Man in the Arena

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man
stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to
the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and
blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because
there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at
the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst,
if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with
those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

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CLASS: MIS 301——Statistical Analysis for Business, Spring 2020
MEETINGS: TTH 1600 – 1715, GMCS 324
INSTRUCTOR: Kelly Shaul, JD, MSBA
OFFICE: SSE 2428
EMAIL: kshaul@sdsu.edu
HOURS: TTH 1100 – 1330
TEXT: Introductory Business Statistics, 2017 by Holms A, Illowsky
B, Dean S
This textbook is an Open Source/Creative Common Text
• Online Text @ Openstax.org: Introductory Biz Stats
• PDF @ cloudfront.net: Introductory Biz Stats
• Print Copy @ Amazon.com: Introductory Biz Stats
CALCULATOR: HP 17B II+

COURSE PURPOSE: Data, variation, and chance are not only inevitable in
markets and industry, but they are prevalent. Consequently, companies
require statistically literate executives. The purpose of this course
is to help students understand data, variation, and chance, so they
might be successful leaders in the business world.

BSBA Program Goals: BSBA students will graduate being:

• Effective Communicators
• Critical Thinkers
• Able to Analyze Ethical Problems
• Global in their perspective
• Knowledgeable about the essentials of business

MIS 301 contributes to these goals through its student learning

outcomes. At the end of this course students should be able to:

• Use data from a sample to make inferences about a population.

• Apply probability theory in decision making situations.
• Formulate hypotheses for decision making and research.
• Analyze data using appropriate statistical techniques.
• Interpret the results of statistical analysis.
• Present statistical results using graphics, text, and the
spoken word.
• Use data analytic software to create visualizations and
summary reports of data.

SCOPE & LIMITS: Through the use of real business examples, textbook
problems, and computer projects this course will assist students in:

• Recognizing business areas where statistics have an impact

• Evaluating variation in data-loaded business events
• Understanding various statistical tools and testing methods
• Testing and analyzing of data using computer software
• Understanding and using statistical terminology
• Bridging statistics to other business courses and practices
• Appreciating business improvement through statistical methods

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COURSE METHODOLOGY: Assigned instructional time will be comprised of
lectures, problem sets, and testing. Lectures will track designated
text readings either directly or indirectly through the use of
business examples taken from recent events. Questions and comments are
welcomed and encouraged.

ASSIGNMENTS: Prior to each exam students will be assigned a Stat Pack.

Said assignments are computer based and are intended supplement and
broaden one’s understanding of the statistical concepts covered in
class. Each is self-contained, that is, it will include the facts,
data, and step-by-step instructions to complete the assignment.

TESTS: Tests are multiple choice, with four answer stems (A-B-C-D).
You will have about 80 seconds per question. Tests are NOT cumulative;
however, some fundamental concepts carry over into latter material.

I expect you to take your exams when scheduled. If you have a valid
reason for needing to reschedule an exam speak with me in person at
the earliest possible time you learn of the conflict and I will try to
accommodate you. There are no make-up exams.

You must take the Final (Test 3) during your assigned time, unless you
have a compelling unforeseeable emergency. So check the Final Schedule
before making any plans. The Final date and time is posted on the SDSU
website: www.sdsu.edu, Current Students, scroll down, and under
Academics, click on “Calendar, academic” and then click on the Final
Exam Schedule icon.

GRADING: Students will receive a final letter grade based upon the
University’s grading scale: A, A-, B+, B, B-, etc. (C = 72%+)
There will be a total of 6 graded events.

No. Graded Event Percent of Total Grade

1 Excel Stat Pack 1 5%
2 Test 1 20%
3 Excel Stat Pack 2 5%
4 Test 2 25%
5 Excel Stat Pack 3 10%
6 Test 3 (Final) 35%
7 Total 100%

Test 3 is the Final and will be given during the two-hour University-
assigned period. The Final date and time can be found at www.sdsu.edu,
Current Students, scroll down, and under Academics, click on “Calendar,
academic” and then click on the Final Exam Schedule icon.

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POLICY ISSUES:

Presence: I expect you to be present.

Class Preparation: Readings, formulas, and worksheets will be posted

on Blackboard each week. Read assigned material prior to class.

Class Participation: I expect you to participate: raise questions,

provide answers, add insight and/or humor.

Cell Phones: Apart from exigent circumstances, that you have spoken to
me about before class, your hands, laps, and desktop are to be free and
clear of any cell phone.

Insurance Points: Insurance Points may be added to a student’s grade at

any point during the semester.

Textbook: The textbook is an open source/creative common text. There

is no cost to the student for the pdf or online version. The online
version (not the pdf) has interactive question and answers. A hard
copy can be purchased from Amazon.com.

Blackboard: Among other items, the syllabus,
readings and material, the Excel Stat Packs,
2, and scores for the three Excel Stat Packs
on Blackboard. Your final class letter grade
Web Portal.
links to the text, weekly
scores for Test 1, Test
are and/or will be posted
will be posted on SDSU’s

Academic Dishonesty: Executive Order 969, issued by the Office of the

Chancellor, compels me to report any incident of academic dishonesty.
While academic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism as would be
expected, it is much broader and includes “other forms of academic
dishonesty intended to gain unfair academic advantage.”

If you are caught violating the Academic Dishonesty Policy you open
yourself to receiving an F and being recommended for expulsion from
the Fowler College of Business.

Student Ability Success Center (SACS): SACS is dedicated to empowering

students with disabilities by ensuring they have access to appropriate
support and services that minimize academic and physical barriers.
They are located in Calpulli Center, Suite 3101 (Main Office).

Website: http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/sds/Default.aspx
Email (main office): sascinfo@sdsu.edu
Test Accommodation Center: tac.sasc@sdsu.edu

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Schedule: The semester is a process ruled by the calendar, class time,
work documents, and exams that are executed and filed with the instructor
in specific formats and within slated, mandated periods of time. It is
in your best interest to be thorough, professional, and unrelenting in
this process.

Sp 2020
WEEK MONTH TUESDAY ACTIVITY THRURSDAY ACTIVITY
1 Jan XXXXX No Class Procedure Syllabus
2 Jan Intro Intro, Survey, Calc Setup Chap 1 Sampling & Data
3 Feb Chap 2 Measures of Location Chap 2 Measures of Variation
4 Feb Chap 4 Discrete Distributions Chap 6 Normal Distribution
5 Feb Excel ESP 1: Complete,Turn In Review Bring Questions
6 Feb Test Day Test 1 Chap 7 Central Limit Theorem
7 Mar Chap 8 Confidence Intervals Chap 9 Systematic HT
8 Mar Chap 9 1 Sample Tests Chap 10 2 Sample Tests
9 Mar Chap 10 Paired Difference Tests Excel ESP 2: Complete, Turn In
10 Mar Review Bring Questions Test Day Test 2
11 Mar/Apr Spring Break Spring Break
12 Apr Chap 12 1 Way Anova Chap 12 1 Way Anova
13 Apr Chap 13 Correlation Chap 13 Regression
14 Apr Chap 13 Correlation/Regression Chap 13 Multiple Regression
15 Apr Chap 11 Chi Square Excel ESP 3: Complete, Turn In
16 May Chap 14 Stats Action Review Bring Questions
17 May FINALS Finals Week FINALS Finals Week

Philosophy of Teaching and Learning: Teaching does not stand apart

from learning. Neither is a distinct activity. We must be willing to
ask questions and volunteer answers. We must be willing to have our
thinking challenged and re-challenged. Such a process requires us to
be responsible to ourselves and for each other. Thus engaged, we can
become creative and critical thinkers, and fair and just human beings.

Therein rests the quintessence of teaching/learning: unlocking within

ourselves the force and means in which to enrich our lives and in turn
the lives of others. So from within the four walls of this classroom I
hope you will grasp not only the content of this course, but also the
unique opportunity you are creating.

A FINAL NOTE: Instructor retains all rights to modify any or all

portions of the syllabus without notice.