Decisions, Decisions: Dashboards and Reports from Coursera

You’re almost there! This is the third and final course in the Google Business Intelligence Certificate. In this course, you’ll apply your understanding of stakeholder needs, plan and create BI visuals, and design reporting tools, including dashboards. You’ll also explore how to answer business questions with flexible and interactive dashboards that can monitor data over long periods of time.

Google employees who currently work in BI will guide you through this course by providing hands-on activities that simulate job tasks, sharing examples from their day-to-day work, and helping you build business intelligence skills to prepare for a career in the field.

Learners who complete the three courses in this certificate program will have the skills needed to apply for business intelligence jobs. This certificate program assumes prior knowledge of foundational analytical principles, skills, and tools covered in the Google Data Analytics Certificate.

By the end of this course, you will:

-Explain how BI visualizations answer business questions

-Identify complications that may arise during the creation of BI visualizations

-Produce charts that represent BI data monitored over time

-Use dashboard and reporting tools

-Build dashboards using best practices to meet stakeholder needs

-Iterate on a dashboard to meet changing project requirements

-Design BI presentations to share insights with stakeholders

-Create or update a resume and prepare for BI interviews

What's inside

Syllabus

Business intelligence visualizations

You’ll learn about the foundations of BI dashboards, including how they differ from other data analytics dashboards. You’ll also explore how to use dynamic visualizations to answer business questions. Finally, you’ll develop an understanding of how a dashboard’s interactivity empowers stakeholders.

Visualize results

You’ll consider the tradeoffs involved with building a BI visualization, and you’ll practice creating charts and visualizations. You’ll also explore effective ways to organize elements within a dashboard. Finally, you’ll identify factors that contribute to processing speed and how to maximize dashboard performance.

Automate and monitor

You’ll build charts and organize them to create dashboards that effectively monitor data for the long term. In addition, you’ll put yourself in the role of a BI professional by meeting with a client, practicing question-asking and communication skills, and using the information the client provides to inform your project.

Present business intelligence insights

You’ll explore stakeholder presentations and strategies for sharing dashboards with clients. Then, you’ll focus on preparing for the BI interview process by refining your portfolio, updating your resume, practicing interview techniques that demonstrate your skills to recruiters and hiring managers, and more.

Course 3 end-of-course project

You’ll finish working on your portfolio project by building a BI dashboard. You’ll refer to key BI documents to create a low-fidelity mockup, design charts, and organize your dashboard. Your portfolio artifacts will include a mockup and a working dashboard, which will be ready to present to stakeholders.

Put your Google Business Intelligence Certificate to work

You’ll review what you’ve learned throughout the Google Business Intelligence Certificate and explore additional career resources to establish yourself as a BI professional.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills needed to apply for business intelligence jobs

Builds a foundation for learners with foundational analytical principles, skills, and tools

Emphasizes real-world application through hands-on activities and examples from industry experts

Taught by Google employees who are experts in the field

Focuses on developing skills to interpret business data and create actionable insights

Prepares learners for the job market with resume building, interview techniques, and portfolio development

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 Decisions, Decisions: Dashboards and Reports with these activities:

Read 'Data Visualization: Making Data Meaningful' by Andy Kirk

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Learn about the fundamentals of data visualization and how to use it to communicate insights effectively.

View The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your... on Amazon

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Read the book
Take notes on key concepts
Complete the exercises

Practice using Google Data Studio

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Enhance your skills in using Google Data Studio, the tool you'll use to create dashboards in this course.

Browse courses on Google Data Studio

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Complete the Google Data Studio tutorial
Create a sample dashboard
Share your dashboard with others

Attend a Business Intelligence Workshop or Conference

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Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques in business intelligence.

Browse courses on Professional Development

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Research upcoming business intelligence workshops or conferences.
Register for a workshop or conference that aligns with your interests.
Attend the event and participate in the sessions.

Nine other activities

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Show all 12 activities

Find a Mentor in the Business Intelligence Field

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Gain valuable insights and support from an experienced professional in the field.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify potential mentors who work in business intelligence.
Reach out to your mentors and introduce yourself.
Set up a regular meeting schedule to discuss your career goals and progress.

Attend a Google Data Studio user group meeting

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Connect with other Google Data Studio users and learn from their experiences.

Browse courses on Google Data Studio

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Find a local Google Data Studio user group
Attend a meeting
Introduce yourself and ask questions

Build a Dashboard for a Real-World Dataset

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Create a dashboard that demonstrates your understanding of the principles and techniques covered in the course.

Browse courses on Dashboard Creation

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Identify a dataset that is relevant to your interests or career goals.
Clean and prepare the data for use in a dashboard.
Select the appropriate visualization techniques for your data.
Design a dashboard layout that is both informative and visually appealing.
Present your dashboard to a mock audience and gather feedback.

Create a data dashboard

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Gain hands-on experience in creating data dashboards that effectively communicate insights.

Browse courses on Dashboards

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Identify the data you need
Choose the right visualization tools
Design the dashboard
Present the dashboard

Compile a Portfolio of Your Dashboard Work

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Showcase your dashboard skills by creating a portfolio of your best work.

Browse courses on Dashboard Design

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Gather examples of dashboards that you have created.
Write brief descriptions of each dashboard, highlighting its purpose and key features.
Create a website or online gallery to display your portfolio.

Watch tutorials on advanced dashboard design techniques

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Expand your knowledge of dashboard design best practices and learn how to create more effective dashboards.

Browse courses on Dashboard Design

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Find tutorials on advanced dashboard design techniques
Watch the tutorials
Apply what you learn to your own dashboards

Write a blog post about a data dashboard you've created

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Showcase your skills and share your knowledge by writing a blog post about a data dashboard you've created.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Choose a topic for your blog post
Write the blog post
Publish the blog post

Mentor a junior colleague or student

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Help others develop their skills and knowledge by mentoring them.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Find someone to mentor
Set up a regular meeting time
Provide guidance and support

Start a personal data dashboard project

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Apply your skills and knowledge to a real-world project by starting a personal data dashboard project.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Identify a problem you want to solve
Gather the data you need
Create a dashboard
Share your dashboard with others

Career center

Learners who complete Decisions, Decisions: Dashboards and Reports will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts apply their knowledge of data analysis tools and techniques to solve business problems. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then use data to develop solutions. This course provides a strong foundation in data analysis concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then use data to develop solutions. They help businesses to improve their operations and make better decisions. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on stakeholder engagement will be particularly valuable to Business Analysts, who must be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders from all levels of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to develop new products and services. They work with large datasets and use statistical techniques to identify trends and patterns. This course provides a strong foundation in data science concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on data visualization will be particularly valuable to Data Scientists, who must be able to communicate their findings to stakeholders in a clear and concise way.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data systems. They work with data scientists and other stakeholders to ensure that data is available and accessible for analysis. This course provides a strong foundation in data engineering concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then use programming languages to develop solutions. This course provides a strong foundation in software engineering concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects. They work with stakeholders to define project goals and objectives, and then they develop and implement plans to achieve those goals. This course provides a strong foundation in project management concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on stakeholder engagement will be particularly valuable to Project Managers, who must be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders from all levels of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers develop and manage products. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develop and implement plans to create products that meet those needs. This course provides a strong foundation in product management concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan and execute operations. They work with stakeholders to define operational goals and objectives, and then they develop and implement plans to achieve those goals. This course provides a strong foundation in operations management concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on data analysis will be particularly valuable to Operations Managers, who must be able to analyze data to identify trends and patterns and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns. They work with stakeholders to define marketing goals and objectives, and then they develop and implement plans to achieve those goals. This course provides a strong foundation in marketing concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on data analysis will be particularly valuable to Marketing Managers, who must be able to analyze data to identify trends and patterns and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers plan and execute sales campaigns. They work with stakeholders to define sales goals and objectives, and then they develop and implement plans to achieve those goals. This course provides a strong foundation in sales concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on data analysis will be particularly valuable to Sales Managers, who must be able to analyze data to identify trends and patterns and make informed decisions.

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Account Manager

Account Managers work with clients to develop and maintain relationships. They provide clients with support and advice, and they help them to achieve their business goals. This course provides a strong foundation in account management concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on stakeholder engagement will be particularly valuable to Account Managers, who must be able to communicate effectively with clients from all levels of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Account Manager

Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers work with clients to ensure that they are successful with their products or services. They provide clients with support and advice, and they help them to achieve their business goals. This course provides a strong foundation in customer success management concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on stakeholder engagement will be particularly valuable to Customer Success Managers, who must be able to communicate effectively with clients from all levels of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain documentation for software and other products. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develop and implement documentation that meets those needs. This course provides a strong foundation in technical writing concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

UX Designer

UX Designers design and develop user interfaces for software and other products. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develop and implement designs that meet those needs. This course provides a strong foundation in UX design concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on data analysis will be particularly valuable to UX Designers, who must be able to analyze data to identify trends and patterns and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Data Visualization Specialist

Data Visualization Specialists create and maintain visualizations for data. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develop and implement visualizations that meet those needs. This course provides a strong foundation in data visualization concepts and techniques, and it will help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's focus on stakeholder engagement will be particularly valuable to Data Visualization Specialists, who must be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders from all levels of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist