This course will expose you to the data analytics practices executed in the business world. We will explore such key areas as the analytical process, how data is created, stored, accessed, and how the organization works with data and creates the environment in which analytics can flourish.
What you learn in this course will give you a strong foundation in all the areas that support analytics and will help you to better position yourself for success within your organization. You’ll develop skills and a perspective that will make you more productive faster and allow you to become a valuable asset to your organization.
This course also provides a basis for going deeper into advanced investigative and computational methods, which you have an opportunity to explore in future courses of the Data Analytics for Business specialization.
This course is part of the Advanced Business Analytics Specialization
Introduction to Data Analytics for Business
Offered By
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
1Data and Analysis in the Real World
Welcome to week 1! In this module we’ll learn how to think about analytical problems and examine the process by which data enables analysis & decision making. We’ll introduce a framework called the Information-Action Value chain which describes the path from events in the world to business action, and we’ll look at some of the source systems that are used to capture data. At the end of this course you will be able to: Explain the information lifecycle from events in the real world to business actions, and how to think about analytical problems in that context , Recognize the types of events and characteristics that are often used in business analytics, and explain how the data is captured by source systems and stored using both traditional and emergent technologies, Gain a high-level familiarity with relational databases and learn how to use a simple but powerful language called SQL to extract analytical data sets of interest, Appreciate the spectrum of roles involved in the data lifecycle, and gain exposure to the various ways that organizations structure analytical functions, Summarize some of the key ideas around data quality, data governance, and data privacy
9 videos (Total 58 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
Introduction to the Specialization1m
0. Introduction to Data & Analysis in Real World1m
1. Thinking about Analytical Problems6m
2. Conceptual Business Models6m
3. The information-Action Value Chain (Part 1)9m
4. The information-Action Value Chain (Part 2)11m
5. Real World Events and Characteristics8m
6. Data Capture by Source Systems10m
3 readings
Week 1 Lecture Slides10m
Week 1 Quiz Answer Key10m
You can now start part 1 of the final assignment!1m
1 practice exercise
Week 1 Quiz24m
Week
2Analytical Tools
In this module we’ll learn about the technologies that enable analytical work. We’ll examine data storage and databases, including the relational database. We’ll talk about Big Data and Cloud technologies and ideas like federation, virtualization, and in-memory computing. We’ll also walk through a landscape of some of the more common tool classes and learn how these tools support common analytical tasks.
7 videos (Total 72 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
1. Data Storage and Databases12m
2. Big Data & the Cloud14m
3. Virtualization, Federation, and In-Memory Computing8m
4. The Relational Database14m
5. Data Tools Landscape11m
6. The Tools of the Data Analyst9m
3 readings
Week 2 Lecture Slides10m
Week 2 Quiz Answer Key10m
You can now start part 2 of the final assignment!10m
1 practice exercise
Week 2 Quiz34m
Week
3Data Extraction Using SQL
In this module we’ll learn how to extract data from a relational database using Structured Query Language, or SQL. We’ll cover all the basic SQL commands and learn how to combine and stack data from different tables. We’ll also learn how to expand the power of our queries using operators and handle additional complexity using subqueries.
7 videos (Total 56 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
1. Introduction to SQL9m
2. Aggregating and Sorting Data in SQL11m
3. Extracting Data from Multiple Tables10m
4. Stacking Data with UNION Command5m
5. Extending SQL Queries Using Operators10m
6. Using SQL Subqueries6m
3 readings
Week 3 Lecture Slides10m
Week 3 SQL Assignment Answer Key10m
You can now start part 3 of the final assignment!10m
1 practice exercise
SQL Coding Assignment20m
Week
4Real World Analytical Organizations
In this module we focus on the people and organizations that work with data and actually execute analytics. We’ll discuss who does what and see how organizational structures can influence efficiency and effectiveness. We’ll also look at the supporting rules & processes that help an analytical organization run smoothly, like Data Governance, Data Privacy, and Data Quality.
6 videos (Total 63 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes
6 videos
1. Analytical Organizations – Roles11m
2. Analytical Organizations – Structures11m
3. Data Governance8m
4. Data Privacy17m
5. Data Quality11m
2 readings
Week 4 Lecture Slides10m
Week 4 Quiz Answer Key10m
1 practice exercise
Week 4 Quiz34m
4.6
91 Reviews56%
started a new career after completing these courses
29%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
By KT•Nov 20th 2017
Great course to start your career in Business Analytics. Rich content and well organised. Thoroughly enjoyed doing this course. Highly recommended this course for Analytics enthusiasts.
By HA•Sep 12th 2017
I love this course. the lecture teach me to have a framework of thinking to become an analyst. Although some course need more references from internet, overall the course is great
Instructor
David Torgerson
InstructorAbout University of Colorado Boulder
CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
About the Advanced Business Analytics Specialization
The Advanced Business Analytics Specialization brings together academic professionals and experienced practitioners to share real world data analytics skills you can use to grow your business, increase profits, and create maximum value for your shareholders. Learners gain practical skills in extracting and manipulating data using SQL code, executing statistical methods for descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analysis, and effectively interpreting and presenting analytic results.
The problems faced by decision makers in today’s competitive business environment are complex. Achieve a clear competitive advantage by using data to explain the performance of a business, evaluate different courses of action, and employ a structured approach to business problem-solving.
Check out a one-minute video about this specialization to learn more!
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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