How Can Business Analytics Help Executives Make Better Decisions?
“Big Data” means better business. It’s been shown time and time again that organizations that are data-centric outperform those that are not. More and more business leaders are turning to data-driven decision-making to make better predictions, create a competitive advantage, improve business decisions, and increase value for their business. Business analytics and data analysis are critical skills for business professionals as the availability of broad and deep sources of information, "Big Data," becomes even more prevalent.
By understanding how to effectively sift through and analyze data, participants will be able to make more informed business decisions that allow them to successfully meet their business objectives while also uncovering and addressing any business challenges. In this six-week business analytics online program, participants will gain foundational insights and impactful tools for business analytics and data analysis so that they can:
Data-Driven Business Decisions Make a Big Difference
Effective business leaders know how data analysis can be used to overcome business challenges, find the best decision, and create rewarding opportunities.
With this business analytics program, participants will have an opportunity to:
This asynchronous business analytics program was designed to introduce strategies to tackle business challenges in three main areas of data analysis:
1. Predictive Analytics
Learn the foundational elements of predictive business analytics; select topics include logistic regression, K-nearest neighbor, quality of predictions, and ROC. Discover how to predict a continuous outcome, a 0 or 1 outcome, the flaw of averages, the quality of fit, prediction errors, and future performance based on past performance.
2. Prescriptive Analytics
Take a deeper dive into prescriptive analytics decision-making including data analysis with a deterministic objective, multiple objectives, under uncertainty, and with an unclear link between decisions and impact. Get the data analysis tools needed for testing, simulating, and optimizing.
3. Implementation
Get a deeper understanding of structured decision-making from concept to deployment including decision support systems that remove biases in the system and reduce inefficiencies.
The program’s robust content is organized into bite-sized lecture videos with case studies from varying industries, self-assessments, peer learning and virtual office hours. The estimated time commitment per week is 4-6 hours.
1. Introduction to Business Analytics
Introduces business analytics and its main levers that organizations use to capture value through it.
2. Leading Analytics
Review a common business analytics tool to leverage the data and for predicting outcomes: Logistic Regression.
Business analytics has become more critical than ever especially as it’s been applied to a growing variety of functions such as operations, marketing, finance, and strategic planning. Charles Daniel Guetta, faculty co-director of the Business Analytics (Online): Create Value Through Data Analysis program, shares key insights into what data business analytics skills will be needed now and in the future.
Data analysis can be used to overcome business challenges, find the best decision, and create rewarding opportunities. Mark N. Broadie, faculty co-director of the Business Analytics (Online): Create Value Through Data Analysis program, shares key insights into the real-world solutions as well as the limitations business analytics can provide.
Business analytics is the tool that helps you challenge your intuition and question the status quo. Omar Besbes, faculty co-director of the Business Analytics (Online): Create Value Through Data Analysis program, shares key insights into how business analytics provides a key competitive edge.
For many workers, data literacy is like a foreign language. When you don’t speak the language, confusion and frustration take hold. Ciamac C. Moallemi, faculty co-director of the Business Analytics (Online): Create Value Through Data Analysis program, shares key insights into translating this business language.
General
What is the educational approach of your online programs?
You can expect a robust, multi-layered learning experience that emphasizes the development of the higher order thinking skills which were proposed by educational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Bloom in “Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning.” According to Bloom, the development of higher order thinking skills requires guiding the learner from just knowledge recall to comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Bloom’s Taxonomy was later revised and expressed in more action-orientated terms as 1) remembering, 2) understanding, 3) applying, 4) analyzing, 5) evaluating and 6) creating. In online learning at Columbia Business School Executive Education, you will have an opportunity to progress through these key phases of learning so that by the end each program, your return on learning will be clearly measurable.
What is the difference between live online and online programs?
Compare our two formats for distance learning here.
Format
How long do your online programs run for?
Our online programs range between 3 to 18 weeks in length.
Are your online programs synchronous or asynchronous?
Our online programs are mostly asynchronous, meaning that there is generally no live contact with faculty. Unless otherwise specified in the program description, all lectures are delivered through recorded media. Interactions between learners, facilitators, and faculty are conducted via discussion boards, email, and announcements, and all program material is posted on a course site.
Each online program is divided into time-sequenced modules with new modules released each week. This is to allow you to move through the course with a cohort of fellow learners to ask questions and share your learnings and experiences. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities you will have to connect with fellow learners in each particular online program.
Are assignments graded and if so, how?
An assignment is marked as either complete or incomplete based on whether or not it meets the assignment requirements. If an assignment is submitted without meeting the essential requirements, it will be marked as incomplete, however, you will be able to resubmit the assignment for further review.
Will there be any pre-program work?
No. There is no pre-program work in our online programs.
Learning Experience
Who will be my main point of contact?
Each online program is managed by a dedicated Online Facilitator who will be available to answer any questions, provide feedback, and send reminders as needed. Your Online Facilitator will contact you shortly before the program begins.
How will I access the program materials?
Each program has a dedicated course site to which you will have a login and password. The course site will contain all program materials — syllabus, video content, readings, and assignments.
Will I be able to interact with the faculty?
This varies from program to program. Questions raised in discussion boards and assignments will be curated by your Online Facilitator/Learning Coach. At a minimum, the faculty will post weekly or bi-weekly announcements addressing those themes. Some programs may feature periodic live online sessions to provide an opportunity to engage with the faculty live.
What is the role of the Online Facilitator/Learning Coach?
In online learning at Columbia Business School Executive Education, we emphasize facilitated cohort learning and development. Our online programs are guided by a dedicated Online Facilitator/Learning Coach who provides feedback on your learning to help you re-examine your assumptions in order to expand your understanding of the program’s concepts and achieve your learning objectives.
How will I interact with my cohort of online learners?
Connecting with other learners in an asynchronous online learning environment takes place through weekly discussion boards as well as peer or small group sessions.
What is the online student code of conduct?
Whether attending an online or in-person program, every participant at Columbia Business School Executive Education is expected to adhere to the student code of conduct which requires the following:
Learning Environment
How will I access the program materials?
Each program has a dedicated course site to which you will have a login and password. The course site will contain all program materials — syllabus, video content, readings, and assignments.
When will I receive access to the course site?
You will receive access to the course site generally within one to five business days of the course start date.
Can I access the course site on a mobile device?
Yes, the course sites are accessible on mobile devices via the course website log-in page at https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/ or via the Canvas app:
» Download Canvas app for Android
» Download Canvas app for iOS
To find Columbia Business School Executive Education on the Canvas app, you may need to type our URL in the "Find your school or district" box. The URL is courseworks2.columbia.edu.
Please note that there will be differences in how the course site is displayed in the app versus on desktop. We recommend that you experiment with accessing the course site on a mobile device and laptop or computer to see which works best for you.
How long will I have access to the course site after the program concludes?
You will have access to the course site for an additional three months after the program concludes.
Certification for Online Programs
Do your online programs provide any university credits?
No. All of our Executive Education programs, both online and in person, are non-degree courses and as such, do not provide accreditation or lead to an accredited diploma or a degree. Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive a certificate of participation.
Do online programs count towards earning the Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE)?
Online programs provide credits towards the Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE)*. Please visit the program page for the exact number of credits each online program earns toward this certificate.
*Except Professional Certificate in Corporate Finance (with edX), Alumni Edge programs, and TIME for Learning classes, which do not earn credits toward the Certificate in Business Excellence.
Cohort
Who typically attends your online programs?
The executive cohort for each online program consists of a global audience at various stages of their careers, from mid- to senior-level leaders and managers with an average of 10-15 years of management experience. Participants come from a range of functional areas including general management, IT, finance/accounting, sales, operations, marketing, human resources, customer service, engineering, and strategy. The top 10 industries represented include financial services, energy/natural resources, retail, technology, education, consulting, manufacturing, consumer products, and non-profit industries.
How large are the online program cohorts?
We limit the enrollment levels of our online programs to ensure every participant receives consistent feedback from the Online Facilitators. This makes it possible for us to provide you with a level of attention and feedback not typical in other online programs.
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