Problem Solving with Excel from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Overview of Excel

In this module, you will learn the basics of Excel navigation and Excel basic functionality. You will learn how to navigate the basic Excel screen including using formulas, subtotals and text formatting. We will provide you an opportunity to perform a problem solving exercise using basic Excel skills. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

vLookups and Data Cleansing

In this module you will learn about VLookup, value cleansing and text functions. We will also introduce you to PwC's perspective on the value in cleansing data and using the appropriate functions. Finally, we will provide you an opportunity to perform a problem solving exercise using VLookup, value cleansing and text function. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

Logical Functions & Pivot Tables

In this module, you will learn about logical functions and pivot tables. We will show you how to create and use pivot tables to solve business problems. We will give you an opportunity to practice creating and using a pivot table to solve a business problem. Finally, we will share some insight on PwC’s perspectives on the impact of Excel on your career and work. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

More Advanced Formulas

In this module you will learn more advanced Excel formulas. We will show you how to create statistical formulas, perform an index match, and lastly, build financial formulas. We will provide you with an opportunity to problem solve using statistical formulas. Finally, we will give you an opportunity to practice what you have learned through a final project. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides hands-on practice with Excel, allowing learners to apply their knowledge and skills

Emphasizes data cleansing, a crucial skill for working with real-world data

Covers advanced Excel formulas, including statistical formulas and financial calculations

Taught by instructors from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a renowned consulting firm

Suitable for beginners looking to build a foundation in Excel

Reviews summary

Excel solution mastery

learners say this course has engaging assignments that help students solve business problems using Excel functions. The course covers a wide range of topics, from basic formulas to advanced financial analysis techniques. Overall, this course provides a strong foundation in Excel skills for professionals looking to advance their careers.

The course is well-paced with clear explanations. The instructors do a good job of breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand terms.

"The videos are a clear and the fact that you have your own excel file to with data to practice, truly makes it great."

"The entire course was excellent."

The course prepares students for real-world applications of Excel by providing practical examples and case studies.

"The course content is fantastic starting from basics and then swiftly moving to advanced functions."

"What I loved the most about the course is that it's hands-on and it's fast."

This course covers a wide range of Excel topics, from basic formulas to advanced financial analysis techniques, providing a well-rounded foundation in Excel skills.

"The contents in this course help to vastly enhance one's workflow and basically resolves many of the everyday inconveniences I had with Excel when I didn't know all this."

"Frequently use function to solve a business problem are there in this course."

The course offers interactive exercises and challenging final projects that allow students to apply their Excel knowledge in real-world scenarios.

"The interactive exercises in the course are very helpful in applying the skills learned."

"I now have enough confidence to work with Excel and solve business problems using it."

Some students have reported issues with video and audio quality in certain lessons, which may have impacted their learning experience.

"The videos were a bit difficult to follow with at times since some instructors went too fast and there were also some display issues."

"The audio quality in some videos was poor."

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 Problem Solving with Excel with these activities:

Read the book 'Excel for Dummies'

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Reading this book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of Excel and its features.

View Excel 2010 For Dummies eBook Set on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book
Read the book
Take notes on the key concepts

Review Excel Documentation

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Review Excel documentation and tutorials to refresh your knowledge of Excel's functions and features.

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Go to the Microsoft Excel website.
Click on the 'Support' tab.
Read through the documentation for the specific functions you need to review.
Watch tutorials on YouTube or other video-sharing sites.

Follow a tutorial on using Excel for data cleaning

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Following a tutorial on data cleaning will help you learn the techniques for preparing data for analysis.

Browse courses on Excel Functions

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Find a tutorial on data cleaning in Excel
Watch the tutorial and follow the instructions
Practice the techniques on your own dataset

16 other activities

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Join a Study Group

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Join a study group to discuss the course material and work on problems together.

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Find a study group that meets your schedule and learning style.
Attend study group meetings regularly.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Work together on problem sets and assignments.

Excel Study Group

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Engage with peers to discuss Excel concepts, solve problems, and share knowledge, fostering a supportive learning environment.

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Form a study group with other Excel learners.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials and practice exercises.
Collaborate on projects and provide feedback to each other.
Attend group study sessions led by a facilitator.

Perform exercises on Excel formulas

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Working through exercises on Excel formulas will help you solidify your understanding of how to use them in practice.

Browse courses on Excel Formulas

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Access the online Excel exercises
Choose an exercise to work on
Follow the instructions to complete the exercise
Check your answers

Practice Excel Exercises

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Practice Excel exercises to reinforce your understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

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Download practice exercises from the course materials.
Work through the exercises step-by-step.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.

Excel Practice: VLOOKUP & Data Cleansing Exercise

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Reinforce your understanding of VLOOKUP and data cleansing techniques by practicing on a real-world dataset.

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Download the provided dataset.
Follow the step-by-step instructions to perform VLOOKUP and data cleansing.
Check your results against the provided answer key.

Practice using Excel pivot tables

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Practicing with pivot tables will help you develop the skills needed to summarize and analyze data effectively.

Browse courses on Excel Functions

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Access the online Excel exercises
Choose an exercise to work on
Follow the instructions to complete the exercise
Check your answers

Excel Tutorial: Master Pivot Tables

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Enhance your Excel skills by learning to create and use pivot tables effectively for data analysis and visualization.

Browse courses on Pivot Tables

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Find a guided tutorial on creating and using pivot tables.
Follow along with the tutorial, practicing the steps on your own dataset.
Create a pivot table to solve a real-world business problem.

Volunteer at a non-profit organization that uses Excel

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Volunteering at a non-profit organization will allow you to use your Excel skills to make a positive impact.

Browse courses on Excel

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Find a non-profit organization that uses Excel
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Volunteer for a project that uses Excel
Use your Excel skills to help the organization

Attend an Excel Workshop

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Attend an Excel workshop to learn from experts and improve your skills.

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Find an Excel workshop that focuses on the topics you need to learn.
Register for the workshop and pay the registration fee.
Attend the workshop and participate actively.
Take notes and ask questions during the workshop.

Attend a workshop on advanced Excel techniques

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Attending a workshop will allow you to learn from an expert and get hands-on experience with advanced Excel techniques.

Browse courses on Advanced Excel Techniques

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Find a workshop on advanced Excel techniques
Register for the workshop
Attend the workshop

Create a financial model in Excel

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Creating a financial model will help you apply your Excel skills to a real-world business problem.

Browse courses on Excel Functions

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Gather the necessary data
Build the financial model
Validate the model
Present the model to stakeholders

Create an Excel Workbook

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Create an Excel workbook to apply your skills and solve a real-world problem.

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Identify a problem that you can solve using Excel.
Design a workbook that includes the necessary worksheets and formulas.
Enter data into the workbook and apply formulas.
Format the workbook and create charts and graphs.
Share the workbook with others for feedback.

Excel Project: Financial Analysis Dashboard

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Apply your Excel knowledge to create a comprehensive dashboard for financial analysis and decision-making.

Browse courses on Financial Analysis

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Gather financial data from various sources.
Cleanse and prepare the data for analysis.
Create charts, graphs, and tables to visualize the data.
Develop formulas and calculations for financial analysis.
Present the dashboard to stakeholders.

Mentor a junior Excel user

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Mentoring a junior Excel user will allow you to reinforce your own knowledge and skills.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Find a junior Excel user to mentor
Meet with your mentee regularly
Answer their questions
Provide them with feedback
Help them develop their Excel skills

Excel Macro Automation Project

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Develop a project that automates a repetitive task using Excel macros, enhancing your efficiency and productivity.

Browse courses on Excel Macros

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Identify a repetitive task that can be automated.
Learn the basics of Excel macro programming.
Write and record a macro to automate the task.
Test and refine the macro.
Document the macro for future use.

Attend a networking event for Excel users

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Attending a networking event will allow you to connect with other Excel users and learn about their experiences.

Browse courses on Networking

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Find a networking event for Excel users
Register for the event
Attend the event
Network with other Excel users
Learn about their experiences with Excel

Career center

Learners who complete Problem Solving with Excel will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Management Consultant

Management Consultants use Excel to analyze data, solve problems, and make recommendations. They may work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Management Consultant. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, problem solving, and financial modeling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use Excel to clean, analyze, and visualize data. They may work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Data Scientist. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data cleaning, data analysis, and data visualization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use Excel to model business processes, analyze data, and make recommendations. They may work in a variety of industries, including consulting, banking, and technology. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Business Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as process mapping, data analysis, and financial modeling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use Excel to model and analyze complex systems. They may work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Operations Research Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, simulation, and optimization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Statistician

Statisticians use Excel to analyze data and make inferences. They may work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and education. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Statistician. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, statistical modeling, and forecasting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use Excel to clean, analyze, and visualize data. They may work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Data Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data cleaning, data analysis, and data visualization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use Excel to build models, analyze data, and make recommendations. They may work in a variety of industries, including investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Financial Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, financial modeling, and valuation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Risk Manager

Risk Managers use Excel to assess and manage risks. They may also perform other tasks, such as risk modeling and risk reporting. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Risk Manager. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, risk modeling, and risk reporting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Financial Planner

Financial Planners use Excel to create and manage financial plans. They may also perform other tasks, such as investment planning and retirement planning. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Financial Planner. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, financial planning, and investment planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Auditor

Auditors use Excel to review financial statements and ensure that they are accurate and compliant with regulations. They may also perform other tasks, such as risk assessment and fraud investigation. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Auditor. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, financial modeling, and risk assessment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Accountant

Accountants are responsible for a wide range of tasks related to financial recording and reporting. They may prepare financial statements, manage budgets, or conduct audits. Accountants often use Excel to analyze financial data, create reports, and make recommendations. The Problem Solving with Excel course can provide you with the skills you need to succeed as an Accountant. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data entry, data analysis, and financial modeling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Budget Analyst

Budget Analysts use Excel to create and manage budgets. They may also perform other tasks, such as financial planning and forecasting. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Budget Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, financial planning, and forecasting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Budget Analyst

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts use Excel to analyze investment opportunities. They may also perform other tasks, such as portfolio management and financial modeling. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Investment Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, financial modeling, and portfolio management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst

Pricing Analyst

Pricing Analysts use Excel to analyze pricing data and make pricing recommendations. They may also perform other tasks, such as market research and competitive analysis. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Pricing Analyst. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, pricing analysis, and competitive analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pricing Analyst

Excel Developer

Excel Developers use Excel to create and modify macros and add-ins. They may also perform other tasks, such as data analysis and visualization. The Problem Solving with Excel course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Excel Developer. You will learn how to use Excel to perform tasks such as data analysis, macro programming, and add-in development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Excel Developer