Newcastle Business School

BUSA2001: Big Data Analytics

2023

MISSION: Our mission is to advance responsible and impactful business knowledge. To achieve
our mission, we develop life ready graduates and build global and local partnerships through
ethical and innovative practices.

OVERVIEW
Course Description Big Data Analytics is regarded as one of the important emerging
technologies in different fields of business including accounting,
economics, finance, marketing, and management. Big data refers to
data sets with large sizes that are beyond the ability of traditional data
management software tools. While traditional data processing
technologies are inadequate, practical knowledge addressing
challenges of huge or complex data handling in terms of their analysis,
transformation, visualisation and prediction is paramount in
businesses. This course introduces students to various massive data
sets that can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured and
sourced from multi-media, social media, cloud platforms, web, IoT and
traditional economic and business databases. Students will apply data
mining and natural language processing tools to these big data to gain
business insights such as hidden patterns, untold facts, unknown
correlations, market trends, and customer preferences. Big data from
social media and financial statements now play a significant role in
extracting information for making informed business decisions related
to understanding customer behaviours and financial investments. Case
studies on big data analytics will be utilised to design and communicate
concepts and techniques used in business decision making.
Sustainable
Development Goals
Contact Hours Integrated Learning Session
Face to Face on Campus
One (1) hour lecture and Two (2) hour(s) Lab workshop per Week for
Full Term. Lecture will be starting from Week 1 and workshop will be
starting from week 2.
Unit Weighting 10 units
Assumed Knowledge BUSA1001 Introduction to Business Information Systems
Workload Students are required to spend on average 120-140 hours of effort
(contact and non-contact) including assessments per 10 unit course.
Please refer to the course CANVAS site for details of teaching staff for ALL course
offerings. The primary contact for courses is the Course Coordinator, whose details are
listed on the course CANVAS site.
Student Consultation A minimum of one (1) hour of consultation per week. Please see
course CANVAS site for details of time and location.
Course Learning On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Outcomes 1. Discuss and evaluate fundamental concepts and principles in big
data analytics;
2. Discuss the key concepts, benefits, and challenges of big data
analytics;
3. Demonstrate skills in processing and utilising social media data
and finance data; and
4. Critically evaluate data sources, data sets, and inferences made CRICOS Provider
from big data analytics. 00109J
BUSA2001: Big Data Analytics - 2023

ASSESSMENTS
This course has 3 assessments. Each assessment is described in more detail in the sections below:

Assessment Name Due Date Involvement Weighting Learning

Outcomes
1 Case Study – Methods of Data Week 7 Individual 20% 1, 2
Analytics in an area of business
2 Data Cleansing and Processing in Week 11 Group 30% 3, 4
an area of business
3 Final Examination Formal examination period Individual 50% 1, 2, 4
Please note: students are advised that all assessments must be submitted in English. Assessment items not
submitted in English will receive a mark of zero.
Results of individual assessment items and final results, including those provided via the Learning
Management System (LMS) are ‘unofficial results’ until they are confirmed as finalised by the School
Assessment Body and the Head of School or delegate. Finalised results are released directly to students on
the Fully Graded Date of the relevant Semester/Trimester.
Time referenced is time in Newcastle NSW
Late Submissions The mark for an assessment item submitted after the designated time on the due date,
without an approved extension of time, will be reduced by 10% of the possible maximum
mark for that assessment item for each day or part day that the assessment item is late.
Note: this applies equally to week and weekend days.

Assessment 1 – Case Study – Methods of Data Analytics in an area of business

Assessment Type Case Study/Problem Based Learning
Purpose The purpose of the case study is to assess student’s learning progression at a primary
stage. The problem-based case study will enable learning in relation to data solution
design. Students are individually required to run different big data analytics tools and
techniques to treat, analyse, visualise and predict useful details essential for their
problem study. The completion of the work will result a submission with a python coding
script within a report.
Description The case problem study will cover lecture materials form week 1 to 6 and relevant
textbook chapters. The problem-based study will be based on a big data set given in a
particular business domain (e.g. consumer big data). There will be a model methodology
available for students to use as a guide for their data analysis study.
Weighting 20%
Length 600 words (with code in a note pad)
Due Date Friday of Week 7 by 11:59 pm
Submission Method CANVAS submission (via Turnitin)
Assessment Criteria Marking Rubrics in the assignment module on CANVAS
Return Method Online
Feedback Provided On CANVAS

Assessment 2 - Data Cleansing and Processing in an area of business

Assessment Type Big Data Processing for generating a solution knowledge
Purpose The purpose of this assessment is to develop group work and learn to develop big data
analytics solutions that will be directly related to business performance improvements.
Students will be appointed to groups of three (3) to analyse and prepare a data model(s)
that will predict insights from a big dataset (as a representative case demonstration in a
particular decision-support problem). A report with the Python script code with
presentation must be submitted in week 11.
Description This assignment is based on conducting a data investigation that will provide three (3)
things: 1) problem insights 2) solution design requirements and 3) data model for solving
the problems. Therefore, the ultimate objectives here are to conduct a teamwork for
learning, treating, analysing, visualising and modelling data prediction within an
appropriate business content. The entire report should be prepared using the guideline
(see CANVAS) for its technological (e.g. machine learning tools) provisions with
recommendations. The submission also requires a summary of project presentation
(10m in duration and a total of 8 slides) that must include PowerPoints or similar visual
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BUSA2001: Big Data Analytics - 2023

aids and be loaded onto the Discussion Board immediately prior to the presentation.
Weighting 30% (25% for written report + 5% for presentation)
Length 1000 words report and 10 minutes presentation
Due Date Tuesday of Week 11 by 11:59 pm
Submission Method Online via Turnitin
Assessment Criteria The report and your presentations will be assessed using a rubric (see CANVAS) that will
give details of the criteria and relevant aspects.
Please note: Self and Peer Assessment: A single mark is given for the group
assignment. This mark will then be moderated by "self and peer assessment" using the
SPARKPlus software so that individual group members may receive different marks. Any
moderated individual mark received by each group member is based on contribution to
the assignment and, more importantly the ability to work with others.
Individually group members are required to submit a self and peer assessment through
SPARK within 24 hours of the due date. Failure to complete SPARK will result in a mark
of zero. The criteria for the self and peer assessment are found along with the
instructions on how to use SPARK on CANVAS. Please note: NO SPARK NO MARK.
Return Method Online
Feedback Provided On CANVAS

Assessment 3 - Final Examination

Assessment Type Formal Examination
Purpose The examination assesses students’ capacity to consolidate and apply their professional
knowledge of financial institutions management to contextual scenarios.
Description The final examination will consist of short answer and problem- solving questions
relevant to learning materials covered from week 1 to 12. For preparation, there will be a
mock-up exam paper uploaded to CANVAS site, one (1) week prior to the final exam.
This course has a RESTRICTED OPEN BOOK examination. A memory aid is
permitted. The memory aid is a single double sided A4 sheet of handwritten or typed
notes for use during the examination. Note: memory aids must be left on the
examination table and cannot be removed from the examination venue.
Weighting 50%
Length 120 minutes
Due Date Formal Examination Period
Submission Method Formal Exam
Assessment Criteria On CANVAS
Return Method Not Returned
Feedback Provided No Feedback. Examination scripts will not be returned to students. Final examination
scripts will be made available for review by students, upon request, in a controlled and
monitored setting. Students are required to make requests, directly to the relevant
course coordinator. Completed examination scripts are kept by the Newcastle Business
School for a period of six (6) months only, from the relevant fully graded date. Requests
made after the six (6) month period cannot be considered.

SYLLABUS
Course Content Topics in the course include but are not limited to the following:
1. Understanding context of big data
2. Principles of big data analytics
3. Collecting and processing social media data
4. Collecting and processing financial data
5. Inferences made from big data analytics

Course Materials Required Text:

Sedkaoui, S. (2018). Data Analytics and Big Data, John Wiley & Sons

ISBN: 9781786303264
Online ISBN: 9781119528043

Please refer to the course CANVAS site for details of additional required resources.

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BUSA2001: Big Data Analytics - 2023

SCHEDULE
Week Topic Class Preparation Workshop Activities
1 Understanding of From Data Lecture 1 content, Chapter 1 Intro to big data and analytics
to Big Data and the difference
between data and big data
2 Big Data: A Revolution that Lecture 2 materials, Chapter 2 Workshop: with Python and
Changes the Game introduction to analyse big data in
Hadoop environment
3 Big Data Analytics Lecture 3 materials, Chapter 3 Multiple linear regression using MS
excel and Installing Anaconda
function
4 Applications of big data Chapter 4 Familiarities with Anaconda
analytics environment for analytics
applications
5 Processes of big data analytics Lecture 5 materials, Chapter 5 Practical Exercise -Random Forest,
SVM
6 Machine learning for big data Lecture 6 materials, Chapter 6 Practical Exercise - Decision Tree,
analytics Random Forest
Naive Bayes
7 Supervised versus Lecture 7 materials Practical Exercise - Gradient
Unsupervised Algorithms Boosting
K-Nearest Neighbour
Assessment 1 Due
8 Supervised versus Lecture 8 materials Practical Exercise - Logistic
Unsupervised Algorithms for Regression
examples Support Vector Machine
9 Applications and Examples of Lecture 9 materials, Chapter 8 Practical Exercise - Logistic
Big data analytics Regression, Support Vector
Machine

10 Predictive Analytics and Lecture 10 materials, Chapter 7 Practical Exercise - Support Vector
applications Machine
11 Augmented Analytics Lecture 11 materials, Chapters 7- Practical Exercise - Deep learning
8 methods
Assessment 2 Due
12 Future applications (Industry Lecture 12 materials Practical Exercise - Deep learning
4.0 and Society 5.0) for methods
Analytics 4.0
13 Revision Revision activities and exam
preparation
If a lecture/class is scheduled on a public holiday, a make-up lecture may be announced by the course
coordinator on the course CANVAS site.

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BUSA2001: Big Data Analytics - 2023

CONTACTS
School Office Newcastle Business School – Callaghan, Newcastle City & Online
NU Space
409 Hunter Street
Newcastle
[email protected]
+61 2 4921 5511

Newcastle Business School - Ourimbah

BO1.13, Business Offices
Ourimbah
[email protected]
+61 2 4349 4453

Newcastle Business School - Sydney

55 Elizabeth Street
Sydney
[email protected]
+61 2 82626432

PSB Academy Enquiries

Log your question or request to the PSB Program Executives at the following website:
http://www.psb-academy.edu.sg/enq
+65 6390 9000

Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education Pte Ltd

100 Victoria Street #13-01/02
National Library Building
Singapore
[email protected]
+65 6221 3306

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Grading Scheme This course is graded as follows:
Range of Grade Description
Marks
85-100 High Outstanding standard indicating comprehensive knowledge
Distinction and understanding of the relevant materials; demonstration of
(HD) an outstanding level of academic achievement; mastery of
skills*; and achievement of all assessment objectives.
75-84 Distinction Excellent standard indicating a very high level of knowledge
(D) and understanding of the relevant materials; demonstration of
a very high level of academic ability; sound development of
skills*; and achievement of all assessment objectives.
65-74 Credit Good standard indicating a high level of knowledge and
(C) understanding of the relevant materials; demonstration of a
high level of academic achievement; reasonable development
of skills*; and achievement of all learning outcomes.
50-64 Pass Satisfactory standard indicating an adequate knowledge and
(P) understanding of the relevant materials; demonstration of an
adequate level of academic achievement; satisfactory
development of skills*; and achievement of all learning
outcomes.
0-49 Fail Failure to satisfactorily achieve learning outcomes. If all
(FF) compulsory course components are not completed the mark
will be zero. A fail grade may also be awarded following
disciplinary action.

*Skills are those identified for the purposes of assessment task(s).

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BUSA2001: Big Data Analytics - 2023

Communication Communication methods used in this course include:

Methods - CANVAS Course Site: Students will receive communications via the posting of
content or announcements on the CANVAS course site.
- Email: Students will receive communications via their student email account.
- Face to Face: Communication will be provided via face to face meetings or
supervision.
Course Evaluation Each year feedback is sought from students and other stakeholders about the courses
offered in the University for the purposes of identifying areas of excellence and potential
improvement.
Oral Interviews As part of the evaluation process of any assessment item in this course an oral examination
may be conducted. The purpose of the oral examination is to verify the authorship of the
material submitted in response to the assessment task. The oral examination will be
conducted in accordance with the principles set out in the Oral Examination Guidelines. In
cases where the oral examination reveals the assessment item may not be the student's
own work the case will be dealt with under the Student Conduct Rule.
Academic Misconduct All students are required to meet the academic integrity standards of the University. These
standards reinforce the importance of integrity and honesty in an academic environment.
Academic Integrity policies apply to all students of the University in all modes of study and
in all locations. For the Student Academic Integrity Policy, refer to
https://policies.newcastle.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=35.
Adverse The University acknowledges the right of students to seek consideration for the impact of
Circumstances allowable adverse circumstances that may affect their performance in assessment item(s).
Applications for special consideration due to adverse circumstances will be made using the
online Adverse Circumstances system where:
1. the assessment item is a major assessment item; or
2. the assessment item is a minor assessment item and the Course Co-ordinator has
specified in the Course Outline that students may apply the online Adverse
Circumstances system;
3. you are requesting a change of placement; or
4. the course has a compulsory attendance requirement.
Before applying you must refer to the Adverse Circumstances Affecting Assessment Items
Procedure available at:
https://policies.newcastle.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=236
Important Policy The 'HELP for Students' tab in UoNline contains important information that all students
Information should be familiar with, including various systems, policies and procedures.

This course outline was approved by the Head of School. No alteration of this course outline is permitted without Head of School
approval. If a change is approved, students will be notified and an amended course outline will be provided in the same manner as
the original.
© 2023 The University of Newcastle, Australia

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