GRA 4149 Value Added Analytics

GRA 4149 Value Added Analytics

Course code: 
GRA 4149
Department: 
Accounting and Operations Management
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Pål Berthling-Hansen
Course name in Norwegian: 
Value Added Analytics
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business Analytics
Semester: 
2025 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course is designed around 4 main topics. Firstly the financial evaluation of a business analytics project, using the business case framework. Then the students are exposed to the analytics canvas. This is a storyboard for outlining an analytics project. Several canvases exist, and the students will learn specifically how SAS Institute use their propriterary canvas.

Thereafter the course covers the topic of analytics maturity. This is the mapping of how mature companies are in their analytics endeavour. Even the native analytics companies like Google and Amazon do not score maximum on this scale. The maturity index is presented by International Institute of Analytics and Sas Institute. Finally we look at a concept called analytics life cycle, a useful tool for analytics projects.

All these topics aim at focusing on the value in an analytics project.

 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

After having completed this course, students will learn more about the implementation aspects of an analytics problem and also the relevant models to analyse the financial aspects.

Learning what a business case should consist of and what international companies do in this respect is also part of the course.

Understand the concepts of analytics canvas, analytics lifecycle and analytivs maturity.

Learning outcomes - Skills

Students will obtain specific skills in utilising the "Analytics Lifecycle" for implementation and evaluation.

Students will also learn the skill of documenting an analytics project in the form of a business case to focus on sustainable profitability.

Using the business analytics canvas developed by SAS Institute to outline a project

Scoring companies on the concept of maturity index

How to use the analytics lifecycle model

General Competence

Without any value, analytics is just data. Reflecting on who the analytics project generates value for will is an important part of any business analytics or digital initiative. The students will learn how to reflect around an analytics decision and to determine what is meant by value-added. Critically evaluating value to owners and other interested parties is important knowledge. Critically evaluating the data used is also an important aspect of value added analytics. 

Course content
  • Analytics Lifecycle
  • Learning the structure of a business case
  • Developing a Business Case for analytics projects
  • What is meant by the term value
  • Sequential model for value based decision making
  • Analytics canvas
  • Lifecycle model
  • Analytics maturity
  • Implementation issues of business analytics
  • Evaluation of analytics projects for future learning
Teaching and learning activities

As the course is delivered online, students are expected to participate actively through the digital tools provided. Students will be provided with cases and also use cases from their own experience throughout the masters degree and write up business cases using the Analytics Lifecycle model, analytics canvas, and map companies for analytics maturity-

For students in their second year spring 2023, the portfolio will be made during the semester.

For students starting their first year in 2022, the course will start with digital lectures already in the first semester. The students will make a portfolio during the 4 semesters, which can be improved throughout the duration of the programme. The final portfolio delivery to happen in the fourth semester.

Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Additional information

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Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Portfolio Assessment PDF
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Exam code: 
GRA 41493
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Portfolio assessment
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.