Course Title: Business Intelligence

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Business Intelligence

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
INTE1040	City Campus	Postgraduate	620H Business IT and Logistics	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Barry McIntyre

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5819

Course Coordinator Email:barry.mcintyre@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Room 108.17.23

Course Coordinator Availability: I prefer to arrange appointments at lectures or by email.

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

The course deals with the effective management of information to achieve preferred outcomes in business. While this course investigates software applications typically used in business intelligence and competitive analysis, it is not a technically oriented subject. Business Intelligence therefore is a management focussed course. Students drawn from a range of masters degrees offered by RMIT have completed this course successfully.

Course Description

Without information about the environment in which it is operating, an organization cannot survive. This intelligence plays a vital role in shaping corporate strategy. The course therefore course examines, within the larger context of the corporate knowledge resource, a range of issues associated with the gathering, analysis and distribution of corporate intelligence. Through seminars, guided reading, related exercises and a series of linked assessment tasks, you will develop analytical and practical skills essential for working in this increasingly important area of corporate operations.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the completion of this course you should be able to:

• Identify the core literature on the acquisition of strategic enterprise intelligence from a range of electronic resources;
• Apply the key issues in evaluating and selecting electronic intelligence resources appropriate to business environments;
• Identify the foundation concepts relating to the use of electronic strategic intelligence sources in enhancing enterprise positioning in a global marketplace and apply these to produce a report that outlines how corporate intelligence should be managed;
• Analyze and discuss the current trends affecting the way external data are filtered and channeled within an enterprise with a view to recommending how such resources can be harnessed for the benefit of organizations;
• Produce an evaluative profile of a corporation that objectively reports on the company’s operations, its business fundamentals and future prospects, and
• Make an effective oral presentation that offers a critical evaluation of a facet of contemporary business intelligence.

At the completion of the course you should be able to:

• Determine strategic intelligence needs within a corporate environment;
• Think and act confidently from a knowledge management perspective when designing and implementing strategic intelligence programs;
• Produce a strategic intelligence briefing on a specified enterprise in a presentation format;
• Produce a detailed profile of corporate intelligence needs;
• Develop an industry specific resource kit of strategic intelligence resources; and
• Apply an evidence-based approach to decision-making and evaluation associated with business intelligence-related activities.

Overview of Learning Activities

The course comprises a mix of lectures, seminars, online tutorial exercises and case studies. You will be constantly challenged to relate your understanding of relevant theory to  your developing professional practice.

Much of the learning will be based on set readings and linked seminar discussions, so your active preparation and participation is essential. As you fulfill these aims you should work to relate them to what is covered in the other courses in your degree.

Feedback on your experience of the course is welcomed. You will be able to suggest changes to its balance and focus. There will be opportunities for students to offer written feedback at the end of the semester.

Overview of Learning Resources

Many of the electronic resources you will work with during the semester are accessible via the World Wide Web. You will need access the online journal collections available in the RMIT library. You will use that library’s extensive collection of online business information sources. You will also be able to find many of these business information resources at the State Library of Victoria. Please contact the course co-ordinator if you have difficulties locating any of the resources introduced through the course.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment is cumulative. You must obtain at least 50% of the total marks to pass this course.
The assessment tasks involve:

1. Participation in a seminar series, including a presentation on a nominated topic dealing with business intelligence.
2. Creation of a business report on the design of a business intelligence system.
3. An evaluative profile of a nominated industry or company.
4. Keeping a reflective learning journal that monitors progress in enhancing competencies associated with the effective management of business intelligence.

No group assignments operate in this offering of the course.