Making Evidence-Based Strategic Decisions

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Making Evidence-Based Strategic Decisions

This course is part of Transforming Your Company's Data Analytics Specialization

Instructor: William A. Brantley

Included with Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Apply data analytics principles to make informed decisions, even with incomplete or uncertain data.
Design systems that help teams make smarter, faster decisions .
Leverage low-code/no-code and AI technologies to create data solutions that drive innovation and competitive advantage.
Empower your organization and your career, by mastering the tools and strategies that turn data into decisions.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Microsoft Power Platform

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

25 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Transforming Your Company's Data Analytics Specialization

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 5 modules in this course

Turn data into decisions that drive real business impact. In this course, you'll learn how to make evidence-based strategic decisions by using data analytics, AI, and digital transformation to align people, processes, and organizational goals.

You'll explore what makes effective business decisions, how to use data for forecasting and scenario planning, and how to foster a decision-making culture that leverages analytics across the organization. You'll also discover the concept of the organization as a "decision factory," where every team member contributes to smarter, data-informed decisions. Through practical examples and hands-on experience with low-code/no-code tools, AI, and automation technologies, you'll learn how to build data-driven solutions that improve efficiency and support better strategic outcomes. Designed for managers, project leaders, business professionals, analysts, entrepreneurs, and students, this course equips you with practical skills to confidently evaluate opportunities, solve complex problems, and make smarter strategic decisions in today's data-driven world.

Discover the concept of the decision factory—how organizations turn information into action. Learn to identify the types of decisions made by customers, employees, leaders, and competitors, and explore how these decisions shape business success.

What's included

7 videos9 readings6 assignments

7 videosTotal 41 minutes

Intro to Week 10 minutes
Your Company As a Decision Factory Video8 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Customers Make? - Video9 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Employees Make? - Video8 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Leaders Make? - Video11 minutes
Porter's Five Forces Model and Your Decision Factory - Video5 minutes
Week 1 Outro0 minutes

9 readingsTotal 32 minutes

Welcome!2 minutes
Course Syllabus3 minutes
Your Company As a Decision Factory- Lesson Summary4 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Customers Make? Summary6 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Employees Make? Summary5 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Leaders Make? Summary5 minutes
Porter's Five Forces Model and Your Decision Factory Summary5 minutes
Week 1 References1 minute
Leverage Your Learning Today!1 minute

6 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

Your Company As a Decision Factory Knowledge Check5 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Customers Make? - Knowledge Check5 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Employees Make? - Knowledge Check5 minutes
What Kind of Decisions Do Your Leaders Make? - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Porter's Five Forces Model and Your Decision Factory - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Week 1 Quiz15 minutes

Learn what makes a great decision and how to select high-quality data to support it. You’ll also explore strategies for making sound choices with incomplete or uncertain data and discover practical ways to learn and improve from experience.

What's included

7 videos6 readings6 assignments

7 videosTotal 41 minutes

Week 2 Intro0 minutes
What is Good Decision Making? - Video9 minutes
Using Data in Making Decisions - Video9 minutes
What is Good Data? - Video5 minutes
Decision Making with Incomplete and Ambiguous Data - Video10 minutes
Learning from Experience - Video7 minutes
Week 2 Outro0 minutes

6 readingsTotal 32 minutes

What is Good Decision Making? Summary4 minutes
Using Data in Making Decisions Summary7 minutes
What is Good Data? Summary6 minutes
Decision Making with Incomplete and Ambiguous Data Summary8 minutes
Learning from Experience Summary6 minutes
Week 2 References1 minute

6 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

What is Good Decision Making? - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Using Data in Making Decisions - Knowledge Check5 minutes
What is Good Data? - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Decision Making with Incomplete and Ambiguous Data - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Learning from Experience - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Untitled15 minutes

Explore how non-technical “citizen developers” are transforming business by building powerful applications using low-code and no-code tools. Understand why a strong data infrastructure is essential for success in this new era of digital innovation.

What's included

6 videos7 readings6 assignments

6 videosTotal 41 minutes

The Low-Code/No-Code Revolution - Video6 minutes
Survey of Low-Code/No-Code Tools - Video5 minutes
Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part One) - Video9 minutes
Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part Two) - Video9 minutes
Building the Data Infrastructure for Low-Code/No-Code Applications - Video8 minutes
Executive Briefing - Video4 minutes

7 readingsTotal 26 minutes

The Low-Code/No-Code Revolution Summary6 minutes
Survey of Low-Code/No-Code Tools Summary5 minutes
Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part One) Summary4 minutes
Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part Two) Summary3 minutes
Building the Data Infrastructure for Low-Code/No-Code Applications Summary3 minutes
Executive Briefing Summary4 minutes
Week 3 References1 minute

6 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

The Low-Code/No-Code Revolution - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Survey of Low-Code/No-Code Tools - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part One) - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part Two) - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Building the Data Infrastructure for Low-Code/No-Code Applications - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Week 3 Quiz15 minutes

See how artificial intelligence is reshaping data analytics. You’ll dive into robotic process automation (RPA), deep learning, and advanced analytics using tools such as R and Microsoft Power Platform - unlocking smarter, faster decision-making capabilities.

What's included

8 videos7 readings6 assignments

8 videosTotal 47 minutes

How is A.I. used in Data Analytics - Video7 minutes
Intro to Week 40 minutes
Big Data and Deep Learning - Video11 minutes
Robotic Process Automation - Video9 minutes
Data Analytics Software: R - Video6 minutes
Data Analytics Software: Microsoft Power Platform - Video8 minutes
Executive Briefing - Video6 minutes
Week 4 Outro0 minutes

7 readingsTotal 33 minutes

How is A.I. used in Data Analytics Summary3 minutes
Big Data and Deep Learning Summary7 minutes
Robotic Process Automation Summary8 minutes
Data Analytics Software: R Summary3 minutes
Data Analytics Software: Microsoft Power Platform Summary5 minutes
Executive Briefing Summary6 minutes
Week 4 References1 minute

6 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

How is A.I. used in Data Analytics - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Big Data and Deep Learning - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Robotic Process Automation - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Data Analytics Software: R - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Data Analytics Software: Microsoft Power Platform - Knowledge Check5 minutes
Week 4 Quiz15 minutes

Test your knowledge!

What's included

3 readings1 assignment

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

William A. Brantley

University of Maryland, College Park

12 Courses10,006 learners

Offered by

University of Maryland, College Park

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