Data Handling and Decision Making

This assignment has two parts Part 1 is an essay and Part 2 is the report based on the essay. Topic is data handling and decision making. Please follow all the guidelines given in the attached instructions and questions

Data Handling and Decision MakingPart 1: EssayDate for Submission: Please refer to the timetable on ilearn(The submission portal on iLearnwill close at 14:00 UK time on the date of submission)

Page 2of 7[1665]Assignment BriefAs part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Data Handling and Decision Makingessay. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.Learning Outcomes(LO):After completing the module, you should be able to:1.Analyse methods of auditing data holdings and gap identification.2.Critically analyse theoretical and core processes of data manipulation and mining.3.Utilise and evaluate basic statistical concepts.4.Appreciate ethical issues and their importance to data handling and decision making.5.Develop a practical ability with data analysis and data mining methods to analyse and interpret data sets.6.Make recommendations based upon the findings from data analysis.7.Graduate Attribute–Effective CommunicationCommunicate effectively both, verbally and inwriting, using a range of media widely used in relevant professional context.Maximum word count:1,000wordsPlease note that exceeding the word count by over 10% will result in a reduction in grade by the same percentage that the word count is exceeded. You must not include your namein your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.

Page 3of 7[1665]Assignment Task –EssayThis assignment is worth 20% of the marks for this module.Assignment Part 1: Data Gap AnalysisData gap analysis can be referred to as theprocessofinspecting an existing or planned big data infrastructurewith the aim of identifying issues, risks and inefficiencies associated with the use of data in organisation’s operations.Such analysis requires an integrated view ontechnical, managerial and legal aspects oforganisational data.This activity represents a key initial step towardsimplementation ofdata-driven business decision-making.For this assignment, you are required todemonstrate the data gap analysis for acase study of your choice.Case study choice.You are encouraged to relate this assignment to your workplace, so that the outcomescan immediately be applied to improving itsdata analytics processes. However,if you have no immediate workplaceto analyse orits use for the assignment purposes is not possible, then you have an option ofadoptinganotherproject(such as a commercial start-up, community project or social enterprise) which would take advantage of data driven decision-making. Either an existing orprospective projectcan be discussed.In the latter case,the data infrastructure might not exist yet, however, you have an opportunityto propose its design and analyse it forany potentialgaps.NB1:You can use any publicly available datasets,e.g. historical data or national statistics (a samplelist of publicdata sources can be found on the News and FAQs forumof the module).However, these datasets must be applied to in-depth analysis of your workplace or anotherspecific projector activitywhich you are fully familiar with.Generic analysis of any third-party company is not acceptable for this assignment.NB2: Organisation name, other business or stakeholder particulars and any personally identifiable information can be fully anonymised.NB3: If you are re-sitting this assessment for the first time, you may re-work your original submission if you wish. However, if this is your third attempt at this assessment, you mustsubmit a piece of work which is substantially different from your first two attempts.Please turn over for the questions

Page 4of 7[1665]Task1.1Perform data gap analysis for an organisation or project of your choice.Your response should include:•Brief background to the organisation or project in question.•Identification of the key data sources and datasetsavailable to the organisation.•Inspectionof data integrity and current or potentialgapsin data analytics and data protection.(350 words)(30marks)(LO1)Task1.2Using the findings of Task 1.1, recommend improvements to the organisational data analytics processes.These should be centred aroundthe following:•Reorganisation of the current data-driven processes to streamline and enhance the data analytics and decision making.•Roadmap to the development or enhancement of the big data infrastructure.•Compliance aspects of the proposed changes indata analytics.(450 words)(50marks)(LO 1, 4)Task 1.3Explain how the proposed big data analytics can be used in the organisationaldecision making. This includes the following:•Identification ofa range ofbusiness decisions that can be supported by the enhancements in data analyticsproposed in Task 1.2.•Formulationofa single decisionof your choiceout of those identified, in terms ofthe related business questionto be solved, involved stakeholdersand data available for its support.(You will then be required to analysethis decision systematically in Part 2 of this Assignment.)(200 words)(20marks)(LO 1, 7)End of questions

Page 5of 7[1665]Formative FeedbackYou have the opportunity to submita complete draft of this assignmentto receive formative feedback. The feedback is designed to help you develop areas of your work and it helps you develop your skills as an independent learner. Your work must be submitted to your tutor at least twoweeksprior tothe assessment submission date. This is to allow time for you to reflect on the feedback and draft your final submission.Formative feedback will not be given to work submitted after the above date.Student GuidelinesDevelopment of academic skills:You MUSTunderpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the AU Harvard system. The My Study Skills Area contains the following useful resources:Guide to Harvard Referencinghttp://moodle.bl.rdi.co.uk/guides/HarvardRef/AU_Harvard_Quick_Ref_Guide.pdfGuide to Harvard Citationhttp://moodle.bl.rdi.co.uk/guides/HarvardRef/AU_Guide_to_Harvard_Citation.pdfYou must use the AU Harvard Referencing method in your assignment.Additional notes:Students are required to indicate the exact word count on the title page of the assessment.The word count excludes thetitle page, tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices.Where assessment questions have been reprinted from the assessment brief these will also be excluded from the word count. ALL other printed words ARE included in the word count.See ‘Word Count Policy’ on the homepage of this module for more information.

Page 6of 7[1665]Submission GuidanceAssignments submitted late will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0% fail.Your assessment should be submitted as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file. For more information please see the “Guide to Submitting an Assignment” document available on the module page on iLearn. You must ensure that the submitted assignment is all your own work and that all sources used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assignments which show evidence of academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is on the homepage of your module and also in the Induction Area).