- (Topic 2)
An analyst calculates the average, median, and mode values for a dataset.What type of analytics is the analyst performing?
Correct Answer:
D
Descriptive analytics is the type of analytics that summarizes and visualizes data to provide an overview of what has happened or is happening. Descriptive analytics uses techniques such as statistics, charts, graphs, and dashboards to display data in an understandable and meaningful way. Descriptive analytics can help analysts explore data, identify patterns, and communicate insights. Calculating theaverage, median, and mode values for a dataset is an example of descriptive analytics, as it provides a measure of central tendency for the data distribution. References:
✑ Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA ® - CBDA), IIBA, accessed on January 20, 2024.
✑ Business Data Analytics Certification - CBDA Competencies | IIBA®, IIBA, accessed on January 20, 2024.
✑ Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 15.
✑ The 4 Types Of Analytics Explained (With Examples), Analytics for Decisions, accessed on January 20, 2024.
- (Topic 2)
A data scientist at a consumer goods company, has been asked to do a detailed analysis on customer profiles. The Data Scientist has identified an external data source that carries valuable additional information on their customers. The data scientist also identifies the address column as the most reliable column to join the internal data source with the external data source. Addresses may appear in different formats for example:
File A = "13 Smith St"
File B = "Unit 7, 13 Smith Street"
Which of the following techniques would be useful in this situation?
Correct Answer:
B
Probabilistic linkage is a technique that uses statistical methods to match records from different data sources based on the similarity of key variables, such as name, address, date of birth, etc1. Probabilistic linkage can handle variations, errors, or missing values in the data, and assign a score or probability to each potential match2. Probabilistic linkage would be useful in this situation, as the address column may have different formats, spellings, or abbreviations in the internal and external data sources, and a deterministic linkage (which requires exact matches) might miss some valid matches or create false matches.
Deterministic linkage is a technique that uses predefined rules or criteria to match records from different data sources based on the exact agreement of key variables, such as identifiers, codes, or hashes3. Deterministic linkage would not be useful in this situation, as the address column may not have consistent or unique values in the internal and external data sources, and a probabilistic linkage (which allows for some variation or uncertainty) might find more accurate matches or avoid false matches.
Genetic linkage is a term used in genetics to describe the tendency of genes or DNA sequences that are located close together on a chromosome to be inherited together4. Genetic linkage is not relevant to this situation, as it has nothing to do with matching records from different data sources based on the address column.
Cuff linkage is a term used in sewing to describe the process of attaching a cuff to a sleeve by stitching or fastening. Cuff linkage is not relevant to this situation, as it has nothing to do with matching records from different data sources based on the address column. References:1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 452: Data Linkage: The Definitive Guide, Tableau, 3: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 454: Genetic Linkage, National Human Genome Research Institute, . : Cuff Linkage, Sewing Dictionary, .
: Data Linkage: The Definitive Guide, Tableau, . : Genetic Linkage, National Human Genome Research Institute, . : Cuff Linkage, Sewing Dictionary, .
- (Topic 2)
A small business has recently launched their website and wants to understand how the website is being used. In particular, there is interest in identifying which areas of each page receive the most attention. The analyst has decided to communicate this information by displaying the top pages overlaid with colours denoting the volume of clicks.What type of visualization technique is being used here?
Correct Answer:
B
According to the Guide to Business Data Analytics, a heatmap is a type of visualization technique that uses colours to represent the values of a variable across a two- dimensional space. A heatmap can help reveal patterns, trends, and outliers in the data, as well as show the relative importance or intensity of different areas. In this situation, the analyst has decided to communicate the information about the website usage by displaying the top pages overlaid with colours denoting the volume of clicks. This is a heatmap, as it uses colours to show the distribution and magnitude of clicks across the web pages. References:Guide to Business Data Analytics, page 61;CBDA Exam Blueprint, page 7;Heat Maps | Trendz Analytics
- (Topic 2)
A large number of text messages are received by Twitter each year making Twitter one example of Big Data. What data characteristic represents this large number of text messages?
Correct Answer:
B
Velocity is one of the four V??s of Big Data, along with Volume, Variety, and Veracity. Velocity refers to the speed at which data is generated, collected, and processed. A large number of text messages received by Twitter each year is an example of high- velocity data, as it requires real-time or near-real-time processing and analysis to extract insights and value from it. High-velocity data poses challenges and opportunities for business data analytics, as it requires efficient and scalable data infrastructure, streaming analytics, and timely decision-making.
References:1, page 9; 2, page 6.
- (Topic 2)
An analytics team completed their research to determine why customers are abandoning items in their online shopping cart. The team suggests improvements to the website to address the problem. The Director of Sales proclaims that the current website is fine and indicates that the problem materialized when the company increased its shipping rates. The solution proposed by the team seems misaligned. What has gone wrong?
Correct Answer:
C
Agreeing on the business problem is the first and most critical step in any analytics project, as it defines the scope, purpose, and objectives of the analysis, and aligns the expectations and interests of the stakeholders1. Agreeing on the business problem involves identifying the problem statement, the problem owner, the problem context, the problem impact, and the problem criteria2. If the team did not agree on the business problem, the solution proposed by the team may seem misaligned with the actual needs, preferences, or assumptions of the decision makers, and may not address the root cause or the main drivers of the problem. In this scenario, the team and the Director of Sales may have different views on what the business problem is, why it is important, and how it should be solved.
The other options are not correct explanations of what has gone wrong. This scenario can be addressed with analytics, as it involves using data to understand customer behavior, identify factors influencing cart abandonment, and recommend improvements to the website or the pricing strategy. The team may or may not have agreed on the root cause of the problem, but that is not the main issue, as the root cause analysis is a part of the data analysis step, not the problem definition step. The team may or may not have performed an insufficient amount of planning, but that is not the main issue, as the planning process is a subsequent step after the problem definition step, and it depends on the clarity and agreement of the business problem.
References:1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 252: Introduction to Business Data Analytics: A Practitioner View, IIBA, 2019, p. 11. : Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 25. : Introduction to Business Data Analytics: A Practitioner View, IIBA, 2019, p. 11.
