This course is an advanced analytics elective that uses data to inform strategic decisions. Should a fast food chain enter the highly profitable breakfast market segment? Not if the incumbents will respond by competing aggressively. Can a bank raise profits by attracting more customers through generous loan terms? Not if it inadvertently attracts risky customers. Data-driven analyses of such issues require going beyond statistically significant relationships (profitability in current market conditions, overall demand for generous loans) to assess underlying cause and effect. The course tackles a broad range of topics in competitive strategy, such as product portfolios (is it profitable to enter a rival's niche?), personnel (do workplace perks reduce absenteeism?), and cost reduction (is it profitable to adopt a new technology?). Students will learn through hands-on experience with performing advanced regression analyses and interpreting their results.Students who have not taken the pre-requisite, DECS 431 Business Analytics II, but have knowledge in regression and coding, can reach out to the instructor for a pre-requisite waiver