University of Southern California
Marshall School of Business
BUAD 310: Applied Business Statistics
Instructor: Subhashish Chakravarty, Ph.D.
Office: 400E BRI
Email: subhashc@marshall.usc.edu
Tel: 213-740-9368.
Office hours: Tuesday 10-12 noon (or by appointment)
Course Objectives.
You will learn how to summarize, analyze and interpret real-world data, aiding you to make business
decisions. You will learn to apply your knowledge to critically examine the use of Statistics by others. You
will encounter examples where Statistics has an impact on your daily life and career.
The class is designed in such a way that you can approach this course without the anxiety often associated
with Statistics. No mathematical background beyond high school algebra is required for an understanding of
the material. The requisite mathematical knowledge beyond high school Algebra will be developed in class.
Course Website.
There is a Blackboard site for the course under the BUAD 310 heading. I will use this site as the main
correspondence and information area for the course. The site will provide schedule updates/changes, class
slides and handouts, homework assignments, practice problems for exams, additions to reading
requirements, etc. It is your responsibility to check the blackboard site and your email daily to ensure class
preparation.
Required Course Materials.
The textbook is available at the bookstore.
Stine & Foster, 2011, Statistics for Business: Decision Making and Analysis, Pearson Publishing.
For tests and HWs you will require a calculator.
Software.
To effectively learn and use Statistics, I will use the statistical software MINITAB. Instructions on its use
will be provided. You can use MS Excel or similar statistical software if you want for the HWs, but for the
case study, use of MINITAB is mandatory. You will be tested on interpreting MINITAB output.
If you are connected to the USC network, you can remotely access the program by logging on to mymarshall.usc.edu and selecting
the Marshall Virtual Lab option under the Services tab. MINITAB is available on machines in the computer labs.
Grades, Assignments, and Course Structure.
1. Grading.



Your final grade will be assessed as follows:
Homework Assignments
Case Analysis
Two Midterms (2 x 20%)
15%
10%
40%
BUAD 310


Final examination
Class Participation
30%
5%
2. Class Attendance & Participation.
Class participation is worth 5% of your grade. This grade is based on your performance in SURPRISE
QUIZES (6 in total, lowest grade to be dropped), class exercises and attendance. I strongly suggest that you
attend all classes. They will give you a sense of what I feel is important in the class, as well as give you an
opportunity to question ideas that are confusing. I encourage, as well as expect, questions during the
lectures. Besides the homework and test grades, this is really my only source of information about how
comfortable you are with the pace of the course. You need to give me feedback or I will assume that
everyone is comfortable with the material and will keep moving forward. I have no problem going over a
concept multiple times. If you feel uneasy bringing up your questions in class, there are plenty of
opportunities to speak with me one-on-one. I am always accessible by e-mail, and will be more than happy
to speak with you before or after class or during office hours. Note: if your question requires more than a
short answer (e.g. you are asking me how to solve a homework problem), email is not the best way to go –
please talk to me during office hours, and I will be happy to answer your question. If for some reason you
are unable to attend class on a particular day, DO NOT SEND ME AN EMAIL TO ASK WHAT
WAS COVERED IN CLASS. It is solely your responsibility to catch up with the material you missed.
In the classroom, all discussions should be directed towards the whole class. Cell phones and pagers
NEED TO BE POWERED OFF FOR THE DURATION OF THE CLASS.
3. Homework.
Homework problems based on the material in the lectures will be assigned approximately every two weeks.
You should indicate clearly how you obtained your solution and make sure that you have given a valid
explanation. Computer printouts without commentary are not adequate for full credit. Working with other
students on homework problems is allowed, but direct copying is not allowed. You are required to prepare
and submit your own homework answers. The solutions to the homework problems will be available
through Blackboard. Make sure you check your solutions. Homework assignments also provide a good set
of practice problems for the tests. Each assignment is due by the beginning of class on the date indicated.
The due dates are listed in the Course Schedule and the assignments will be posted on Blackboard. Late
assignments will not be accepted.
4. Case Analysis.
You will analyze one case during the semester. The case assignment will consist of statistical analyses and a
short summary. The questions will be constructed in order to lead you through some of the topics covered
in class and the summary should consist of a write-up that translates the quantitative findings into a realworld analysis. This will be a group project; you can work in groups of size no greater than 5. Each group
should submit one copy of the report with the names of the participants clearly on the front cover. The
groups will not be assigned, so you are free to form them on your own.
5. Midterms and Final Exam.
All tests and the final will have only multiple choice questions. I will provide the scantron and you will have
to get HB2 pencils to mark on them. You will also need to bring your own calculators to the tests and final.
The calculator cannot be your cell phone, nor can you share calculators during the exams. The two
tests will be given at the beginning of class on the dates announced in the course schedule and you can use
as much of the class time as you wish to take the test. You may bring two handwritten sheet (8.5X11, both
sides) containing definitions and formulae to each test, and you will be allowed four sheets (both sides)
for the final exam. No make-ups of tests will be given. You will receive a grade of zero for each missed test
unless you have a written excuse from your doctor or the University. The final examination will be on
Wednesday, December 14th from 4:30 – 6:30PM. Note that it is an exception final. It does not take place at
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BUAD 310
the regularly listed time. The final exam is comprehensive (this is inevitable in a Statistics course) but greater
emphasis will be given to the material taught later in the semester. You cannot be exempted from this
final under any circumstances. The final exam will not be given at any other time. According to the USC
Office of Academic Records and Registrar, “No student in a course with a final examination is permitted to omit the
final examination or take the final examination prior to its scheduled date, and no instructor is authorized to permit a student
to do so. No student is allowed to re-take a final examination or do extra work in a course after the semester has ended for
purposes of improving his or her grade.” Discussion of homework problems is permitted and encouraged;
however, each student is required to prepare and submit his or her solutions, including computer work,
independently. Duplication of homework solutions and computer output prepared in whole or in part by
someone else is not acceptable and is considered plagiarism. Collaboration of any sort on tests and exams is
prohibited and will result in a 0 on that exam. I reserve the right to bring any potential cheating issues to the
administration for further penalties. I welcome comments about the course, either in person or by e-mail.
Your feedback is important!
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BUAD 310
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE – BUAD 310
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Date
8/22
8/24
8/29
8/31
9/05
9/07
9/12
9/14
9/19
9/21
9/26
9/28
10/03
10/05
10/10
10/12
10/17
10/19
10/24
10/26
10/31
11/02
11/07
11/09
11/14
11/16
11/21
11/23
11/28
11/30
Topic
Introduction/Blackboard/Minitab
Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive Statistics
Probability
Holiday I
Probability
Random Variables
Normal Distribution
Normal Distribution
Sampling Distributions
Confidence Intervals
Midterm I
Confidence Intervals /Sample Size
Determination
Hypothesis Testing
Hypothesis Testing
Chi Square
Chi Square
Covariance & Correlation
Simple Linear Regression I
Simple Linear Regression II
Simple Linear Regression III
Simple Linear Regression IV
Simple Linear Regression V/Review
Midterm II
Multiple Regression I
Multiple Regression II
Multiple Regression III
Holiday II
Multiple Regression IV/V
Review for Final
12/14 FINAL EXAM
Chapter
[Stine & Foster]
2, 3
4
7
8
9, 10
12
12
13, 14
15
Due
HW1
HW2
15
16
18
5, Appendix B
5, Appendix B
6
19,21
21
22
20
20
23
23
24
25
25
HW3
HW4
HW5
Case
4:306:30pm
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