Section 4: Business Analytics Center Location and Projects

4.1 Business Analytics Center Location

Write a 1-2 paragraph description (100-400 words) describing how a Business Analytics center for this company should be structured and where it should be located within the organization. This should include whether the BA center should be centralized as a formal organizational unit, or decentralized as a virtual organizational unit (see Exhibit 7.4 in the textbook). Also describe where the BA center should report in the company’s organizational structure (e.g., directly to top management; to the IT department; or to some other department such as marketing, finance, etc.). Explain your choices in terms of the organization’s strategy, maturity, and the expected role of the BA center in the organization.

4.2 Business Analytics Projects

4.2.1 Project #1

4.2.1.1 Analytical Question: State the analytical question to be answered.

4.2.1.2 Information Source(s): Suggest one or more information sources (such as internal accounting reports, customer surveys, market research, etc.) that could be used in the analysis.

4.2.1.3 Analytical Method: Identify the general analytical method that could be used for the project (see Exhibit 4.2 in the textbook).

4.2.1.4 Benefits: Describe the potential benefits to the organization of completing the project.

4.2.1.5 Strategic Value: Explain how the project relates to the organization’s strategy, objectives, critical success factors, and KPIs identified in previous sections.

4.2.2 Project #2

4.2.2.1 Analytical Question: State the analytical question to be answered.

4.2.2.2 Information Source(s): Suggest one or more information sources (such as internal accounting reports, customer surveys, market research, etc.) that could be used in the analysis.

4.2.2.3 Analytical Method: Identify the general analytical method that could be used for the project (see Exhibit 4.2 in the textbook).