Could you share the key motivations behind revamping the business analytics courses? I wanted to revamp the courses to a more hands-on format where students had the opportunity to use real-world datasets throughout each course. I also wanted to redevelop the courses with textbook affordability in mind. I replaced the textbooks with a variety of materials freely available through Hunt Library, including e-books and articles. That helps the students save a little money for each course. We also have a partnership with SAS, a leader in analytics software, and I was able to leverage some of their free educational materials for students. How did you make the courses more engaging for students? I created how-to videos where I use screenshare to walk students through using the software. I like to provide tips and tricks along the way that I’ve learned myself over the years. I also created interactive data analysis exercises using a platform called H5P, which presents problems to students in an interactive and engaging way. Those exercises are fun for students. They’re kind of like solving a puzzle, and students get to practice their problem-solving skills. I’ve also incorporated a few guest speakers with interesting industry perspectives. Could you share some insight into the impact of these revamped courses on the career prospects and success of your students? The courses that I teach are part of a Business Intelligence and Analytics certificate for graduate students. Students from several different master’s degree programs complete these courses. So, the students are diverse in their interests and goals. However, something common across the students is that they see the value in improving their data analysis skills. Many students tell me ways that they have used their new skills in their jobs. I’ve had students take on new responsibilities at their current job, be selected for promotions and even change career paths. It’s exciting to see their success! What are the most important skills and qualities that students should develop through these courses to excel in the field of business analytics? It’s important for students to learn how to identify issues in their data, like missing values and outliers. They need to learn how to best visualize data and how to use statistical and machine learning models. It’s also important for students to work on their soft skills. Written and verbal communication are particularly important, and I emphasize the importance of storytelling with data. Curiosity and attention to detail are other good traits that I like to encourage. If you find an odd trend in the data, don’t just stop there. Go check it out further and figure out why you’re seeing it. How do you see the future of business analytics education evolving? Business analytics education will need to evolve as analytics software evolves. Many platforms have incorporated (or plan to incorporate) more automated analytics with assistance from artificial intelligence. It’s important for students to learn how to take advantage of these new features.
Dr. Stacey Mumbower is an assistant professor of management and technology. She received a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in Statistics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Embry-Riddle, Dr. Mumbower was a faculty member at the University of South Carolina. She has also worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Mumbower’s research focuses on air travel operations and service, as well as airline revenue management.
8 | Worldwide College of Business
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