Handbook

Today’s data-rich environment and advances in big data analytics have enabled product idea generation from the crowd, innovative “data”-based products or services development, and effective marketing of new product ideas on crowdfunding platforms. Now, “data” itself may form part of the “core material” of new products or services.

This course integrates the principles of product development with data analytics and human-centered enterprise design-thinking process by covering (1) new product idea generation using natural language processing such as sentiment analysis or topic modelling to analyse product reviews, (2) new product roadmap planning using the design-thinking (3) data product or service development such as book recommendation algorithms, and a virtual personal assistant (e.g., chatbot), (4) product attribute optimisation using A/B test or conjoint analysis, (5) product demand forecasting, and (6) advertising new product ideas on crowdfunding platforms.

For course projects, students will exercise hands-on data analytics using Python and build data products (e.g., chatbots) using IBM Watson Assistant as well as plan product roadmap using the design-thinking process template (e.g., Mural). No prior knowledge of Python or IBM Watson Assistant is needed.