Kuwait University

College of Business Administration

Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

Course Syllabus – Spring 2024

ISOM 442: Business Data Visualization (3 Credits)
Section# Days Time Floor Part Room# Faculty Name
01A 24 3:30 – 4:45pm 03 C3 1003 Ali Dashti
Lab 3 12:00 – 1:50PM 2 MIS Labs Nouf Al Oraifan

Tutorial: Self-learning using the online Training of Kuwait University (Web:

https://onlinetrain.ku.edu.kw). Student will study by themselves courses related to business data
visualization using Tableau, then perform lab quizzes worth 10% (total)
Any questions or comments contact [email protected]
You MUST purchase the access code from AFAAQ or Pearson
Midterm Exam March 21th, 2024
Final Exam May 19th, 2024 11:00 AM – 1:00 pm
Coordinator Information:
Moodle and MS Teams: 442-BUSINESS DATA VISUALIZATION-A. DASHTI-Days:24-Time:15:30-
SPRING 2023/2024
Email: [email protected]
Office: A2-1023
Office Hours: Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 5:00PM – 5:50PM (messages received
after 5PM will be addressed the next business day)

Course Description

This course will provide students with hands-on experience on using contemporary tools in data
analysis and visualization. It is designed to walk students through the process of knowing the
relevant requirements, collecting and cleaning the data, exploring and visualizing, and finally,
analyzing and inference. This course will also introduce students to social network analysis
(SNA) in various social media platforms. Students will learn the fundamental concepts of SNA
and the use of SNA and other contemporary tools to manipulate, analyze, and visualize network
data to create business insights

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

Course Learning Objectives (CLOs):

The learning outcomes for this course, listed below, relate to the learning goals of the College of
Business Administration Undergraduate Program. Upon successful completion of the course, students
will be able to:

CLO1. Understand business data visualization, the innovative role it plays in nowadays organizations,
and how and why it is used today for competitive advantage.
CLO2. Understand how various types visualization provide business intelligence, support decision
making, and enable competitive advantage. Students gain hands-on experience with Tableau on real
life cases.
CLO3. Evaluate the ethical concerns that visualization raises in business environment and the impact of
on privacy and security.
CLO4. Apply IT tools (e.g., Tableau) to evaluating IS related business strategies and identifying
problems and opportunities amenable to innovative IS solutions.

CLO Mapping to CBA Skill Based Competency Goals

Competency Goal
Communication

Business Ethics
Information
Technology

Knowledge
Analytical

Business
General

CL
O
1 I
2 A
3 R
4 I I

Type of Emphases:
- (I)ntroduce: Students will be introduced to the skill and their grasp of it assessed in the course.
- (A)pply: The course will not cover the skill. Students should have a high-level grasp of the skill and are
required to apply it in the course.
- (R)einforce: Students should have an introductory-level grasp of the skill and the course will improve their
mastery to a higher level.

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

Course Content Delivery Strategy

 Moodle (With Safe Exam Browser) for homework, video exercises, quizzes, Midterm and Final
exams.
 Use of Power Point
 Hand notes
 Use of websites
 Use of commercial tools: MS Excel, Tableau
 Assignments and video exercises

Required Material:

Textbook Ryan, L. (2018). Visual Data Storytelling with Tableau. Pearson Technology Group.
https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780134702278.

Tools to be E-plagiarism system (Turnitin: www.turnitin.com); Cloud system (OneDrive of

used Microsoft)

Prerequisites ISOM 340

Moodle Used

Pay attention to the name of MOODLE website

More details are found on MOODLE website.

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

Course Outline

Topic
Ch1 Storytelling in the digital era
Ch2 The power of visual data stories
Ch3 Getting started with tableau
Ch4 Importance of context in storytelling
Ch5 Choosing the right visual
Ch6 Curating visuals for your audience
Ch7 Preparing data for storytelling
Ch8 Storyboarding frame by frame
Ch9 Advanced storytelling charts
Ch10 Closing thoughts

Course Policies

You are responsible for knowing the following policies (“I didn’t know” is NOT an excuse):

 Attendance and Participation:

o Each student should turn silent his/her mobile at the beginning of class
o Every student in this course must abide by the Kuwait University Policies (including ERT
additions) on Attendance (published in the Student Guide, Chapter 3, Section 13). A copy
of the student guide can be accessed online on:
http://kuweb.ku.edu.kw/ku/Students/References/index.htm
http://kuweb.ku.edu.kw/cs/groups/ku/documents/ku_content/kuw055940.pdf

o Be on time for the lecture (remember, class starts on time, NOT 5 minutes later). At the
beginning of each lecture, I will take attendance, anyone coming after that time will be
considered as absent.
o Students must attend the classes they are enrolled in (i.e., no informal switching
between sections for the same faculty member or between different faculty members).
The same is applied to taking quizzes, midterm, and final exams

 Absenteeism:

o University regulations governing absenteeism are applied to all students. This involves a
first warning after 3 hours (not lectures), a second warning after additional 3 hours
absence and a failure notice for any absence beyond the six hours. Absence with a valid

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

excuse will still count as an absence. But each student is allowed two absences (no
questions asked), after that, each absence will be counted.

 Exams and Quizzes (ONLINE on YOUR LAPTOP- NOT handheld devices)

o Make-up quizzes and exams: No make up for quizzes. Midterm and final exams will be
executed according to plans. In case Moodle fails for uncontrolled reasons, the exam
will be re-scheduled the next Saturday (after the initial plan date) and at the same
timing. If you have Covid (during Midterm/ Final Exam time), then submit
documentation of PCR/ Civil ID to the Committee to decide on your case. For the
Midterm, if your documentation is approved, you will be invited to complete a
makeup (at a time set by the committee). For the Final, if your documentation is
approved, an “I” (Incomplete) will appear in the KU portal and you will be invited to
complete the makeup the first week of the following academic term. You must inform
your instructor and share the results of a PCR test at least 4-5 days before and exam to
be eligible for a make-up.
o Moodle will be used with Safe Exam Browser. Make sure you access Moodle using
Google Chrome. Safe Exam Browser must be installed on laptop or desktop. Be sure to
install Safe Exam Browser BEFORE the exam date by taking the compatibility test in
Moodle (for technical help, please see your TA). You are responsible for having a
working computer (Systems Updates and Safe Exam Browser Updates) Fully Charged
and with working Internet BEFORE THE EXAM.
o Exams will NOT be administered using handheld devices like iPhone or iPad (even if it
has worked in past exams). You need a laptop for the ENTIRE EXAM.
o Any academic dishonesty during the course or suspicious behavior during the exam will
have consequences. A student can earn a ZERO in the assessment, an “F” in the course,
and can be reported to Associate Dean of Student Affairs to take even more severe
actions.
o Every student in this course must abide by the Kuwait University Policy on Cheating and
Plagiarism (published in the Student Guide, Chapter 3, Section 2; p. 22). A copy of the
student guide can be accessed online on:
http://kuweb.ku.edu.kw/cs/groups/ku/documents/ku_content/kuw055940.pdf
o If you have special needs (e.g., any type of disability, pregnancy, diabetes, etc.), please
make sure you inform the instructor (within the FIRST WEEK of class). You can also check
with Associate Dean for Student Affairs office for other rights and duties.
o The instructor will NOT answer any questions during the exam including clarification
questions. Furthermore, dictionary use is prohibited during exams.
o If you have any doubt related to a question(s) on quizzes or exams you need to flag the
question(s) and insert a comment with your full name, section, and the reason for flagging
the question(s). Failure in doing so will result in not reviewing flagged question(s).

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

 Grading:

o There are NO collaborations in quizzes and exams - this will be considered cheating.
Plagiarism will also be considered as cheating.
o Late submission will NOT BE ACCEPTED
o You are responsible to MS Access/Excel certificates to Moodle, and before you click
submit, download the same certificate on a different machine to view it. Instructors
cannot be responsible for unsubmitted or corrupt files (students will receive a zero), and
will not extend deadlines because of this issue.
o Writing Style: Students must refer to APA writing style for their assignments and report
writing. Refer to the English Language Center for help (For more details see
http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/apa-format).
o After a grade is posted (quizzes, assignment, video exercises, midterm, … etc), you will
have 1 week to discuss it with your instructor or teaching assistant (TA). After that, the
grade is FINAL and released.
o For the final exam, the final grades will be posted after 12 hours
o Negotiation of the final grade is neither accepted nor discussed.
o There will be NO ROUNDING UP OR DOWN once your grade is finalized (for example,
89.99% is B+ not A-).

 Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating/ submitting work prepared by someone
else/ resubmitting work from other courses/ plagiarism and the like will earn you an “F” grade in
the course.

 Students are responsible to have working and up to date computer/ laptop and internet.
Students are responsible for making sure their work is posted to the LMS: make sure the posting
to the forum is uploaded fully, make sure files uploaded are not corrupt (download then upload
the work and make sure it is readable) etc.

 Students are responsible for the content/ instructions etc. on LMS as well as emails. For
example, your instructor will not remind you of due dates.

 Students are responsible for content of any social media groups setup. These are NOT
monitored by your instructor.

 Recording (audio/ video) as well as still photography are strictly prohibited (in accordance with
KU policies).

 Students should contact instructor by email (NOT MS Teams) within working hours and days.
Students cannot contact instructors or TAs out of normal hours (e.g., 2am on Friday) to get help

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

if they have a question or technical issue and will not get an extension for deadlines to solve
technical problems.

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

Grade distribution

Range Grade
>= 95% A
90%-94.99% A-
87%-89.99% B+
83%-86.99% B
80%-82.99% B-
77%-79.99% C+
73%-76.99% C
70%-72.99% C-
65%-69.99% D+
60%-64.99% D
<= 59.99 F

Grade Distribution
Category % Notes
Final Exam 40% May 19th, 2024, between 11AM and 1PM. 2 Hrs exam.
Moodle announcement will state sections included and number/ types of questions. All questions
are developed and reviewed by course committee (AUTHOR TESTBANK NOT USED FOR THIS
EXAM).
Midterm 20% March 21 , 2024, During class time
Exam Moodle announcement will state sections included and number/ types of questions. All questions
are developed and reviewed by course committee (AUTHOR TESTBANK NOT USED FOR THIS
EXAM).
video 10% You will watch videos related to data visualization using tableau by visiting
exercises https://onlinetrain.ku.edu.kw. The instructor will specify the videos needed on Moodle. Once
completed, students are asked to upload the certificates (PDF files) in Moodle.
Homework 10% Submitted through Moodle using Tableau

Quizzes 10% Pop quizzes throughout the semester

Kahoot 5% Lecture participation grade

Lab 5% Exercises and participation in labs administered by the TA.

Total 100% The Course Curve is set for 3% ONLY

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 Kuwait University
College of Business Administration
Information Systems & Operation Management
(ISOM)

Important Dates
Item Due Date
Midterm 21/3/2024
Last day of class 14/5/2024
Final Exam 19/5/2024
Note: your instructor will NOT remind you of the above dates.

FINALLY

In general, your ideas, comments, suggestions, questions, grade challenges, etc. are
welcome and encouraged, if you feel the need to share your thought. However, No part
of your grade will be based on anything other than your coursework and attendance.
 If a student decides to bring a parent/uncles/aunts (relatives) or anyone to discuss or change
a grade, that student will automatically lose 10% of their total grade. Keep in mind your
grades are private and I have no right to disclose any information to another person. If a
student decides to resort to nepotism, also known as Wasta, to request alteration of a grade
the student will automatically lose 10% of their total grade.
 “I am a senior and I need an A in the class to graduate because my GPA is low” or “I need a B+
because I am on probation” this is your own doing you will get a B+ or an A only if you (EARN
IT), the professor will not entertain such excuses. “Please reduce my grade to a C- so I can
repeat the course” is also not entertained.
 I promise to give you RESPECT / FAIRNESS / and QUALITY in return I expect the same
courtesy from you towards me and your fellow class mates.
 The final Curve for this class is 3% ONLY. It will not change (i.e., up or down) at the end
of the semester and is established from the beginning of the course so students know
their final grades the minute they submit the final exam.

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