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There are 5 modules in this course
Turn data into decisions that drive real business impact. In this course, you’ll learn how to align managers, employees, and organizational goals through data analytics and digital transformation. Discover how to view your organization as a “decision factory,” where every team member contributes to smart, evidence-based choices that fuel success.
You’ll explore what makes a good business decision, how to use data for foresight and scenario planning, and how to build a decision-making culture that leverages analytics at every level. Along the way, you’ll gain hands-on experience using low-code/no-code tools, AI, and automation technologies to create data-driven applications that enhance efficiency and insight.
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 videos12 readings6 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 41 minutes
1.1.0 Intro to Week 1•0 minutes
1.1.1 Your Company As a Decision Factory Video•8 minutes
1.2.1 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Customers Make? - Video•9 minutes
1.3.1 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Employees Make? - Video•8 minutes
1.4.1 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Leaders Make? - Video•11 minutes
1.5.1 Porter's Five Forces Model and Your Decision Factory - Video•5 minutes
1.5.4 Week 1 Outro•0 minutes
12 readings•Total 31 minutes
Welcome!•2 minutes
Course Syllabus•3 minutes
Course Instructor•1 minute
FAQs•1 minute
1.1.2 Your Company As a Decision Factory Summary Points•4 minutes
1.2.2 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Customers Make? Summary•6 minutes
1.3.2 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Employees Make? Summary•4 minutes
1.4.2 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Leaders Make? Summary•4 minutes
1.5.2 Porter's Five Forces Model and Your Decision Factory Summary•3 minutes
Don't Forget to Claim You Some PDUs!•1 minute
Week 1 References•1 minute
Leverage Your Learning Today!•1 minute
6 assignments•Total 40 minutes
1.1.3 Your Company As a Decision Factory Knowledge Check•5 minutes
1.2.3 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Customers Make? - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
1.3.3 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Employees Make? - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
1.4.3 What Kind of Decisions Do Your Leaders Make? - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
1.5.3 Porter's Five Forces Model and Your Decision Factory - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
Week 1 Quiz•15 minutes
Week 2 Data-Enabled Decision Making
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
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
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 41 minutes
2.1.0 Week 2 Intro•0 minutes
2.1.1 What is Good Decision Making? - Video•9 minutes
2.2.1 Using Data in Making Decisions - Video•9 minutes
2.3.1 What is Good Data? - Video•5 minutes
2.4.1 Decision Making with Incomplete and Ambiguous Data - Video•10 minutes
2.5.1 Learning from Experience - Video•7 minutes
2.5.4 Week 2 Outro•0 minutes
6 readings•Total 22 minutes
2.1.2 What is Good Decision Making? Summary•4 minutes
2.2.2 Using Data in Making Decisions Summary•5 minutes
2.3.2 What is Good Data? Summary•3 minutes
2.4.2 Decision Making with Incomplete and Ambiguous Data Summary•5 minutes
2.5.2 Learning from Experience Summary•4 minutes
Week 2 References•1 minute
6 assignments•Total 40 minutes
2.1.3 What is Good Decision Making? - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
2.2.3 Using Data in Making Decisions - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
2.3.3 What is Good Data? - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
2.4.3 Decision Making with Incomplete and Ambiguous Data - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
2.5.3 Learning from Experience - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
Untitled•15 minutes
Week 3 Low-Code/No-Code Tools for Data Analytics Products
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
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
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 41 minutes
3.1.1 The Low-Code/No-Code Revolution - Video•6 minutes
3.2.1 Survey of Low-Code/No-Code Tools - Video•5 minutes
3.3.1 Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part One) - Video•9 minutes
3.4.1 Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part Two) - Video•9 minutes
3.5.1 Building the Data Infrastructure for Low-Code/No-Code Applications - Video•8 minutes
3.6.1 Executive Briefing - Video•4 minutes
7 readings•Total 18 minutes
3.1.2 The Low-Code/No-Code Revolution Summary•4 minutes
3.2.2 Survey of Low-Code/No-Code Tools Summary•2 minutes
3.3.2 Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part One) Summary•4 minutes
3.4.2 Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part Two) Summary•3 minutes
3.5.2 Building the Data Infrastructure for Low-Code/No-Code Applications Summary•3 minutes
3.6.2 Executive Briefing Summary•1 minute
Week 3 References•1 minute
6 assignments•Total 40 minutes
3.1.3 The Low-Code/No-Code Revolution - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
3.2.3 Survey of Low-Code/No-Code Tools - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
3.3.3 Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part One) - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
3.4.3 Practicum: Building a Low-Code/No-Code Application (Part Two) - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
3.5.3 Building the Data Infrastructure for Low-Code/No-Code Applications - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
Week 3 Quiz•15 minutes
Week 4 Artificial Intelligence in Data Analytics
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
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
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 47 minutes
4.1.1 How is A.I. used in Data Analytics - Video•7 minutes
4.1.0 Intro to Week 4•0 minutes
4.2.1 Big Data and Deep Learning - Video•11 minutes
4.3.1 Robotic Process Automation - Video•9 minutes
4.4.1 Data Analytics Software: R - Video•6 minutes
4.5.1 Data Analytics Software: Microsoft Power Platform - Video•8 minutes
4.6.1 Executive Briefing - Video•6 minutes
4.6.4 Week 4 Outro•0 minutes
7 readings•Total 20 minutes
4.1.2 How is A.I. used in Data Analytics Summary•3 minutes
4.2.2 Big Data and Deep Learning Summary•4 minutes
4.3.2 Robotic Process Automation Summary•4 minutes
4.4.1 Data Analytics Software: R Summary•3 minutes
4.5.1 Data Analytics Software: Microsoft Power Platform Summary•3 minutes
4.6.2 Executive Briefing Summary•2 minutes
Week 4 References•1 minute
6 assignments•Total 40 minutes
4.1.3 How is A.I. used in Data Analytics - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
4.2.3 Big Data and Deep Learning - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
4.3.3 Robotic Process Automation - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
4.4.3 Data Analytics Software: R - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
4.5.3 Data Analytics Software: Microsoft Power Platform - Knowledge Check•5 minutes
Week 4 Quiz•15 minutes
Final Exam
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
What's included
3 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
3 readings•Total 3 minutes
Leave Your Feedback•1 minute
Don't Forget to Claim You Some PDUs!•1 minute
Continue Your Education with UMD!•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Final Exam •30 minutes
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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.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.