The Lemonade Stand: An Elementary Case for Introducing Data Analytics

Abstract

Accounting education has been encouraged to increase the business knowledge, analytical skills, and data analytic skills of accounting students. This case blends these areas in a single, multi-part project for Accounting Information Systems (AIS) courses. The case includes the technical function of extracting data from databases, integrating multiple data stores and using multiple software tools (MS Access and Tableau). Additionally, students learn to assess the business needs driving the use of integrated data stores to produce quality information for decision making. Using a basic business scenario (lemonade stand), this case provides a stand-alone project focusing on incorporating data analytics into an AIS course. Students assume the role of a professional consultant to a lemonade stand and will become familiar with the business processes and the data of the company, develop queries to answer various business questions, and integrate internal and external data to graphically analyze the combined data for a business analysis. The case allows integration of the course content of data extraction and reporting elements with data analytics. Students indicated that they perceived that they increased their knowledge about business analysis and data analytics tools. Student also indicated they enjoyed the case and had many positive comments about their experience. Results from a pre-/post-test quiz reflect that students did significantly increase their knowledge of business analysis and data analytics.