LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the social, economic, political, and ethical concerns surrounding the impact of data analytics on society.
- Identify and understand the various methods businesses can employ to practice responsible data analytics, including aspects such as legal compliance, data quality, transparency, privacy, and data protection.
- Critically reflect on the usage and outcomes of business analytics tools, and apply this understanding to responsible business practices
Credits: 6
Schedule: 14.04.2025 - 28.05.2025
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Alexei Gloukhovtsev
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
Big data is transforming the way we do business, socialize, conduct research, and govern society. Tools like AI and advanced analytics offer tremendous potential to enhance our lives, enabling new services and products. These technologies provide organizations with extended capabilities to lessen their environmental and social impacts, fostering innovative and responsible solutions. However, they can also introduce new environmental and social challenges. There are growing concerns about the negative externalities of data analytics, such as their roles in privacy invasion, inequality, behavior manipulation, opacity, and other related harms.
This course is designed to complement the focus of most data analytics courses, which typically center on what can be done with data and AI. Instead, we will explore what should and should not be done. Our goal is to encourage the practice of responsible data science, considering the impacts of various analytics tools and methods on individuals, population groups, and society at large. We will cover topics including ethics, legal compliance, data quality, algorithmic fairness and diversity, transparency of data and algorithms, privacy, and data protection. Additionally, we will engage in discussions and debates about how society can mitigate the negative externalities posed by big data, advanced analytics, and AI. These conversations will draw on examples from various fields such as technology, retail, marketing, healthcare, finance, and other public institutions.
Designed for broad accessibility, this course emphasizes the societal role of big data, advanced analytics, and AI, rather than hands-on analytics skills. While some familiarity with data analytics or quantitative methods is beneficial, our focus is on fostering a holistic understanding of these transformative technologies and their ethical dimensions.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Individual and group assignments, final exam.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Lectures and independent work
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
A collection of articles and other readings assigned by the instructor.
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language: English
Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring V
2025-2026 Spring VRegistration:
The number of students admitted to the course is capped at 60. Priority will be given to Aalto students studying in (1) the MSc-programs in Business Analytics & Information and Service Management and (2) the MSc Program in Marketing. Student studying in other MSc programs at Aalto BIZ may be admitted should capacity restrictions allow.