ISEDJ

Abstract: Teaching Business Intelligence (BI) courses come with challenges. Unlike traditional IS courses, where the entire course focuses on a specific topic, BI courses utilize skills from several domains, including business knowledge, data analytics, problem-solving, effective communications, and critical thinking. Finding relevant assignments and projects is difficult for instructors. In this paper, we introduce a three-phased class project from a fictitious online retail store that contains different customer segmentations, product offerings, shipping options, and sales regions. Each phase has different deliverables and is geared for different audiences within the business. The project can be modified for difficulty levels, student grade levels, and different course timelines. We introduce the project, lessons learned from assigning the project for several years, and teaching tips to adapt the project for different BI courses. Teaching tips discuss the use of different technologies, BI principles like star schemas and transforming data, and updating the dataset to work in subsequent semesters. After completing the project, the feedback from the students has all been positive.

Download this article: ISEDJ - V24 N1 Page 42.pdf

Recommended Citation: Triche, J., McDiffett, M., Firth, D., Clouse, S.F., (2026). Teaching Case: A Business Intelligence Class Project Combining Business Knowledge, Critical Thinking, and Story-Telling for an Online Retail Store. Information Systems Education Journal 24(1) pp 42-51. https://doi.org/10.62273/BBEK9897