Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models from Coursera

The simple spreadsheet is one of the most powerful data analysis tools that exists, and it’s available to almost anyone. Major corporations and small businesses alike use spreadsheet models to determine where key measures of their success are now, and where they are likely to be in the future. But in order to get the most out of a spreadsheet, you have the know-how to use it. This course is designed to give you an introduction to basic spreadsheet tools and formulas so that you can begin harness the power of spreadsheets to map the data you have now and to predict the data you may have in the future. Through short, easy-to-follow demonstrations, you’ll learn how to use Excel or Sheets so that you can begin to build models and decision trees in future courses in this Specialization.

Basic familiarity with, and access to, Excel or Sheets is required.

What's inside

Syllabus

Spreadsheets: A Tool for Thinking with Numbers

This module was designed to introduce you to the history of spreadsheets, their basic capabilities, and how they can be used to create models. You'll learn the different types of data used in spreadsheets, spreadsheet notations for mathematical operations, common built-in formulas and functions, conditional expressions, relative and absolute references, and how to identify and correct circular references. By the end of this module, you'll understand the context of spreadsheets, be able to navigate a spreadsheet, use built-in formulas and functions in spreadsheets, create your own simple formulas, and identify and correct common errors so you can put spreadsheets to work for you.

From Spreadsheet to Model

In this module, you'll move from spreadsheet to model, so you can begin to create your own models that reflect real-world events. You'll learn how to organize and lay out model elements, as well as the types of objective functions and their use. You'll also learn what-if analysis and scenarios, sensitivity analysis, and other classic models. By the end of this module, you'll be able to design a spreadsheet reflecting assumptions, decision variables, and outcomes, create a basic cashflow model, evaluate a small business opportunity, conduct what-if analysis, identify key variables using sensitivity analysis, and linear programming models and deterministic models.

Addressing Uncertainty and Probability in Models

This module was designed to introduce you to how you can use spreadsheets to address uncertainty and probability. You'll learn about random variables, probability distributions, power, exponential, and log functions in model formulas, models for calculating probability trees and decision trees, how to use regression tools to make predictions, as well as multiple regression. By the end of this module, you'll be able to measure correlations between variables using spreadsheet statistical functions, understand the results of functions that calculate correlations, use regression tools to make predictions, and improve forecasts with multiple regression.

Simulation and Optimization

In this module, you'll learn to use spreadsheets to implement Monte Carlo simulations as well as linear programs for optimization. You'll examine the purpose of Monte Carlo simulations, how to implement Monte Carlo simulations in spreadsheets, the types of problems you can address with linear programs and how to implement those linear programs in spreadsheets. By the end of this module, you'll be able to model uncertainty and risk in spreadsheets, and use Excel's solver to optimize resources to reach a desired outcome. You'll also be able to identify the similarities and differences between Excel and Sheets, and be prepared for the next course in the Business and Financial Modeling Specialization.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Helps learners understand the nuts and bolts of spreadsheets, which is standard in business and finance

Taught by Don Huesman, who is recognized for their work in spreadsheet modeling

Examines spreadsheet models, which are highly relevant to business and finance

Covers topics such as what-if analysis and scenarios, which are essential for financial planning

Requires basic familiarity with Excel or Sheets, which may be a barrier for some learners

Teaches spreadsheet skills that are foundational for data analysis and financial modeling

Reviews summary

Spreadsheets and models

Students say this course is informative and provides lots of examples. Students report that they can apply what they have learned at their workplace and believe it will be helpful in the future.

Learners found that this course's material can be applied at their workplace.

"It can be applied on my work culture and it will be helpful in future"

Learners found this course to be informative.

"This Course was Informative with lots of examples .."

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 Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models with these activities:

Gather and organize learning materials

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Prepare for success by collecting and organizing course materials in advance.

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Download and print lecture slides and notes
Create a dedicated folder for assignments and quizzes
Prepare a notebook for taking notes

Review basic spreadsheet operations

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Solidify understanding of fundamental spreadsheet concepts, such as data types and formulas, to prepare for more advanced coursework.

Browse courses on Spreadsheet Basics

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Revisit common spreadsheet functions
Practice using relative and absolute cell references
Review conditional formatting and data validation techniques

Attend an Excel or Sheets workshop

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Enhance practical skills and gain exposure to advanced techniques through a structured workshop led by an experienced instructor.

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Identify and register for a relevant workshop
Attend the workshop and take notes
Practice and apply the techniques learned

Five other activities

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Create interactive dashboards in Sheets or Excel

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Develop proficiency in using visualization tools to present spreadsheet data in a clear and visually appealing way.

Browse courses on Spreadsheet Basics

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Create a basic dashboard with charts and graphs
Incorporate conditional formatting and slicers for interactive filtering
Publish and share dashboards with others

Explore advanced formula techniques

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Expand knowledge of spreadsheet formulas and functions to enhance modeling and data analysis capabilities.

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Master lookup and reference functions, such as VLOOKUP and INDEX
Understand array formulas and their applications
Explore advanced statistical functions for data analysis

Develop a tutorial on a specific spreadsheet topic

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Reinforce understanding and solidify knowledge by creating a tutorial that explains a specific spreadsheet topic to others.

Browse courses on Spreadsheet Basics

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Select a topic to focus on
Research and gather relevant information
Develop clear and concise instructions
Share the tutorial with others

Create a financial model for a business venture

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Apply spreadsheet skills to real-world scenarios by developing a comprehensive financial model for a business venture.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

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Gather and organize financial data
Build a cash flow statement and income statement
Conduct sensitivity analysis to assess financial performance
Present the model to stakeholders

Contribute to a spreadsheet library or framework

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Make meaningful contributions to the spreadsheet community by collaborating on open-source projects.

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Identify a suitable project
Review the project's documentation and codebase
Implement a new feature or fix a bug
Submit a pull request and participate in code review

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst uses spreadsheets to evaluate businesses and make investment recommendations. This course provides a strong foundation in spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to analyze financial data, build financial models, and make informed investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Financial Risk Manager

A Financial Risk Manager uses spreadsheets to identify and manage financial risks. This course provides a comprehensive overview of spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to analyze financial data, build risk models, and make informed risk management decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Risk Manager

Management Consultant

A Management Consultant uses spreadsheets to analyze businesses and develop solutions to improve their performance. This course provides a strong foundation in spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to analyze data, build business models, and make informed recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Operations Research Analyst

An Operations Research Analyst uses spreadsheets to solve complex business problems. This course provides a comprehensive overview of spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to build optimization models, simulate business processes, and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst uses spreadsheets to analyze data and identify trends. This course provides a strong foundation in spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to clean and prepare data, build data models, and visualize data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst uses spreadsheets to analyze businesses and develop solutions to improve their performance. This course provides a strong foundation in spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to analyze data, build business models, and make informed recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Marketing Analyst

A Marketing Analyst uses spreadsheets to analyze marketing data and identify trends. This course provides a strong foundation in spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to clean and prepare data, build data models, and visualize data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst

Project Manager

A Project Manager uses spreadsheets to plan and track projects. This course provides a strong foundation in spreadsheet modeling and can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to create project plans, track progress, and manage resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst uses spreadsheets to analyze and design systems. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to create flowcharts, mockups, and other systems design documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer uses spreadsheets to design and develop software. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to create flowcharts, mockups, and other software design documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

IT Project Manager

An IT Project Manager uses spreadsheets to plan and track IT projects. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to create project plans, track progress, and manage resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager

Statistician

A Statistician uses spreadsheets to analyze data and identify trends. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to clean and prepare data, build data models, and visualize data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses spreadsheets to analyze data and identify trends. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to clean and prepare data, build data models, and visualize data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Auditor

An Auditor uses spreadsheets to review financial data and ensure accuracy. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to create audit checklists, track audit progress, and generate reports.

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Accountant

An Accountant uses spreadsheets to track financial data and prepare financial statements. This course may be useful for developing the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets to create financial models, track expenses, and generate reports.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant