University of South Dakota - Beacom School of Business
BADM 220 U16 – Business Statistics I - Fall 2023 (3 Credits)
Instructor:
Tom Martin
Office Hours: M/W/F 9:15-9:45, 11:00-11:45
Class Website: http://d2l.sdbor.edu/
Office:
Business School 212
Office Phone: (605) 658-6555
E-mail:
tom.martin@usd.edu
Catalog Course Description - Business Statistics introduces students to basic statistical methods.
Topics, with computer applications, include: descriptive statistics, probability, distributions, sampling,
estimation and index numbers with emphasis on applications in business and economics.
Prerequisite: College Algebra (MATH114) or similar class including MATH 115 (Pre-Calculus), MATH
120 (Trigonometry), MATH 121 (Survey of Calculus—Business Calculus), MATH 123 (Calculus I), or
MATH 125 (Calculus II).
Textbook: The required text for this class is Statistics for Business and Economics (13th edition) by
David R. Anderson, Dennis J. Sweeney, Thomas A. Williams, Jeffrey D. Camm, and James J. Cochran
(SouthWestern Cengage Learning, 2016) ISBN: 9781305856790 or 1305856791. This text will also be
used for those who advance to BADM 321, Business Statistics II (so keep your book). The online access
code is not needed. However, do NOT purchase the international edition!
Important Drop Dates - The last day to drop a class with a full refund and without having the class
recorded on your academic record is Aug. 31. The last day to drop a class with a grade of “WD” is Nov. 3.
The instructor of a course may drop a student for non-attendance or non-participation provided the
student is in violation of the official attendance policy or participation policy of the course. Instructor
initiated drops are at the instructor's option, but they must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by Nov. 3
and be approved by the dean of the college or school in which the course is offered. The student is
notified by the Registrar's Office that he/she has been dropped from the course. The grade assigned is in
accord with the drop policy for student-initiated drops.
Beacom School of Business Mission Statement - Our primary mission is excellence in undergraduate
and graduate education that develops successful future business leaders. We deliver high value to our
students, employers and community through distinctive teaching and learning supported by significant
intellectual and professional contributions and meaningful service.
Instructional Methods/Activities - This course is presented in D2L. Students access the course web
site using the URL: http://d2l.sdbor.edu. If you have not used D2L before, the Online Student Handbook
is available on USD’s website at Handbook. Once you successfully log into D2L, you will see a list of
course links including one titled “BADM 220 – Business Statistics I.” Simply click on that link and the
home page for the course will appear on your screen. Students will have access to many tools to assist
in learning the material during the course including lecture slides, homework problems and answers, and
review material.
Class Format - The purpose of the problems and models are to familiarize you with statistics problem solving
techniques using Microsoft Excel. We will spend some time through the lectures dealing with problem
examples/solutions and assigned readings. It is imperative that you work through the examples and
problems as we proceed through the material as each class will build upon the knowledge and skills
developed in the prior class. Most students enroll in this class either having little experience in the use of
Microsoft Excel and/or the concepts of statistics. Some of you will have to work a little harder at the
beginning to overcome any areas of limited exposure.
BADM 220 Learning Objectives and Related Assessment:
Objective
Observe the uses for statistical tools in business and
identify data and data sources in practical settings
Identify and utilize tools for qualitative and categorical
Assessment
All Assignments and Exams
Chapter 1 Homework, Chapter 2 Homework, Exam
data
Learn basic statistical tools (descriptive statistics) for
data sets and associations between two variables
Project Identify and compute various indexes
Define and solve probabilities, both discrete and
continuous
Observe various sampling methods and calculate
expected values
Gain a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel and its
application to statistical needs in business.
1, Final Exam
Chapter 2 Homework, Exam 1, Final Exam
Chapter 20 Homework, Exam 2, Final Exam
Chapter 4 Homework, Chapter 5 Homework,
Chapter 6 Homework, Exam 2, Final Exam
Chapter 7 Homework, Final Exam
All Assignments and Exams
BADM 220 Course Assessment
Points
Exam 1
100
Exam 2
100
Exam 3 (Final)
120
Syllabus Quiz
10
Quizzes & Homework
150
Professionalism & Participation
20
Total
500
Grades will be based on no more than the percentage of points earned on the following scale:
>90% = A
80-89.9% = B 70-79.9% = C 60-69.9% = D < 60% = F
Homework policy - I will normally return homework to you within two days or sooner of when it is due. I will
also accept late homework for up to four days past the due date, but the late penalty will be as follows:
Days Late
1
2
3
4
Percentage Deduction
20%
40%
60%
80%
Professionalism and Participation - All of you are training to become business professionals. We are
modelling professional behavior in our course. Professionalism is based on your interaction with your
instructor, your classmates and the University of South Dakota personnel. Any unprofessional behavior will
result in the loss of professionalism and participation points. In unusual cases, the deductions may be greater
than the professionalism and participation point allocation.
Communicating With Your Instructor
When you send an email, I will normally respond within a few hours during the week and within 48 hours over
the weekend and holidays. If you do not receive a reply from me within this timeframe, double check the
email address. I am normally very responsive to emails/questions.
The way you format email messages is important. Your education should prepare you to succeed in your
career, and a significant part of your education should be practicing how to communicate clearly and
professionally. Write grammatically correct sentences in accordance with Standard English usage. Format
your emails as if you were addressing your supervisor in a professional environment. Email messages should
include a professional greeting (e.g., “Hello Professor Martin,” or “Hi Mr. Martin,”) and a proper closing (e.g.,
“Best regards, Chris Smith” or “Thanks, Chris Smith”). Your instructor will respond to messages that are not
professional and respectful with a recommendation to reformat your message before you receive a response
to your request (e.g., starting your message with “Hey” or “Dude” is unacceptable, as is ending it with “Later,”
or acronyms, e.g. “TTFN,”). This is a requirement because you need to practice good habits to be a
successful professional. An awareness of the difference between how you communicate with friends versus
how you communicate with superiors/professors/supervisors/etc. is an important byproduct of your education.
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a reduction of your professionalism and participation points.
Exit Exam Assessment Note: The material presented in this course is part of the common body of
knowledge for this discipline. Mastering the information presented in this course lays the foundation for your
future success as a knowledgeable, well-rounded business professional. The course is designed to
encourage you to commit this valuable information to your long-term memory. In addition to demonstrating
mastery of this information throughout the course, you will also be required to demonstrate your retention of
this critical common body of knowledge by achieving a satisfactory score on the Beacom School of
Business’s exit exam which is part of BADM 482 Business Policy and Strategy. Achieving a satisfactory
score on the exit exam is a graduation requirement. This applies to all Business majors (BBA programs).
Exams - Exams will consist of two sections. The first half is a random selection of multiple-choice questions
and the second is an Excel spreadsheet with problems similar to those we do in class. Test questions are
based on the material presented in the textbook. The final exam is comprehensive. All material assigned
and presented is eligible for testing on exams. They are closed book/closed note. The multiple-choice
section of examinations are digital and are graded as soon as you submit them. The Excel portion will
take longer to return since I must grade each one individually.
You are not permitted to use any materials other than an approved business/scientific calculator for these
examinations. In addition you may use the provided formula sheet as scratch paper as necessary to work
problems.
You must notify the instructor prior to an examination if you cannot take the exam during the scheduled
time. Make-up exams are given on a documented emergency basis only. Absent emergencies or similar
circumstances, failure to give prior notice of your absence will result in a zero for that exam.
Quizzes - Quizzes are online through D2L and will be similar to exam questions. There will be quiz
questions associated with each exam section (i.e. Quiz 1 covers Exam 1 Chapters 1-3). Quizzes will pull
random questions from a test bank, so no two will be exactly the same. They do not need to be proctored.
They will need to be completed during the assigned dates or the student will receive zero points. No
exceptions for “I didn’t realize the deadline was…” or “I forgot to take the quiz, could you open it up
again?”
Time Expectations - Some students may find it easy to procrastinate with their studies. It is expected
that each student will spend a minimum of 9-15 hours per week on this course, depending on the chapter.
The South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) defines a credit hour as constituting one hour of
classroom or direct faculty instruction, and two hours of out-of-class, student work. You need to
participate each week by attending class, reading, and doing the activities/assignments. You cannot catch
up by “cramming” all the lecture notes the day before the exam.
Course Policies
Attendance Policy – The following modification of the Beacom School of Business attendance policy will
be enforced. The policy is NOT FLEXIBLE as it is much more lenient than the “real” business world.
1. Class attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. If you arrive after I have taken
roll it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you were in class that day. Three late arrivals to
class is equivalent to an unexcused absence.
2. There will be a CLEAR distinction between excused and unexcused absences. Excused absences
include a University-sponsored activity (with at least two days’ notice), a documented illness, a family
emergency, etc. Absences are only excused if proper notice is given PRIOR to class. If you have an
emergency, email me prior to 10:00 on class days. An email after class begins counts as unexcused.
3. There is no penalty for ONE unexcused absence. The final course grade will be reduced 2% for EACH
subsequent unexcused absence.
4. Any student with more than THREE unexcused absences may be dropped from the course if no plan is
made to correct attendance issues. Students will be notified in writing before being dropped.
Disruptive Behavior – Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in my class, no more than it would be in the
business workplace. I expect professional conduct. This includes but is not limited to side
conversations/computer usage not related to a course assignment/discussion, or ANY use of cell phones
during class time that is not related to a health or public safety emergency. You will receive exactly one
warning. A second infraction will result in a recorded UNEXCUSED absence for that class period. After that
you will be required to leave the classroom.
Freedom in Learning
Under Board of Regents and Regental Institutions policy, student academic performance may be
evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic
standards. Discussion and debate are critical to education and professional development. Students
should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to
reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any
course of study for which they are enrolled. While the exploration of controversial topics may be an
important component of meeting the student learning outcomes in a course, no student will be compelled
or directed to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any divisive concepts (as defined in SDCL 13-1-67).
Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of
student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact their home institution to
initiate a review of the evaluation.
Academic Integrity
Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty and misconduct run contrary to the purposes of higher
education and will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism,
copying answers or work done by another student (either on an exam or an assignment), allowing another
student to copy from you, and using unauthorized materials during an exam. The governing Board of
Regents policies can be found in BOR Policy 2:33 and BOR Policy 3:4.
No credit can be given for a dishonest assignment. A student found to have engaged in any form of
academic dishonesty may, at the discretion of the instructor, be:
a. Given a zero for that assignment.
b. Allowed to rewrite and resubmit the assignment for credit.
c. Assigned a reduced grade for the course.
d. Dropped from the course.
e. Failed in the course.
Student Code of Ethics
Students enrolled at the Beacom School of Business are expected to maintain the highest standards of
integrity and ethical principles and to adhere to the Student Code of Ethics developed and approved by
Beacom School of Business students. This Code provides a frame of reference for the behavior of
Beacom School of Business students in their personal, academic, and professional activities.
B - Behave in a professional and exemplary manner.
Contribute to the success of others and demonstrate gratitude for the contributions from others. Be fair
and objective in the evaluation of administrators, faculty, staff, and fellow students. Foster a positive
learning environment for all individuals by not tolerating disparaging comments, discrimination, or
harassment.
E - Enhance an atmosphere of mutual respect among all members of the school community.
Show respect to classmates, administration, staff, and faculty. Strive to set a standard of professional
behavior in the academic and professional aspects of my life, in and outside of the classroom. Respect
our college facility by maintaining a safe, clean, and professional learning environment. Attend all class
sessions fully prepared and ready to participate, dress appropriately, and refrain from class disturbances
which impede the learning of others, including the unjust or unauthorized use of cell phones, calculators,
and other electronic devices.
A - Accept responsibility for one’s own learning and encourage the learning of others.
Recognize that learning is a lifelong process. Practice principles of continuous improvement in
academics, interactions with others, and professional goals. Commit to the ongoing pursuit of intellectual
and personal development for yourself and peers.
C - Cultivate community and teamwork by respecting the views of others.
Treat fellow students, faculty, staff, and administration fairly and remember that personal variations
among people enrich us and society. Discourage prejudices while striving to learn from the differences in
the cultures, ideas, experiences, and opinions of others. Respect the dignity of all others. Recognize the
responsibility to participate in community-benefitting activities.
O - Own and acknowledge failure just as we celebrate success.
Protect the spirit of the Code of Ethics by encouraging others to uphold its tenets and intervening with
those who violate its principles. Accept responsibility for decisions, actions, and inactions, as well as the
consequences associated with each. Strive to hold both personal integrity and honesty in the highest
regard.
M - Maintain an attitude of leadership, scholarship, responsibility, and accountability.
Avoid seeking unfair advantage over other students, including but not limited to giving or receiving
unauthorized aid during completion of academic requirements. Refrain from academic dishonesty, which
includes submitting fraudulent work, giving or receiving unauthorized assistance, tampering with the
credibility of information, cheating on exams or similar measures of performance, or any other suspect
behavior.
ADA Statement
The University of South Dakota strives to ensure that physical resources, as well as information and
communication technologies, are reasonably accessible to users to provide equal access to all. If you
encounter any accessibility issues, you are encouraged to immediately contact the instructor of the
course and the Office of Disability Services, which will work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Any student who feels s/he may need academic accommodations or access accommodations based on
the impact of a documented disability should contact and register with Disability Services during the first
week of class or as soon as possible after the diagnosis of a disability. Disability Services is the official
office to assist students through the process of disability verification and coordination of appropriate and
reasonable accommodations. Students currently registered with Disability Services must obtain a new
accommodation memo each semester.
Please note: if your home institution is not the institution you are enrolled at for a course (host
institution), then you should contact your home institution’s Office of Disability services. The disability
services at the home and host institution will work together to ensure your request is evaluated and
responded.
Disability Services, The Commons Room 116 (605) 6583745
Web Site: https://www.usd.edu/About/Departments-Offices-and-Resources/Disability- Services
Email: disabilityservices@usd.edu
Acceptable Use of Technology
Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources: While Regental Institutions strive to provide
access to computer labs and other technology, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure adequate
access to the technology required for a course. This may include access to a computer (not
Chromebooks, iPads, etc.), webcam, internet, adequate bandwidth, etc. While utilizing any of the
information technology systems students, faculty and staff should observe all relevant laws, regulations,
BOR Policy 7.1, and any institutional procedural requirements.
Emergency Alert Communication
In the event of an emergency arising on campus under BOR Policy 7:3, USD will notify the campus
community via the Everbridge emergency alert system. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure
that their information is updated in the emergency alert system. The student’s cell phone will be
automatically inserted if available and if not, their email address is loaded.
Students can at any time update their information in the student alert system.
Grade Appeal Policy
Under Board of Regents (Student Appeals for Academic Affairs Policy 2:9) and University policy
(Student Academic Appeals), students have the right to appeal such matters as course grades and
dismissal from a program. Students wishing to appeal an academic decision must use the appropriate
appeal form. The form should be used only if informal discussion with the academic decision-maker
does not produce a satisfactory resolution and the student wishes to pursue the matter further. Appeals
must be initiated by the student through discussion with the individual responsible for the decision (i.e.,
the academic decision-maker/instructor) to question the decision and explain the basis for doing so.
The student must have this discussion within 30 calendar days of being notified of the decision that is
being appealed. If notification occurs within 15 calendar days before the end of a term, the discussion
must occur at the latest within 15 calendar days of the start of the next term. If a student wishes to
pursue the appeal following the discussion with the academic decision-maker, they should complete
Step 2 of the appeal form and submit within 5 working days of the discussion a signed copy to the
mediator designated on the form.
Statement on Recording of Lectures by Students
Lectures, presentations, and other course materials are protected intellectual property under South
Dakota Board of Regents Policy. Accordingly, recording and disseminating lectures, presentations or
course materials is strictly prohibited without the express permission of the faculty member or as the
result of an approved disability accommodation through Disability Services. Violation of this prohibition
may result in the student being subject to Student Conduct proceedings under SDBOR Policy 3:4.
Student Success Services and Supports
The USD Opportunity Center (https://www.usd.edu/About/Departments-Offices-andResources/Opportunity-Center) offers a central connection point for campus resources that are
designed specifically for student success. The Opportunity Center staff is located in MUC 204 and can
work with USD students in any location or online to guide you to any of the many student support
services you need to navigate life at USD. To find resources on your own, Coyote One Stop
(https://www.usd.edu/About/Departments-Offices-and-Resources/Coyote-One- Stop) lets you ask
questions and browse a comprehensive service catalog for your informational and support needs.
Concern/Complaint Resolution Process
To resolve any concerns, complaints, or questions regarding a course experience, the student should
initially attempt addressing issues of concern directly to the instructor or the appropriate decision maker
as defined by the chart appended to the university’s academic appeal form.
Together the student and the instructor should establish a timetable for resolving the issues of concern.
If a student feels the conflict has not been resolved, the student should communicate this concern to
the chair of the department offering the course. If questions or concerns remain, or if the instructor is the
department chair, the student may contact the dean’s office for the college or school in which the
course is offered.
Contact information for questions or concerns:
Department Chair: Dr. David Carr, david.carr@usd.edu
Associate Dean: (At the time of syllabus publication a new associate dean has not been named for the
Beacom School of Business)
Zoom Usage and Classroom Attendance
Classroom participation and in-person interaction are integral components of the education process for
face-to-face and hybrid courses, and the university expects students enrolled in those courses to be
physically present for scheduled in-person class sessions. The use of video delivery technology (Zoom)
to supplement classroom instruction is at the discretion of the instructor, but students should not assume
that it is universally available. Students should also not assume that participation via Zoom meets
attendance requirements. For this course, Zoom access and attendance will be handled as follows:
 Zoom is not an option for this course.
Students with a disability who wish to request an accommodation related to the classroom attendance
requirement(s) must contact Disability Services to engage in the accommodation process.
Privacy of Student Records USD Student Records Policy
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) provides that each student’s
educational records remain private. No individual or group outside the educational institution shall have
access to nor will the institution (including professors) disclose students’ educational records without
written consent of the students. Because the professor cannot ensure that the student is the only one with
access to the student’s email account, grades will not be provided via email. The student may access
his/her final grade using Financial Aid Self Service
GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY THE SEMESTER!
Course Schedule
(Schedule is subject to change)
WEEK
One
(8/21)
Two
(8/28)
Three
(9/04)
Four
(9/11)
Five
(9/18)
Six
(9/25)
Seven
(10/02)
Eight
(10/09)
Nine
(10/16)
Ten
(10/23)
Eleven
(10/30)
Twelve
(11/06)
Thirteen
(11/13)
Fourteen
(11/20)
Fifteen
(11/27)
Sixteen
(12/04)
Final
Exam
TOPICS
Introduction/Syllabus
Excel Software
Data and Statistics
Summarizing Categorical Data
Summarizing Quantitative Data
Data Analysis
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Labor Day, Monday Sep. 4
Measures of Location
Measures of Variability
Measures of Distribution Shape, Relative
Location
Exploratory Data Analysis
Weighted Means
Working with Grouped Data
Exam 1 (Wednesday, 9/27)
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Index Numbers
Probability
Native American Day, Monday, Oct. 9
Probability
Conditional and Bayesian Probability
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Exam 2 (Wednesday, 10/25)
Random Variables
Expected Value and Variance
Discrete Probability Distributions
Continuous Probability Distributions
Veteran’s Day (Observed) Friday, Nov. 10
Continuous Probability Distributions
Thanksgiving Break Nov. 22-26 (TBD)
Sampling
Sampling Distributions
Review for Final
Final Exam - Monday, 12/11, 10:00 –
12:00 (Noon)
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RESPONSIBILITIES / NOTES
Read Syllabus
Complete Syllabus Quiz (D2L under
Quizzes)
Read Chapters 1 and 2
Review Chapter 2
Complete and upload the week 2 Problem Set
LAST DROP DAY WITH FULL REFUND
Thursday, August 31
Read Chapter 3
Complete and upload week 3 Problem Set
Review Chapter 3
Complete and upload week 4 Problem Set
Review Chapter 3
Complete and upload week 5 Problem Set
Review Chapters 1-3
Read Chapter 20
Complete and upload week 7 Problem Set
Read Chapter 4
Complete and upload week 8 Problem Set
Review Chapter 4
Complete and upload week 9 Problem Set
Review Chapters 20 and 4
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LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW Friday,
November 3
Read Chapter 5
Complete and upload week 11 Problem Set
Complete and upload week 12 Problem Set
Review Chapter 5, Read Chapter 6
Review Chapter 6
Complete and upload week 13 Problem Set
No assignments
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Read Chapter 7
Review Chapter 7
Complete and upload week 15 Problem Set
Comprehensive FINAL EXAM
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Comprehensive FINAL EXAM
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