Innovation in Teaching Business: Data Analysis and Decision Making using Statistical Methods in BUS 209 “Quantitative Analysis of Business” at Marian University

Business majors are better prepared for the real world if they are able to interact with a real-life business or organization as part of the learning experience. Marian University has created BUS 209 “Quantitative Analysis of Business,” a nine credit hour course that consists of three integrated “content modules” Management, Marketing, and Statistics. Each section is taught by a different instructor. Every semester the students act as consultants for an actual business or organization (past clients have included Salesforce, The National Junior Tennis League, and the Community Hospital Network). There are ample opportunities for the sections to interact with each other. The three instructors communicate and perform as a team. During the semester, students meet with the client, become familiar with the business, perform a SWOT analysis, design and administer a formal survey, perform an analysis of the data collected, then make recommendations in an end-of-semester presentation. In the Statistics module, Microsoft Excel and SPSS are heavily used. Descriptive Statistics and Histograms, T-Tests, Anova, Correlation Matrices, and Linear Regression are all used to analyze the data. Tables and graphs are designed to summarize data and included in the final PowerPoint presentations made to executives and decision-makers within the organization. Examples taken from past BUS 209 case studies will be used to demonstrate the techniques involved. Appropriate charts and graphs are included to illustrate the statistical methods used. Definitions, interpretations, and conclusions are presented and explained. Author: Andrew M. Smith Institution: Marian University Email: [email protected]