THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH of the Data Sciences and Operations Department is composed primarily of three disciplines: operations management, statistics, and digital innovation. There are about 30 faculty members in the department who are very active in teaching, research and various professional organizations. Several of the department faculty have received research awards and honors, serve on editorial boards of major journals, and have won a range of teaching awards.

Managing World Class Operations, Data Analytics, and Digital Innovation

Data Sciences and Operations

DSO 401 Business Information Systems – Spreadsheet Applications (2 units, Fall and Spring)This course is designed to provide students with an applied understanding of how “spreadsheet applications” are used to analyze business information. This course provides an opportunity for students to master the use and design of ”Microsoft Excel” for business information analysis in the areas of Finance, Information Systems, Marketing and Operations. This course will also enhance students’ understanding of the core business disciplines by providing them with the skills and experience to develop, test and analyze business cases, to increase the effectiveness in the corporate decision making processes. This course is a hands-on course and it is a must have course for internships and jobs.

DSO 402 Business Information Systems – Database Applications (2 units, Irregular)Through lectures and labs, students will learn how to design, develop, and utilize the desktop databases that businesses employ in their reporting and decision making endeavors. Using Microsoft Access, students will learn hands-on the basics of normalizing a database, creating and relating tables, creating user interfaces through the use of forms and macros, extracting and mathematically manipulating information through queries, and creating business reports. The course consists of weekly instructor led database assignments and a final database projected developed by the student.

DSO 424 Business Forecasting (4 units, Spring)Forecasting in today’s business world is becoming increasingly important as firms focus on increasing customer satisfaction while reducing the cost of providing products and services. Business decisions almost always depend on forecasts about the course of events. Virtually every area of business makes use of some type of forecast. In business forecasting, time series models are used to analyze data that are collected sequentially over time. A primary goal of these models is to exploit the correlation structure of the observations in order to predict future values. This course is intended for students working in the field of economics, business, marketing, production, operations research, international trade, accounting, etc., who want a non-technical introduction to applied time series econometrics and forecasting.

DSO 427 Designing Spreadsheet-Based Business Models (4 units, Fall)Using MS Excel, we will learn to design spreadsheet models to solve managerial challenges across many industries and functions. The course features structured frameworks to address uncertainty (Monte Carlo simulation), risk analysis (decision trees), resource allocation (optimization), and financial modeling. In addition to spreadsheet modeling, students will learn industry expectations for quantitative analysis and practice the communication skills necessary to drive organizational change.

DSO 428 Essentials and Digital Frontiers of Big Data (4 units, Fall)An overview of key concepts of big data and related digital technologies and their applications to different business problems. Hands-on experience at introductory level.

DSO 431 Foundations of Digital Business Innoviation(4 units, Fall and Spring)This course, using company cases and lab experiences will help students WITH NO PRIOR TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE to help companies strategically use new technologies for their competitive advantage.  Technologies covered    Web 2.0 (like mashups),  Open Innovation (like crowdsourcing),   Fast internal and external website creation for knowledge sharing, big data and Business Intelligence Dashboards, Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (like SAP), different forms of cloud computing (like Internet-of-Things, Iaas, Paas, and Saas), cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin),  Customer Relationship Management Systems (like Salesforce.com), and corporate use of social networking (like Facebook for businesses).

DSO 433 Business Process Design(4 units, Fall)Gain skills to be a business or systems analyst as a career or part of management consulting by learning how to analyze business processes to identify improvement opportunities, develop use cases for information systems design to support improved business processes, develop business cases for convincing managers of the need for process change, become a liaison between business and technology, vendors and developers, and manage the change process to meet user and business needs (NO PREREQS).

DSO Undergraduate Elective Courses

DSO 435 Enterprise Data Architecture (4 units, Fall)Database architecture approaches have become the foundation of most business information systems. Efforts to support Data Analytics (DA) and Business Intelligence (BI), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), increased reliance on ERP packages (e.g., SAP, PeopleSoft, Baan, etc.), exposing business data to customers through web-based customer interfaces, compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley/HIPAA/FERPA, recognition of the importance of “Big Data,” synchronizing/integrating legacy data with Cloud-based applications, etc., continue to accelerate the need to move toward more comprehensive data integration and enterprise-wide management of data architecture. This course is motivated by a recognition of the importance of enterprise data architectures for understanding, designing and building effective information systems for today’s business organizations.

DSO 443 Current Trends in Digital Business Models (4 units, Irregular)This course is designed for undergrads interested in a business career in this new emerging digital media and entertainment industry. Interactive Digital Media includes the traditional entertainment and media industries as well as new players from the online world, mobile and landline telecom service providers. The course will explore how new players are developing innovative business models to challenge the traditional media industries. We will focus on how the entertainment and media industries operate, and how IT, the Internet, and mobile technologies are changing the economics and management of entertainment and media industries. This course will employ lectures, case studies, guest speakers from entertainment and new media companies, such as Electronic Arts, Disney and Warner Brothers and site-visits to “Digital Hollywood” and other entertainment companies.

Undergraduate Elective Courses

D A T A S C I E N C E S A N D O P E R A T I O N S

DSO 499 Python Programming for Business Analytics (4 units, Spring and Fall)This course introduces Python as a tool for solving business problems and making data-driven decisions. We develop computational thinking principles through important programming concepts such as variables, data structures, conditional statements, loops, functions, and object-oriented programming. We also utilize the Pandas module to analyze and visualize data. Through labs and a team project, students gain exposure to real-world data in a wide variety of business domains, including retail, service, transportation, education, and the public sector.

DSO 499 Essentials of Business Data Analytics Using R (2 units, Spring and Fall)R is one of the most popular open source programming languages for data and business analytics. Learn how to use R to download real-world data, manipulate data sets from various sources, manage the information, produce high quality charts, and summaries. This course uses a small program oriented approach. The course uses business cases to introduce practical ways of solving problems. You will learn the basics of computing, as well as problem-solving and algorithmic thinking. You will complete projects and create programs that are practical to business applications outside the class, you will work on real-world cases.

DSO 499 Deep Learning and Business Applications (4 units, Spring)Artificial intelligence (AI) tools play an increasingly important role in modern business and big data applications including new AI-based startups. In particular, deep learning has become the driving force of AI in recent years. This undergraduate elective course, which was created and offered initially in Spring 2018, provides an introduction to deep learning with a focus on business applications. It will help students learn the basics of deep learning technologies as well as some state-of-the-art developments that are reshaping and driving the business and industry. The course will benefit greatly students with strong interests in a future career or graduate program in Business Analytics or Data Science.

MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Data Sciences and OperationsBridge Hall 308 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0809 Phone: 213-740-0172 Fax: 213-740-7313

https://www.marshall.usc.edu/dso

Ramandeep Randhawa, Chair Ramandeep.Randhawa@marshall.usc.edu

Deborah Taylor, Administrative Services Managerdeborah.taylor@marshall.usc.edu

DSO Undergraduate Course Descriptions

DEPARTMENT OF DATA SCIENCES AND OPERATIONS

Undergraduate Areas of Interest For Electives

DSO 455 Project Management (4 units, Fall)This course introduces important behavioral skills and analytical tools for managing complex projects across multiple functions. The behavioral skills focus on organizing, planning, and controlling projects and managing teams, risks and resources to produce a desired outcome. The course also covers analytical tools to perform quantitative trade-offs and make the best possible decision, help decision making under uncertainty. The curriculum covers the major phases in project management including scheduling, resource management, monitoring and control, and termination with best practices. In addition to guest speakers, lectures, games and case discussions; tutorials on Excel, simulation software called Crystal Ball for project risk management, and Microsoft Project are integrated in every module of the class.

DSO 462 Managing a Small Business on the Internet (2 units, Fall and Spring)Understanding the current and future uses of the internet for business is essential and empowering for any student. This introductory course summarizes the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills that any student needs to know about effective use of the internet for managing small businesses, improving business growth, and accelerating global visibility and opportunities. Students apply the internet skills they learn in class in a hands-on project that uses commercial tools to design and develop innovative websites for internet-based small businesses. This course is open to all USC undergraduate students from all schools and all majors, and there are no prerequisites.

DSO 482 Supply Chain Management (4 units, Spring)This course focuses on management and improvement of supply chain processes and performance. It will be valuable for students who would like to pursue a career in consulting or take a position in operations, marketing or finance functions in a manufacturing or distribution firm. We explore important supply chain metrics, primary tradeoffs in making supply chain decisions, and basic tools for effective and efficient supply chain management, production planning and inventory control, order fulfillment and supply chain coordination. We will also investigate topics such as global supply chain design, logistics, and outsourcing, several other recent supply chain innovations. The content covers both quantitative and qualitative materials. Cases will feature high-tech companies well as firms in more traditional industries such as apparel and manufacturing.

DSO 483 Operations Consulting (4 units, Spring)This course covers concepts, frameworks, analytical and managerial skills for leading and adding value in management consulting projects with a focus on operations. We will concentrate on operational issues and decisions including developing competitive advantage through operations, strategic planning, collaborative supply chain planning, and six-sigma. The class format includes hands on student consulting projects with a well-known client companies, lectures, case discussions, and guest speakers.

The DSO department offers classes that provide students with the skills to specialize in one or more areas of interest: 1) Business Analytics, for business analyst/data scientist jobs in all industries; 2) Project and Program Management, for project/program/product management jobs in all industries; 3) Technology Strategy Consulting, for jobs with consulting firms in all industries; and 4) Supply Chain Management, for operations management and supply chain jobs in all industries. No prior technology background is expected in any of these classes. The intent is to help students get comfortable with tools and techniques needed for a data-driven 21st century manager.

Department of Data Sciences and OperationsMarshall School of BusinessBridge Hall 308 http://www.marshall.usc.edu/dso

BUSINESS ANALYTICS: Students who plan to obtain a position as a data scientist will find courses in this area of study beneficial. These classes prepare you to have the essential analytic and business skills to analyze large data.

Essential Courses:•DSO-424: Business Forecasting•DSO-428: Essentials and Digital Frontiers of Big Data•DSO-431: Foundations of Digital Business Innovation•DSO-435: Enterprise Data Architecture

Related Courses•DSO-401: Business Info. Systems - Spreadsheet Applications•DSO-427: Designing Spreadsheet-Based Business Models•DSO-443: Current Trends in Digital Business Models•DSO-455: Project Management•DSO-462: Managing a Small Business on the Internet•DSO-499: Deep Learning and Business Applications•DSO-499: Essentials of Business Data Analysis Using R•DSO-499: Python Programming for Business Analytics

PROJECT AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: This area of study prepares students who plan to work as a project/program manager. This focus provides the necessary tools and strategies to begin a career in all industries including aerospace, construction, and information technology.

Essential Courses•DSO-431: Foundation of Digital Business Innovation•DSO-433: Business Process Design•DSO-455: Project Management

Related Courses•DSO-401: Business Info. Systems - Spreadsheet Applications•DSO-427: Designing Spreadsheet-Based Business Models•DSO-443: Current Trends in Digital Business Models•DSO-483: Operations Consulting

TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY CONSULTING: This area of study prepares students for a career as a consultant, a business analyst, or an associate. This focus is highly relevant for students considering a profession in management consulting companies that focus on technology consulting, process improvements or operations and supply chain management as well as for internal consulting groups of large companies.

Essential Courses:•DSO-427: Designing Spreadsheet-Based Business Models•DSO-431: Foundation of Digital Business Innovation•DSO-433: Business Process Design •DSO-483: Operations Consulting

Related Courses:•DSO-401: Business Info Systems – Spreadsheet Applications•DSO-428: Essentials and Digital Frontiers of Big Data•DSO-435: Enterprise Data Architecture•DSO-443: Current Trends in Digital Business Models•DSO-455: Project Management•DSO-462: Managing a Small Business on the Internet•DSO-482: Supply Chain Management

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT: For students who plan to work in management consulting, business analyst, or procurement/manufacturing/demand/sales planning jobs in firm in all industries

Essential Courses:•DSO-424: Business Forecasting•DSO-427: Designing Spreadsheet-Based Business Models•DSO-482: Supply Chain Management•DSO-483: Operations Consulting

Related Courses:•DSO-401: Business Info Systems – Spreadsheet Applications•DSO-431: Foundation of Digital Business Innovation•DSO-455: Project Management•DSO-462: Managing a Small Business on the Internet•DSO-433: Business Process Design