When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
Welcome to Data-driven Decision Making. In this course, you'll get an introduction to Data Analytics and its role in business decisions. You'll learn why data is important and how it has evolved. You'll be introduced to “Big Data” and how it is used. You'll also be introduced to a framework for conducting Data Analysis and what tools and techniques are commonly used. Finally, you'll have a chance to put your knowledge to work in a simulated business setting.
This course was created by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with an address at 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10017.
In this module, you'll learn the basics of data analytics and how businesses use to solve problems. You'll learn the value data analytics brings to business decision-making processes. We’ll introduce you to a framework for data analysis and tools used in data analytics. Finally, we’re going to talk about careers and roles in data analytics and data science. Note: Video transcripts are auto generated and may contain spelling and punctuation errors.
Solving business problems using data analytics•5 minutes
Making business-defining decisions using data analytics•4 minutes
Why do you need a data and analytics framework?•4 minutes
The 4 aspects of the data and analytics framework•4 minutes
Data and analytics framework: tools and techniques•12 minutes
Make better and faster decisions with data and analytics•4 minutes
Data and analytics at PwC•6 minutes
Week 1 recap with Amity and Mike•1 minute
8 readings•Total 90 minutes
Course overview and syllabus•10 minutes
Updating your profile•10 minutes
The value delivered by analytics•10 minutes
PwC's Global Data and Analytics Survey 2016•10 minutes
The data and analytics framework•10 minutes
Types of analytics•10 minutes
Careers and roles in a professional services firm•20 minutes
Learn more about PwC and our career opportunities•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
Week 1 Quiz•15 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Get to know your classmates and share your goals•10 minutes
Making better and faster decisions•10 minutes
Technology and types of data
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module is an introductory look at big data and big data analytics where you will learn the about different types of data. We’ll also introduce you to PwC's perspective on big data and explain the impact of big data on businesses. Finally we will name some of the different types of tools and technologies used to gather data.
The marketplace and emerging trends in big data analytics•11 minutes
Business impacts of technology advancements and data trends•9 minutes
What is Big Data?•12 minutes
PwC's perspective on big data•6 minutes
Data and analytics examples at PwC•5 minutes
Identifying, organizing and processing data•8 minutes
Week 2 recap with Amity and Mike•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 40 minutes
"Structured", "Semi-Structured", and "Unstructured" data•10 minutes
Implications of unstructured data - Case studies•20 minutes
Data tools and technologies•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
Week 2 Quiz•15 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 40 minutes
Predicting the implications of technology advancements•10 minutes
What technology advacements have changed your behaviors?•10 minutes
Data in action discussion•10 minutes
What is the value you can expect from emerging trends in big data?•10 minutes
Data analysis techniques and tools
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this module we will describe some of the tools for data analytics and some of the key technologies for data analysis. We will talk about how visualization is important to the practice of data analytics. Finally we will identify a variety of tools and languages used and consider when those tools are best used.
What's included
8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 38 minutes
Types of data analysis techniques•10 minutes
The role of Excel•3 minutes
The role of SAS•2 minutes
The role of R•6 minutes
The role of Python•6 minutes
The Power of Visualization•4 minutes
The role of QlikView•5 minutes
Week 3 recap with Amity and Mike•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Data analysis approaches and techniques•10 minutes
A Business Example of Data Visualization Tools•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
Week 3 quiz•15 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
What tools have you used?•10 minutes
Data-driven decision making project
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
The course project will give you an opportunity to practice what you have learned. You will participate in a simulated business situation in which you will select the best course of action. You will then prepare a final deliverable which will be evaluated by your peers. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback on your peer's submissions.
What's included
2 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 5 minutes
Intro to Week 4 and Course Project•2 minutes
Course recap with Amity and Mike•3 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Final course simulation•10 minutes
Learn more about PwC and our career opportunities•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Final course simulation quiz•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 90 minutes
Final Project and Peer Review with Feedback•90 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
With offices in 157 countries and more than 208,000 people, PwC is among the leading professional services networks in the world. Our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We help organisations and individuals create the value they’re looking for, by delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services.
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.6
6,185 reviews
5 stars
71.10%
4 stars
21.41%
3 stars
4.92%
2 stars
1.29%
1 star
1.26%
Showing 3 of 6185
D
DB
5·
Reviewed on May 29, 2020
Great course for anyone who wants to learn the frameworks for problem solving with data, and for those who want to learn about the use cases of tools like Python, R, SAS, and many other tools
S
ST
5·
Reviewed on Jul 17, 2019
Informatice, a wise investment if one's time and effort. Get ready for the train to future. Its common sense to be future proof. Excellent and to the point communication by the instructors.
T
TN
5·
Reviewed on Oct 3, 2016
The course is very usefull for finding more about data analytics for making faster and better decisions for business. Thank PWC for giving me this course, it will help me much for my career.
What will I actually learn in this data-driven decision-making course?
You'll learn how organizations use data and analytics to make better business decisions, and how to approach a problem with a clear analysis framework. It starts with what data analytics is and why it matters, then moves into big data, common analysis approaches, and the role of tools and visualization. You'll apply those ideas in a simulated business setting and a final project where you outline a data analysis plan.
Do I need any background in data analytics before starting this course?
No, prior analytics experience isn't expected here, and it doesn't appear to assume programming experience. It begins with the basics of data, analytics, and business decision-making before introducing common tools and techniques. Lessons on tools like Excel and Python are presented as part of the landscape, not as skills you're expected to already have.
Is this course beginner-friendly for data analytics?
Yes, it's a good fit if you're new to data analytics and want to understand how it supports business decisions. The course uses short lessons, readings, and quizzes to explain the ideas before asking you to apply them in a simulation and final project. If you're looking for deep statistical modeling or coding practice, this one will feel more introductory than technical.
How long does it take to complete this course?
You can expect about 9 hours of work in total. Because it's under 10 hours, it's a compact course rather than a long time commitment. The course includes video lessons, readings, quizzes, an interactive simulation, and a peer-reviewed final project.
Are there hands-on exercises, projects, or labs in this course?
Yes, but the hands-on work is business-focused rather than coding-heavy. You'll complete an interactive simulation where you make decisions in a fictional client scenario, and you'll finish with a peer-reviewed project that asks you to create a data analysis plan for a business problem. That practice helps you apply the framework to realistic situations instead of only learning the concepts in the abstract.
What skills, topics, or methods are covered in this course?
You'll cover the main ideas behind data analytics in business, including how organizations use data, how different data types affect analysis, and why big data matters. The course also introduces a repeatable analytics framework, common approaches from descriptive work to predictive methods, and the role of visualization and tools such as Excel and Python. Overall, it's about learning how to frame a business problem, connect data to decisions, and communicate useful insights.
What can I actually do after finishing this course?
After finishing, you should be able to explain how data and analytics support business decisions and use a simple framework to work through a business problem. You'll be able to distinguish common data types, discuss where big data fits, and recognize which analysis approaches or tools may suit a situation. For example, you could outline a data analysis plan for a case and connect your recommendations to the outcome the business is trying to improve.
Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?
It's more concept-first than hands-on. Most of the course is about understanding how data, analytics, and decision-making fit together, with quizzes, a simulation, and a final project used to reinforce those ideas rather than replace them. It's a better fit if you want business context and guided application more than tool-by-tool practice.
Why would I choose this course over other data analytics courses?
This course is a strong choice if you want a business-first introduction to analytics rather than a tool-specific or code-first course. Instead of spending most of the time inside one platform, you'll learn how organizations define outcomes, work with different kinds of data, and turn analysis into action, then practice that in a simulation and final project. If your goal is to understand data-driven decision making clearly before moving into deeper technical training, this course may fit you better than a more coding-focused option.