Master of Business Analytics BUS5PR1
La Trobe Business School
BUS5PR1 – Analytics Project 1
Assignment 01: The AgTech Startup
Assignment Type: Individual
Marks: 30%
Release Date: 05 March 2019
Due Date: 26 March 2019 (in class and on LMS).
AgTech in Australia
Farming and agriculture are ceremoniously recognised as the birthplace of Australia’s wealth in the new world. The Australian agriculture industry is worth more than A$63 billion annually, driven mainly by exports to Asian markets which currently account for 80% of revenue.
The sector is predicted to expand into A$100 billion by 2030, growing at a rate of more than A$3 billion annually. To achieve this target, the agriculture industry must embrace the digital frontier of data analytics and artificial intelligence that are already disrupting and innovating a collective of industries, such as mining, health, transport, education and construction. Globally, agriculture is one of the least digitised sectors and in Australia, it is the least innovative industry .
‘AgTech’, the application of technology to farming and agriculture, is primed to provide innovative solutions to challenges in every stage of the food production, delivery, and consumption process.
You have been identified as an esteemed analytics technologist and approached for introducing disruptive analytics innovation into the farming and agriculture industry in Australia. It is anticipated your breadth of knowledge on the status quo in AgTech and your expertise in analytics tools, techniques and frameworks will be resourceful in presenting a startup proposal, in the first instance. What you are required to do:
• Conduct an environment scan/literature search of current AgTech innvoations and solutions, both overseas and local (Background).
• Develop an understanding of the needs and expectations of the farming and agriculture industry/community in Australia, in terms of analytics technology (Problem/challenge).
• Based on your readings, observations and expertise, propose the design, development and deployment of an analytics solution for the identified problem/challenge (solution).
• You must independently decide on the nature, scale of the challenge as well as the type of analytics solution (components, lifecycle, insights generation) that you intend to design, develop and deploy.
Deliverables:
• An 8-minute presentation with 2-minutes of Q&A of your startup pitch (it can be as simple as background, challenge, solution, but it is anticipated you would do more).
• A 3-5 page report that documents your findings (startup proposal), and supplements your presentation with any additional information.
• You may include standard elements of a startup business plan, demonstration of potential insights etc. Background, challenge and solution are required as a minimum.
Master of Business Analytics BUS5PR1
La Trobe Business School
Generic examples to get you thinking:
• Internet of Things devices that collect data in a farm environment and a data storage mechanism that accumulates data for predictions and insights, and how such insights will become actionable.
• Predicting the impact of climate change, extreme weather events and deriving actionable insights to mitigate and manage outcomes.
• Customer analytics to better understand customer expectations and market trends on farming innovations, such as organic farming, superfoods and ‘paddock to plate’.
Criteria Pass (P) Credit (C) Distinction (B) High Distinction (A)
Background
5 marks
Some effort made to understand the AgTech industry and associated technologies.
Decent effort made to understand the AgTech industry and associated technologies.
Good effort made to understand the AgTech industry and associated technologies.
Comprehensive understanding of the AgTech industry and associated technologies.
Problem/challenge
5 marks
Minimal demonstration of a suitable problem to be addressed with analytics. Basic demonstration of a suitable problem to be addressed with analytics. Good demonstration of a suitable problem to be addressed with analytics. Excellent demonstration of a suitable problem to be addressed with analytics.
Solution 10 marks A basic solution that encapsulates minimal learning outcomes from previous subjects.
A good solution that encapsulates some learning outcomes from previous subjects.
A
comprehensive solution that encapsulates all learning outcomes from previous subjects.
A novel and comprehensive solution that encapsulates all learning outcomes from previous subjects.
Presentation
5 marks
Basic effort to communicate analytics thinking and
solution development Fair effort to
communicate analytics thinking and solution development Good effort to communicate analytics thinking and
solution development Excellent effort to communicate
analytics thinking and solution development
Novelty 5 marks No element of creativity. Some elements of creativity. Strong elements of creativity. Extensive creativity across entire effort.
2