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Unit outline_

SMBA6009: Bus. Transformation Through Analytics and AI

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal evening] - Castlereagh St, Sydney

This unit is developed for people interested in understanding how to create a successful strategic roadmap in order to lead, seize opportunities, and transform organisational thinking in a digital age. For many years, state-of-the-art strategic thinking has promoted business models and leadership strategy based on competition analysis of close sector rivals, market analytics, as well as traditional human resources processes and talent development. At present time, the impacts of digital transformation are so broad that the most disruptive competition is likely to be external and come from businesses about which executives may have an incomplete understanding. For example, in Finance many traditional organizations (banks) are challenged by small Fintech start-ups. Furthermore, businesses at the moment are facing many external uncertainties such as the COVID-19 outbreak crisis. This unit delivers an in-depth understanding of how current business needs can be supported by analytics and AI at the cutting-edge of thinking about the transformative potential of digital technology for tackling contemporary challenges. You will learn how digital transformation (through analytics and AI) could be championed in organisations facing risk and uncertainty. No previous experience in advanced analytics or data science is necessary for this unit.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Management Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
SMBA6008
Corequisites
? 
SMBA6001
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

The unit assumes some familiarity with basic statistical concepts and some experience in working with data

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Grafton, david.grafton@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment AI Nudgeathon
Group project on a business used case
30% Week 08
Due date: 05 Oct 2023 at 21:55

Closing date: 05 Oct 2023
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Individual written assignment
Individual project on a business used case
40% Week 11
Due date: 26 Oct 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 02 Nov 2023
Min 4000 words max 6000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Small continuous assessment Weekly participation assignments
Short questions activities
30% Weekly Varied
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Group work assignment: On Week 8 we will hold an AI Nudgeathon (AI business nudging marathon). On Week 3 the students will be assigned to a group at random and they will receive the AI Nudgeathon assignment. The students will be presented with an industrial/business/social issue and they will need to work on a start-up idea, which would address a specific problem within the presented issue. This assignment will be marked on a set of pre-specified criteria. All criteria will be provided to the students on Week 3.

 

In-class, small and continuous assessment: There are 6 individual weekly reflection assignments, which the students will be asked to complete. Each assignment is worth 5 points.
Individual reflection, summarizing their weekly experience from the unit, the assignments will be due by midday on Friday the week of the lecture, on weeks 2,3,4,5,8 and 9. Their reflection should not be more than 500-800 words in total (preferably, they need to try to write it immediately after each class). The Canvas Form is required to be completed your reflection assignment.

 

Submitted work assignment: Individual written assignment (approx. 5,000 words not including references and supplementary materials) will be due 1 week after the last day of class via Canvas. The topic for the individual assignment will be provided on the 1st day of class.

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Group work assignment: Failure to attend the AI Nudgeathon will result either in 0 mark or if a formal Special Consideration is awarded, in a compulsory make-up individual assignment. In-class, small and continuous assessment: No submission will result in 0 mark for the assignment unless Special Consideration is obtained. Late submissions will be penalized (-1 point for each day of delay; 0 points when the delay exceeds 5 days). Submitted work assignment: Failure to submit this assignment will result either in 0 mark or, if a formal Special Consideration is awarded, in a compulsory make-up assignment.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to AI and Machine Learning for Business Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Sources of Data and Types of data in the Business world Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Exploratory data analysis Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Supervised Learning I Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Supervised Learning II Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Unsupervised Learning Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Text Analytics and NLP Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Big Data considerations Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Case Studies 1 Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Case Studies 2 Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Define: Students will develop ability to approach and define real-world problems in leading digital transformation as well as understand limitations, which responsible thinking brings to data-driven business models
  • LO2. Measure: Students will develop ability to identify appropriate measures, variables and datasets as well as to understand how to collect suitable data to minimize algorithmic bias and maximize business and customer value
  • LO3. Analyse: Students will develop ability to select and apply the most appropriate methods and techniques to analyse the data and solve the problem
  • LO4. Critically evaluate: Students will develop ability to critically evaluate existing data science methodology against business needs
  • LO5. Communicate: Students will develop ability to communicate AI and analytics findings for business-level understanding
  • LO6. Be ethical and responsible: Students will develop ability to approach all stages of the business problem-solving process in responsible and ethical manner

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit of study is running for the first time in 2023.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.