. Submission later for more than 24 hours will be considered
no submission and receives zero mark.

Scope of the Project

The team project requires students to solve ONE practical business problem by exploiting real datasets. Possible
sources of real datasets: 1) Data.world; 2) Kaggle; 3) Data.gov.sg. You can also download datasets from other
websites, or even conduct your own survey to collect data. A few examples are given below:
1) Make property investment decisions based on property price data or Airbnb data;
2) Use a dataset of movies/video games made in recent years to decide what kind of movies/games to make in
the future;
3) Use a dataset of employees in a company to investigate if there is discrimination in the company.
4) Based on the demand data of a perishable product, use Monte Carlo simulation to find the optimal
production quantity.
You are also allowed to work on other directions rather than just analysing real datasets. For example,
you could create a dashboard for data visualization, or to develop your own Python packages. For such
project topics, please contact the instructor first for his permission.

Detailed Guidelines and Grading Criteria for Project Report

The main focus of the project should be on data visualization, but you are allowed to use whatever
programming/analytics techniques you know (not restricted to this module). Please do not write your project
report as an assignment with separated tasks. You need to have a good flow for each part of your report,
and they are all used in solving ONE problem.
The project report of the whole team would be evaluated following the guidelines below:
Components Suggestions
• A Clear and concise description of only one business problem
Problem • Emphasize how the dataset would help solve the problem.
statements
(25%) • Justify any assumptions/approximation/missing data.
• Novelty and creativity in the selected problem/dataset is highly valued.
• Data visualization is the key component of this project
Data • Use proper graphs to present the information of the dataset
visualization • Clear presentation and accurate description of your graphs
(40%)
• Do not create irrelevant graphs; good data visualization should well support your
analysis and be efficient in delivering data information.
 • Derive relevant information form data visualization and use such information to
solve the business problem.
Analysis and • You may use statistical models (KNN, linear regression, or any other models you
Discussion of know) covered in the second half of the semester, but this is not compulsory.
the results
(25%) • Finalize your report with necessary discussion/conclusion/recommendations.
• Possible discussion on the influence of missing data and model limitations; give
suggestions on solutions or future research.
• Well-structured flow and clear logic.
Writing (10%) • Better to keep a list of reference for all literatures/external sources you refer to.
• Good English and free of error/typos

Detailed Guidelines for Project Presentation

For the presentation,
• Every team member needs to participate.
• You may simply use your cell phone to record the video.
• Due to the current situation, you are allowed to make separate video clip at home and combine them as a
presentation.
• The audience should be able to see your slides and your face. The preferred formats are shown as the
following pictures.
 • No need to dress professionally
• Make sure that the presenter's name is displayed while he/she is talking, otherwise there will be
a 20% penalty on the presenter.
• Use proper data visualization for your slides
• Try to focus more on the business problem itself and make it as friendly as possible for audience
with a limited programming/math/statistics background.
• Presentation is graded individually, according to each student's presentation skills.
• DO NOT read a script! Students will be penalized if they are reading the scripts on their screen.

Reference
This book may help to work on your project report/presentation: Storytelling with Data
Some videos from the same author:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EMW7io4rSI
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjhGlILWNloXJdR2NTCBMlA/videos?view=0&sort=da&flow=grid
Appendix C: ACADEMIC HONESTY & PLAGIARISM

Academic integrity and honesty is essential for the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge. The University and
School expect every student to uphold academic integrity & honesty at all times. Academic dishonesty is any
misrepresentation with the intent to deceive, or failure to acknowledge the source, or falsification of
information, or inaccuracy of statements, or cheating at examinations/tests, or inappropriate use of resources.

Plagiarism is ‘the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own' (The New
Oxford Dictionary of English). The University and School will not condone plagiarism. Students should adopt
this rule - You have the obligation to make clear to the assessor which is your own work, and which is the work
of others. Otherwise, your assessor is entitled to assume that everything being presented for assessment is
being presented as entirely your own work. This is a minimum standard. In case of any doubts, you should
consult your instructor.

Additional guidance is available at:

http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/adminpolicy/acceptance.html#NUSCodeofStudentConduct

Online Module on Plagiarism: http://emodule.nus.edu.sg/ac/