Units
Forensic and Business Intelligence
Unit code: AYB341
Contact hours:
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit focuses on providing skills in forensic and business intelligence through the use of SAS technologies. The unit assists students to analyse large data sources and report their findings to assist managerial decision making. Forensic and business intelligence issues and corporate decision making processes are emphasised. This unit provides students with an important skill base in supporting corporate decision making and investigation in a business environment.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
With the digitisation of information, management have become increasingly reliant on comprehensive and timely data driven reporting as their primary mechanism for capturing and evaluating business performance and for making urgent, strategic, high-risk decisions. This unit provides students with theoretical and practical skills in forensic and business intelligence through the use of SAS and other technologies, to investigate business related data resources to identify fraud, and to support corporate performance and decision making.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the knowledge and skills required to conduct forensic and business intelligence. This is achieved through theory based lectures that focus on business issues associated with corporate decision support systems and data investigation and reporting, and practical tutorials that teach students how to use SAS and other technologies to investigate and interrogate data, and prepare reports using a variety of data resources.
Objectives
Course Learning Goals (Undergraduate)
The Faculty of Business has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment.
Assurance of Learning Goals:
1. Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)
1.1 Integrate and apply disciplinary theory and skills to practical situations
1.2 Incorporate the use of technology appropriate to the discipline and context
2. Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)
2.1 Identify, research and critically analyse information relevant to a business problem or issue, be able to synthesise that information in order to evaluate potential solutions, make recommendations or otherwise effectively to address the problem or issue
3. Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)
3.1 Communicate effectively through written tasks appropriate to varied contexts and audiences
3.2 Communicate effectively through professional oral presentations appropriate to varied contexts and audiences
4. Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)
4.1 Demonstrate effective team skills in order to contribute appropriately to the production of a group output
5. Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)
5.1 Apply ethical reasoning, standards or codes of practice relevant to the discipline and make decisions that are informed by social and cultural understanding
Unit Objectives
The objectives in this unit are based on the Faculty of Business Assurance of Learning goals which reflect the Graduate Capabilities identified as being desirable for current graduates. Please note that Discipline Knowledge & Skills, one of the graduate capabilities, has been listed separately so that more detail can be provided regarding the specific discipline knowledge you should gain through the completion of this unit.
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. demonstrate coherent, current, theoretical and practical content knowledge in the area of forensic and business intelligence;
2. analyse and discuss issues associated with undertaking forensic and business intelligence;
3. demonstrate proficiency in commercially-available data analysis and forensic investigation software.
The specific course learning goals that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.
Content
The following provides a brief overview of topics to be covered:
- Data Driven Decision Making Processes
- Forensic and Business Intelligence Applications and Issues
- Data Mining and Visualisation.
- SAS Software Skills
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will encourage students to conceptually link the theoretical aspects of the unit with practical applications, enabling them to apply their knowledge to a wide variety of forensic and business decision making situations. Lectures will provide an introduction to the theoretical concepts that will be supported by tutorial workshops. The tutorial workshops will reinforce theoretical concepts through the application of forensic and business intelligence computer software. The Blackboard Collaborate Sessions will support and reinforce the tutorial workshops.
Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment name:
Business Management Report
Description:
This project involves submission of a business report which demonstrates the ability to produce appropriate output using SAS coding to assist managerial decision making. This project will assess the student's ability to process, analyse and report findings from a large business related data set to aid the managerial decision making process.
Relates to objectives:
1-3, and KS (1.1, 1.2), CTA(2.1), PC(3.1)
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 7
Assessment name:
Forensic Investigation Project
Description:
This project involves submission of a forensic investigation report which demonstrates the ability to interrogate and investigate a large data set using SAS Enterprise Guide, to identify fraudulent activity.
Relates to objectives:
1-3, and KS(1.1, 1.2), CTA(2.1), PC(3.1)
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 12
Assessment name:
End of Semester Examination
Description:
The exam will focus on the theoretical and practical content of the unit and will be an open book examination.
Relates to objectives:
1-3, and KS(1.1, 1.2), CTA(2.1), PC(3.1)
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Central Exam Period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Recommended Texts and References:
Slaughter, S. J. and Delwiche, L. D. (2008). The Little SAS Book - A Primer. SAS Institute Inc: Cary NC.
Slaughter, S. J. and Delwiche, L. D. (2010). Little SAS Book for Enterprise Guide 4.2. SAS Institute Inc: Cary NC.
Recommended Reading:
Collins, H (2001) Corporate Portals American Management Association New York
Dhar, V. and Stein, R (1997) Seven Methods for Transforming Corporate Data into Business Intelligence Prentice Hall New Jersey
Kimball, R & Ross, M.(2002) The Data Warehouse Toolkit 2nd Edition John Wiley & Sons New York
Laiutaud, B & Hammond, M (2001) E-Business Intelligence McGraw Hill USA
Marakas, G.(2002) Decision Support Systems 2nd Edition Pearson Education Australia
Turban, E. & Aronson, J.E. (2001) Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems 6th Edition Prentice Hall New Jersey
SAS Institute (1999) SQL Query Window User's Guide - Version 8 SAS Publishing North Carolina
Risk assessment statement
There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with this unit.You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the >Emergency video.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 16-Jul-2012
