Assignment

Background

This is an individual assignment, which requires you to analyse a given data set, assemble an interactive dashboard using the Tableau software, and then convey your results as a website through WordPress platform.

Assurance of Learning

This assignment assesses following Graduate Learning Outcomes and related Unit Learning Outcomes:

Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO)

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities - appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession.

GLO2: Communication - using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change.

GLO3: Digital literacy - using technologies to find, use and disseminate information.

Scenario

You will continue with your role as a master of business analytics student doing an internship at Beautiful Data Inc. In addition to predictive data analytics, the company is specialised in developing insightful and dynamic dashboards for their clients.

Todd has requested you to come up with an interactive business dashboard for one of their clients, i.e. Furphy. In his memo sent to the analytics team via SLACK (see next page), Todd has provided some guidelines on how to tackle the task. In particular, you are expected to explore the Stores dataset and develop an interactive dashboard using Tableau Desktop software. Then, you should convey your results as an e-portfolio comprised of a process component and a solution component via WordPress platform.

The Excel file contains details of 150 stores. Data description is available from Variable_Descriptions
worksheet in the Excel file.

Assignment Deliverables via WordPress

The assignment consists of two main sections (web pages): Process and Solution (accessible via Furphy Project menu in the WordPress template). You are required to complete both parts. This assignment is equivalent to 2,500 words.

A) Process Component

You are required to complete this section by completing four pre-set web pages under the process menu. Content presented here should be written in ‘professional' language and must cover the following four aspects:

1) Describe the Audience for your Data Visualisation (to be written under AUDIENCE page)
Describe the audience of the Data Visualisation you intend to create. This section should include a general description of the persona, questions they want to be answered, actions/outcomes your dashboard will be supporting, and the feeling you would like to convey.

2) Identify Data Elements
(to be written under DATA ELEMENTS page)
Using what you have learnt in the lectures and tutorials, first please describe each column in the dataset (note: you should describe all columns regardless of whether you will ultimately use them in your visualisation or not). Then classify the data (example, Categorical, Numerical: Discrete, Continuous / Scales of measurements: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio / Time/Date, Location).

3) Describe at a high level what types of charts you might use to display the data. (to be written under THE RIGHT FIT page)
Based on the data types you described earlier in this section, along with the objectives of the persona you described, describe what charts and visualisations do you think might work well to communicate the information.

4) Finally, describe any data ethics considerations there with the data you intend to use. (to be written under ETHICS page)
Describe any considerations you think you should keep in mind while developing and sharing your visualisation.
Note: While adding content, images, and tables are allowed under these sections (web pages); students are strictly prohibited from moving web page locations, renaming web pages or adding new pages under the PROCESS component.

B) Solution Component

Under the SOLUTION component (WordPress web page), you are expected to have two deliverables, namely, Live Dashboard and Story Telling.

First, using the skills, you have developed in the tutorial sessions (and leveraging any additional training and online support provided by Tableau Inc.) you should develop an interactive dashboard using Tableau Desktop. Then, you should embed your interactive dashboard on the Live Dashboard web page.

Note: Instructions on how to retrieve embed code and import interactive dashboard to WordPress websites is available in the WordPress Instruction Manual.

Under the Story Telling web page, you are expected to capture and describe various screenshots of your interactive dashboard developed using Tableau Desktop.

Your descriptions, comments, or annotations of the interactive dashboard should detail how you have considered the data visualisation framework while developing the interactive dashboard.

The questions below will give you some ideas of the type of comments you should include in this section:

I. What types of charts have you selected and why?
II. How have you used colour (or not)?
III. How have you used hierarchy in your approach?
IV. What interactive components did you introduce?
V. How have you supported the motivations of the persona you defined?
VI. Comment on data sources and any data manipulation you may have performed.
Note: While adding content, images and tables are allowed under these sections (web pages); students are strictly prohibited from moving web page locations, renaming web pages or adding new pages under this PROCESS component.

C) Other components of the WordPress website

There are three web pages on the WordPress website template where you need to provide additional information. These include Welcome to Beautiful Data Inc. (Home page), About Us, and Contact pages.

In the Welcome page, you may provide some information about Beautiful Data Inc. operations as well as the visualisation project, i.e. Furphy chain, its history, and operations (be creative).

In the About Us page, you should briefly introduce yourself.

Finally, on the Contact page, students can provide their contact information (you could use fictitious contact information) including, phone number, email address, and social media pages such as LinkedIn etc.

Note: While adding content, images and tables are allowed under these sections (web pages); students are strictly prohibited from moving web page locations, and renaming web pages.