BUSA 3110 Statistics for Business
(for sections taught by Kim Melton)

Spring 2015 Assignments

Remember: 
Assignments are posted based on the day assigned
and are due the following class day.

Date Assignment to be completed following class
Wed. Jan. 7, 2015

Course Introduction

Slides for
Week 1

Assignment related to housekeeping details:
Read the complete syllabus and  bring a list of any questions you have about the syllabus to class on Friday.

Set up your CengageBrain/Aplia access (click here for details)--NOTE: If you are not sure that you are going to stay in the course or if you aren't able to buy your books this week, you can access Aplia (including an on-line version of the Keller book) until January 25, 2015. Be sure that you enter your payment code before January 25, 2015 if you want to maintain access.

Buy your books.

Assignment related to learning Statistics:
Read Russell Ackoff's description of the Data to Wisdom Continuum (available in the References and "Handouts" folder of D2L)

Watch the following three videos.  Make a list of major points in each video and bring this list to class on Friday.

Video 1 (app. 12 minutes)  Watch this video after reading Ackoff's Data to Wisdom description.
Beyond Continual Improvement (A 1994 presentation by Russell Ackoff at a memorial presentation for Dr. W. Edwards Deming).  As you watch/listen to this presentation, think about how data collection and analysis ties to improving systems and the Data to Wisdom Continuum described in the reading.  If clicking on the link above does not work, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqEeIG8aPPk&list=PLhsIdCVDmWaMYE7d3m3E-IWrj_sq1D0_R

Video 2 (app. 2 minutes)
Efficiency vs. effectiveness (A 2013 presentation by William McDounough, UNC Berkley).  As you watch this, think about how this ties to Statistics (both the learning of subject matter and the application of statistics in practice).  If clicking the link above does not work, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4QQZvqRtzA

Video 3  (app. 4 1/2 minutes) presents an overview
Making data analytics work: Three key challenges: (app. 4 1/2 minutes)  provides an overview of the role of data analytics in an organization and includes some discussion about the role of statistics.  If clicking on the link above does not work, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: 
http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/business_technology/making_data_analytics_work
Friday,
January 9, 2015

Statistics in Context

From the Keller book, read Chapter 1 and Section 1 of Chapter 2; bring a list of major terms that were introduced to the next class meeting.

Your first Choice assignment: "Introduction to Using Aplia Problem Set" is due Sunday, January 11, 2015 by 11:30 pm.  This assignment is worth up to 2 points and will be considered as a Choice assignment in the Data segment of the course (since the purpose of this assignment is to teach you how Aplia collects data to provide your grade for each assignment).
Monday,
January 12, 2015
(Classroom)

Slides Week 2

I1)  Install JMP on your personal computer.  Go to software.ung.edu, login using the same access as for your email, download JMP Pro for your computer and, if necessary, follow the instructions on the site for updating the license.  If you have difficulties, please contact IT at one of the following:  LTC Room 164, the Helpdesk at helpdesk@ung.edu or 706-864-1922.  Loading and activating should be a one time task for the semester.

2)  (General homework/test bank for the final) Start working problems 2.2-2.10 on pages 17 and 18 from the Keller book
Wednesday,
August 26, 2015
Data/Information/
Knowledge/Wisdom



 Class on Friday will be in the lab (NOC 109).
1)  Revisit and finish working problems 2.2 – 2.10 on pages 17 and 18 in the Keller book.

3) Watch the two JMP for Students Videos on Navigation and Use (about 30 minutes total) as an introduction to using JMP software.
( http://www.jmp.com/about/events/ondemand/ondemand-viewer.shtml?reglink=701a0000001s1Zc&series=academic )

Quiz 1 must be completed by Friday, January 16 at noon (2 points-Data Segment).  This quiz will be available in section DA of BUSA 3110 of D2L by Wednesday at noon and will cover mechanics of the course.  This quiz is open notes (recommended notes--you syllabus) and should be completed in less than 15 minutes.  [Vocabulary List]

Quiz 2 will be at the start of class on Wednesday, January 21 (7 points-Data Segment - 15 minutes max) and will cover vocabulary related to Chapters 1,2, and basic vocabulary for using JMP.  You may bring one page of handwritten notes. 
Friday,
January 16, 2015
WEEK 2

     meet in lab
      (NOC 109)		 Aplia Choice assignment available for Sunday night (What is Statistics?).  This is considered as part of the Data Segment of the course.

Go through the Beginners Tutorial on JMP.  To access this: open JMP; from the Help menu, select Tutorials; then select Beginners Tutorial; complete all 7 pages of the tutorial.  Focus on the navigation and editing options in JMP rather than on the specific statistical technique presented.

You do not need to attempt to address the question provided in the example--just use the data from the problems to respond to the following.  Use the data for the following problems: 2.24 [p. 30], 2.33 [p. 31], 16.6/18.18 [pp. 645 and 753] (where the definition of "type" is included in problem 18.18).  For each: 1) Open the data in JMP, 2) make sure the variables are coded correctly in terms of measurement scale, 3) obtain initial output for each variable, 4) save the script that generated the output to the data table, and 5) save the data table.  Remember that the data for the problems in the Keller book are available on D2L in the "Syllabus, Links, and Data Sets folder in a zipped file (download the file to your computer and unzip so you have the files available for the entire semester without having to go to D2L each time). To check the measurement scale, right click on the column names and use "Column Info" to make sure that both the Data Type and the Modeling Type are correct; and if the Modeling Type is Ordinal, use the Column Properties and then Value Ordering to make sure that the levels are correctly ordered. It the data are entered as numbers to represent a variable that should be qualitative, recode the variables from numbers to more descriptive words.  To obtain the initial output use the Distribution Platform on the Analyze menu. 

2)  Skim the material related to graphs and charts in Chapters 2 and 3 with the purpose of seeing what the different types of charts and graphs look like and when each is appropriate to be used

3)  Read Chapter 4 sections 1 and 2 (for concepts--we will use JMP for calculations)

NOTE:  There are two more Choice assignments (both counting in the Information segment of the course visible--one with a deadline beyond the "free" period for Aplia).  Anyone can complete these assignments prior to January 25. 

Future assignments will be posted in the Spring 2015 DA section of BUSA 3110 Statistics for Business.
All daily assignments for the rest of the semester will be posted in D2L