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Business and Data Analysis Skills

Jim Pautz

4.0

Based on 1 rating

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Jim Pautz

In the modern workplace, it’s crucial to know how to analyze, synthesize, and tell stories with data. This self-paced career development course will help you learn how to use a spreadsheet application (like Microsoft Excel) as a powerful analytical and communication tool. You will perform real-world market and financial analyses and practice presenting your findings visually for maximum impact. By the end of the course, you will be able to make data-driven decisions that help your organization grow and prosper.

This is the fourth course in Fullbridge’s four-part Career Development XSeries, designed to prepare you to succeed in the modern workplace.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

How to use spreadsheet applications like microsoft excel to execute basic analyses
How to determine the most appropriate excel functions for different tasks
How to calculate and analyze market size and market share

How to visualize and communicate data with charts and graphs
How to critically read visualized data
How to communicate different types of revenue, cost, and key profitability metrics

How to use spreadsheet applications like microsoft excel to execute basic analyses
How to determine the most appropriate excel functions for different tasks
How to calculate and analyze market size and market share
How to visualize and communicate data with charts and graphs
How to critically read visualized data
How to communicate different types of revenue, cost, and key profitability metrics

Syllabus

This is a self-paced course and can be completed according to your own schedule. Our recommendation is to complete the course over four weeks, with one to two hours of time spent working through the course per week. After the Course Introduction, each section should take approximately one to two hours to complete.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches data analysis and spreadsheet applications, which are standard in industry

Taught by Jim Pautz, who is recognized for their work in spreadsheet applications

Develops data visualization and analysis skills, which are essential for decision-making and problem-solving in the workplace

Examines market and financial analysis using Excel, which are highly relevant to business professions

Covers spreadsheet basics with Excel, making it accessible to learners with limited experience

Requires students to take other courses first as prerequisites

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Reviews summary

Business data analysis using excel

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation in using Microsoft Excel for business data analysis. Many find it very useful and practical, especially for those new to applying spreadsheet skills in a professional context. Students particularly appreciate the sections on market analysis and financial analysis, finding the real-world examples helpful. While generally well-received as a starting point, some learners note that it may be too basic if you already have intermediate or advanced Excel knowledge, suggesting its primary value is for beginners or those needing to formalize their skills for business application.

Flexible and manageable learning schedule.

"Being self-paced was ideal for fitting this into my busy work schedule."

"The recommended weekly structure was very helpful for staying on track without feeling rushed."

"Sections are bite-sized and manageable, perfect for completing over a few weeks."

"I liked that I could go back and review lessons at my own pace."

Content is well-explained and easy to follow.

"The instructions were clear and easy to understand, even for complex topics."

"The instructor did a good job explaining how and why certain Excel functions are used."

"I found the explanations concise and to the point, making it easy to grasp concepts quickly."

"The content is presented in a logical flow which helps in following along."

Focuses on market and financial analysis examples.

"The examples on market size and financial metrics were incredibly relevant and useful."

"I appreciated the focus on real-world business scenarios like market analysis and financial calculations."

"Learning how to calculate market share and analyze financial statements in Excel was very practical."

"Applying Excel functions to actual business problems made the concepts stick."

Provides a solid foundation in Excel for business.

"Provides a solid foundation in using Excel for business applications."

"Great course to get a strong base in data analysis using spreadsheets."

"Perfect for anyone starting out with Excel in a business environment. I learned a lot of basics."

"This course gives you a very good introduction to using spreadsheet tools for analytical purposes relevant to business."

Limited depth for those with prior Excel experience.

"If you already know Excel basics, much of the first section might be repetitive."

"Was hoping for more advanced functions or analytical techniques beyond the fundamentals covered."

"Good for absolute beginners, but those with some experience might find it lacks depth."

"The course is a great start, but doesn't go into significant detail on 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 and Data Analysis Skills with these activities:

Review Data Analytics Using Excel by Michael Alexander

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Review this book to refresh knowledge of data analytics and Microsoft Excel.

View Microsoft Excel 2019 Pivot Table Data Crunching... on Amazon

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Get a copy of the book.
Read through the chapters that cover the foundational concepts of data analytics and Microsoft Excel.
Complete the practice problems at the end of each chapter.

Review Storytelling with Data by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic

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Review this book to gain insights on communicating data effectively.

View Daphne Draws Data: A Storytelling with Data... on Amazon

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Get a copy of the book.
Read through the chapters that cover the foundational concepts of data storytelling.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.

Participate in a study group with other students in the course

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A study group will help you stay motivated and reinforce your understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Find other students in the course who are interested in forming a study group.
Set up a regular meeting schedule.
Review course material together.
Work on practice problems and projects together.
Quiz each other on the material.

Five other activities

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Volunteer with a non-profit organization that uses data analysis

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Volunteering will provide you with hands-on experience in data analysis and Excel.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Identify a non-profit organization that uses data analysis.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Complete the necessary training.
Assist the organization with data analysis projects.

Complete Excel drills on market analysis and financial analysis

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Practice drills will help you reinforce your understanding of market and financial analysis in Excel.

Browse courses on Market Analysis

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Find a set of Excel drills on market analysis and financial analysis.
Complete the drills, making sure to check your answers against the provided solutions.
Review the concepts that you struggled with.

Create a blog post or article on a topic related to data analysis with Microsoft Excel

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Creating a blog post or article will help you solidify your understanding of data analysis and Excel.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Choose a topic related to data analysis with Microsoft Excel.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a blog post or article that is informative and engaging.
Publish your blog post or article on a relevant platform.

Create a data visualization dashboard in Microsoft Excel

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Creating a dashboard will help you apply your Excel skills and demonstrate your ability to communicate data effectively.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Gather data from a reliable source.
Clean and prepare your data in Excel.
Select appropriate charts and graphs to visualize your data.
Design a user-friendly dashboard layout.

Develop a financial model in Microsoft Excel

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Developing a financial model will challenge your knowledge of financial analysis and Excel.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

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Identify a business or investment opportunity to analyze.
Gather financial data from relevant sources.
Build out a financial model in Excel, including assumptions, calculations, and projections.
Analyze the results of your model and make recommendations.

Career center

Learners who complete Business and Data Analysis Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to visualize and communicate data with charts and graphs. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Data Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts are responsible for analyzing financial data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to communicate different types of revenue, cost, and key profitability metrics. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Financial Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts are responsible for conducting research to help businesses understand their target market. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to calculate and analyze market size and market share. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Market Research Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes to help businesses improve their efficiency and effectiveness. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to visualize and communicate data with charts and graphs. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Business Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

Consultants are responsible for providing advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to visualize and communicate data with charts and graphs. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to calculate and analyze market size and market share. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Product Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses, how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks, and how to calculate and analyze market size and market share. By taking this course, you will be well-prepared to enter or advance your career as a Marketing Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating sales teams. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in a sales management role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a business. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in an operations management role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in a project management role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Accountant

Accountants are responsible for managing the financial records of a business. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze financial data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in an accounting role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Auditor

Auditors are responsible for examining the financial records of a business to ensure that they are accurate and compliant with regulations. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze financial data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in an auditing role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants are responsible for preparing and filing tax returns for individuals and businesses. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze financial data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in a tax accounting role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Accountant

Financial Planner

Financial Planners are responsible for helping individuals and families plan for their financial future. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze financial data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in a financial planning role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts are responsible for evaluating and recommending investments. This course may help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role, such as how to use spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel to execute basic analyses and how to determine the most appropriate Excel functions for different tasks. By taking this course, you will gain a better understanding of how to analyze financial data and make informed decisions, which can be helpful in an investment analyst role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst

Reading list

We've selected 38 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Business and Data Analysis Skills.

Data Analytics & Visualization All-in-One For...

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Aligns well with the course's focus on using Excel for data analysis and visualization. It provides a comprehensive guide to Excel's features and techniques, making it a valuable reference for learners looking to enhance their proficiency in the software.

Business and Data Analysis Skills

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Business data analysis using excel

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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