Business Metrics for Data-Driven Companies from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

About This Specialization and Course

This Coursera Specialization: Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business, is about how 'Big Data' interacts with business, and how to use data analytics to create value for businesses. This specialization consists of four courses and a final Capstone Project, where you will apply your skills to real-world business process. You will learn to perform sophisticated data-analysis functions using powerful software tools such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and MySQL. To learn more, watch the video and review the specialization overview document we provided. In the first course of the specialization: Business Metrics for Data-Driven Companies, you will be able to learn best practices for using data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable; learn to recognize the most critical business metrics and distinguish those from mere data; understand the vital but different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies; and know exactly the skills required to be hired for, and succeed at, these high-demand jobs. Finally, using a 20-item checklist for evaluating a business, you'll be able to score any company on how effectively it is embracing big data culture. Digital companies like Amazon, Uber and Airbnb are transforming entire industries through their creative use of big data. You’ll understand why these companies are so disruptive, and how they use data-analytics techniques to out-compete traditional companies.To get started, please begin with the video 'About This Specialization.'I hope you enjoy this week's materials!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores business metrics and data analytics, a core skill for data analysts and business professionals

Provides a clear understanding of the roles of business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists

Introduces hands-on tools and techniques, including Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and MySQL

Suitable for individuals interested in pursuing a career in business analytics or data science

Provides insights into the use of data analytics by disruptive digital companies

Reviews summary

Core business metrics and data roles

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in understanding key business metrics and the landscape of data-related job roles like data analysts and data scientists. Students generally find the content relevant and the instructor's explanations clear. While many appreciate the introduction to how digital companies use data, some experienced learners note the course content can feel basic at times, making it potentially more suitable for beginners or those new to the field. Overall, it's seen as a valuable first step in understanding the link between data and business outcomes, especially as the introductory course in a specialization.

Excellent introduction for newcomers.

"This course is a perfect starting point for anyone new to business metrics and data analytics."

"It's a great introductory course, especially as the first in the specialization."

"I found the course content accessible and easy to follow, even without much prior knowledge."

"Highly recommended for beginners looking to understand the basics of data in business."

Clarifies different data job roles.

"It gives a clear picture of the vital but different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play."

"I now understand the skills required for high-demand jobs in the data analytics marketplace."

"The course helped differentiate among different job roles that work with data within a company."

"Learning about the types of companies and roles available in data was a valuable part of the course."

Content is applicable to the real world.

"I can immediately see how the concepts discussed apply to my work."

"The case studies and examples of digital companies make the content very relevant."

"The information on how disruptive companies use data was particularly interesting and practical."

"I learned practical insights on how companies use data to out-compete traditional businesses."

Instructor is engaging and easy to follow.

"The instructor is highly engaging and explains concepts clearly."

"Professor was excellent, knowledgeable and easy to understand."

"I really appreciate the clarity and structure of the lectures."

"The explanations provided throughout the course were straightforward and easy to grasp."

Covers essential business metrics.

"The course provides a clear introduction to key business metrics and how they can be used to drive business decisions."

"I found the discussion on distinguishing critical metrics from mere data particularly insightful."

"The metrics discussed are highly relevant to anyone working in a data-driven environment."

"Understanding the different types of business metrics, like revenue and profitability, was very helpful."

May be too basic for experienced learners.

"Some parts felt a bit superficial and lacked depth for someone with prior business knowledge."

"The pace might be slow if you're already familiar with basic business concepts."

"While good for beginners, I was hoping for a bit more advanced coverage on certain topics."

"It's a high-level overview, which is great for intro but doesn't go deep into complex analysis."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Business Metrics for Data-Driven Companies with these activities:

Seek mentorship from experienced business analytics professionals

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Seeking mentorship from experienced business analytics professionals will provide you with valuable insights, guidance, and support as you navigate your career.

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Identify potential mentors in your field
Reach out and request mentorship
Meet with your mentor regularly and seek their advice

Review financial data concepts

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Reviewing financial data concepts will help you understand the metrics used in business analytics.

Browse courses on Financial Concepts

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Review your notes and materials from previous financial courses, if any.
Read articles and blog posts about financial data concepts.
Take practice quizzes or tests to assess your understanding.

Practice SQL queries

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Practicing SQL queries will help you to improve your data analysis skills.

Browse courses on SQL Queries

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Find a dataset to work with.
Write SQL queries to retrieve and analyze the data.
Challenge yourself to write more complex and efficient queries.

Seven other activities

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Show all ten activities

Read 'Data Analytics for Business' by Evan Stubbs

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Reading 'Data Analytics for Business' by Evan Stubbs will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the field and help you understand the key concepts and applications of data analytics in business.

View Big Data Big Innovation: Enabling Competitive... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of the book
Read the book and take notes
Complete the exercises and case studies in the book

Create a data visualization using Tableau

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Creating a data visualization using Tableau will give you hands-on experience with a valuable business analytics tool.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Choose a dataset to work with.
Learn the basics of Tableau, such as how to create charts and graphs.
Create a data visualization that tells a story or provides insights.
Share your data visualization with others and get feedback.

Discuss business analytics case studies

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Discussing business analytics case studies with peers will allow you to share ideas, learn from others, and gain a deeper understanding of how businesses use data analytics to solve real-world problems.

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Review a case study and identify the key business issues
Prepare a presentation or discussion points to share with your peers
Participate in the peer discussion and share your insights

Write a blog post about a business analytics topic

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Writing a blog post about a business analytics topic will help you to synthesize your knowledge and improve your communication skills.

Browse courses on Business Analytics

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Choose a topic that you are interested in and that is relevant to business analytics.
Research your topic thoroughly.
Write a clear and concise blog post that is easy to read and understand.
Edit and proofread your blog post carefully.

Explore advanced data analytics techniques

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Exploring advanced data analytics techniques will expand your knowledge and prepare you for more complex and challenging roles in business analytics.

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Identify different advanced data analytics techniques
Research and learn about these techniques using online tutorials and resources
Apply these techniques to real-world datasets to gain hands-on experience

Develop a data analytics solution for a business problem

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Developing a data analytics solution for a business problem will allow you to apply your skills and knowledge to solve a real-world challenge and demonstrate your value as a business analyst or data scientist.

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Identify a business problem that can be solved using data analytics
Gather and analyze data relevant to the problem
Develop a data analytics solution that addresses the problem
Present your solution to stakeholders and get feedback

Mentor junior business analysts or data scientists

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Mentoring junior business analysts or data scientists will allow you to share your knowledge and experience, while also reinforcing your own understanding of the subject matter.

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Identify opportunities to mentor others
Provide guidance and support to mentees
Share your insights and best practices

Career center

Learners who complete Business Metrics for Data-Driven Companies will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for developing and implementing data-driven solutions. They use data to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts excel when they are able to use their knowledge to help companies respond more effectively to their customers. This course can help you develop those skills, by teaching you hoe to recognize the most critical business metrics and distinguish those from mere data. Furthermore, you will learn about the vital but different roles business analysts play in various types of companies, and you will know exactly what skills are required to be hired for, and succeed at, this high-demand job.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Business Intelligence Analyst

Business Intelligence Analysts are in high demand, and they help companies make better decisions by providing them with the information they need. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Intelligence Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data. They use this data to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Web Analyst

Web Analysts use data analytics to measure the effectiveness of websites. They use this information to improve the design and content of websites. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Analyst

Consultant

Consultants help businesses to identify and solve problems. They often use data analytics to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use data analytics to make predictions about the future. They use this information to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Statistician

Statisticians use data analytics to collect, analyze, and interpret data. They use this information to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts use data analytics to identify and manage risks. They use this information to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use data analytics to help businesses improve their operations. They use data to identify and solve problems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Sales Analyst

Sales Analysts use data analytics to help businesses improve their sales performance. They use this information to identify new opportunities and to make decisions about sales strategy. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Analyst

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts help businesses to understand their customers. They use data analytics to gather insights about customer behavior. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for developing and launching new products. They use data analytics to understand customer needs and to make decisions about product development. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Teacher

Teachers use data analytics to help students learn more effectively. They use this information to identify areas where students need extra help and to develop lesson plans that are more effective. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Writer

Writers use data analytics to create content that is more engaging and effective. They use this information to identify what topics are most popular and to develop content that is more likely to be shared. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to use data analytics to make any company more competitive and more profitable. Additionally, you will gain a clear picture of the different roles business analysts, business data analysts, and data scientists each play in various types of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer