BUSAN 301 : Data Visualisation

Business and Economics

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Visual representations of data enable complex ideas to be communicated clearly and effectively. Covers how to better engage decision makers via data visualisation. Focusses on transforming data into visual digital narratives using modern visualisation tools.

Course Overview

The successful student will be able to demonstrate practical skills, and theoretical disciplinary knowledge, that will enable them to communicate (visually, in writing and verbally) the significant implications of their data analyses within a business environment. 
 
This course will require students to demonstrate independence and integrity as success depends largely on the amount of independent learning and practice they are willing to put in.

The majority of the course sessions will involve students presenting prepared work rather than traditional lectures.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points from BUSAN 200, 201, ECON 221, INFOMGMT 290-296, INFOSYS 220-280, STATS 208, 255 Restriction: INFOMGMT 392

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Create a data visualisation, from a provided dataset, that delivers a compelling narrative to a specified audience (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
  2. Create the most commonly used business visualisations in a data visualisation tool (Capability 3.1 and 5.1)
  3. Evaluate, critique, and suggest improvements to, visual representations of data (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  4. Recognise unethical uses of data visualisations (Capability 4.2 and 8.1)
  5. Design and deliver effective, engaging presentations in person, to a live audience that satisfy a client’s requirements (Capability 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Visualisation Critique 10% Individual Coursework
Visualisation Creation 20% Individual Coursework
Group Project 30% Group Coursework
Class Participation 5% Individual Coursework
Computer Based Exam 30% Individual Examination
Lab Participation 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Visualisation Critique
Visualisation Creation
Group Project
Class Participation
Computer Based Exam
Lab Participation

Workload Expectations

This course has two, two-hour lecture sessions per week which will be mainly used for students to present and discuss their work. Each student also has a two hour lab slot available (starting week 2) which will be used for tutor supported self-learning and group project work.

In addition to the weekly classes and labs, the average student is expected to spend approximately another four to five hours per week on activities related to this course. These activities include reading, revising, practicing, and preparing assessments.

A key aspect of preparing data visualisations is iteration and practice so students should expect to spend a considerable time iterating through various versions of their work.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including labs.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All materials for this course can be found on, or via, Canvas.

The text books for this course are:
Storytelling with data: a data visualization guide for business professionals
Author: Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
Date: 2015
Publisher: Wiley
Note that a downloadable PDF version of this book is available for free via the University library.

The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios
Authors: Steve Wexler, Jeffrey Shaffer, Andy Cotgreave
Date: 2017
Publisher: Wiley
Note that a downloadable PDF version of this book is available for free via the University library.

The visualisation tool that will be used in this course is Tableau Desktop.
 
Tableau Desktop is a popular commercial data visualisation tool that supports many different ways to produce interactive data visualization products focused on business intelligence.

Each student will be provided with a license so that they can install Tableau on their personal devices.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and there have been no major changes to the course for 2024.  Incremental improvements are always made to keep content and delivery up-to-date and relevant.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 16/11/2023 04:31 p.m.