1. Business Analytics covers a broad area of tools and techniques used as part of business intelligence. Discuss the different types of models used in decision support. For example, what is meant by optimization model? Discuss how software application, such as Excel, can assist in the modeling and business analytics.
2. Pick a business that you're familiar with -- which Business Analytic tools do you think would help your company increase sales and reduce expenses? How? Be specific.
3. Discuss data mining and the major application areas for it. Is data mining a new technology or has it simply not been popular? Discuss the different data mining methods.
4. Compare data mining and predictive analysis, and discuss why some think that they are similar while others think they are opposite.