Business Analytics Foundations & Data Literacy
Develop essential skills for translating business questions into data-driven insights through comprehensive analytical training.
Program Overview
This 12-week foundational program bridges business acumen with analytical thinking, preparing you for roles where data interpretation drives strategic decisions. You'll learn to identify relevant business questions, select appropriate analytical methods, and communicate findings effectively to various stakeholders.
The curriculum emphasizes practical application through real business cases from finance, marketing, and operations departments. Rather than focusing solely on technical execution, you'll develop the critical thinking skills needed to assess data quality, understand context, and provide actionable recommendations that align with organizational objectives.
Our approach combines statistical fundamentals with modern business intelligence tools. You'll gain proficiency in Excel's advanced functions including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and conditional formatting, while also learning basic SQL for data extraction from databases. The program covers data cleaning techniques, validation processes, and quality assessment methods essential for reliable analysis.
Each week includes structured learning sessions followed by hands-on practice with actual business datasets. You'll work both independently and in small groups, developing skills in KPI development, metric selection, and dashboard design principles. The program culminates in a comprehensive project where you'll present findings to stakeholders, demonstrating your ability to influence decisions through data.
Career Development Outcomes
Graduates of this program have successfully transitioned into analytical roles across various industries. The skills you develop create pathways to positions such as business analyst, data analyst, reporting specialist, and operations analyst.
Career Progression
Participants typically see expanded responsibilities within their current organizations or secure new positions requiring analytical expertise. Many use this foundation as a stepping stone toward more specialized BI roles.
Industry Mobility
The versatile skill set applies across sectors including finance, retail, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. Alumni work in organizations ranging from startups to established Nordic enterprises.
Professional Network
Join a community of analytics professionals in Finland. Our alumni network provides ongoing peer learning opportunities and industry connections that support your continued development.
Continued Learning Path
This program serves as a foundation for our advanced courses. Many participants continue with our BI Tools or Strategic Analytics programs to further specialize their expertise.
Tools and Techniques
The program focuses on widely-adopted tools that form the foundation of modern business analytics practice.
Microsoft Excel
Master advanced functions including nested IF statements, INDEX-MATCH, array formulas, and pivot tables. Learn to create dynamic dashboards using conditional formatting, sparklines, and data validation.
- Complex formula construction and troubleshooting
- Power Query for data transformation
- What-if analysis and scenario planning
SQL Fundamentals
Develop essential database query skills for extracting and manipulating data. Learn to write SELECT statements, join multiple tables, filter data, and perform aggregations.
- Data retrieval and filtering techniques
- Table relationships and joins
- Aggregate functions and grouping
Data Visualization
Understand principles of effective visual communication. Learn when to use different chart types, how to avoid misleading representations, and techniques for highlighting key insights.
- Chart type selection for different data types
- Color theory and accessibility considerations
- Dashboard layout and information hierarchy
Statistical Methods
Gain foundational understanding of descriptive statistics, distributions, and correlation analysis. Learn to calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and variability.
- Mean, median, mode, and standard deviation
- Percentiles and quartile analysis
- Correlation vs causation understanding
Quality Standards and Best Practices
Throughout the program, we emphasize professional standards that ensure your analytical work is reliable, reproducible, and aligned with industry expectations.
Data Quality Assessment
Learn systematic approaches to evaluating data reliability, completeness, and relevance. Understand common data quality issues such as missing values, duplicates, inconsistent formatting, and outliers.
Documentation Standards
Develop habits for maintaining clear documentation of your analytical processes. This includes noting data sources, transformation steps, assumptions made, and limitations of your analysis.
Ethical Considerations
Understand responsibilities around data privacy, appropriate use of information, and transparent communication of findings including uncertainties and limitations.
Who Should Enroll
This program is designed for professionals who want to incorporate analytical thinking into their decision-making process and career development.
Business Professionals
Individuals currently in operational, administrative, or managerial roles who recognize the growing importance of data literacy in their field.
Career Transitioners
Professionals seeking to pivot toward analytical roles or enhance their skill set to remain competitive in evolving job markets.
Recent Graduates
University graduates from non-technical backgrounds who want to develop practical analytical skills to complement their academic knowledge.
Small Business Owners
Entrepreneurs and small business owners who need to interpret their own business data for strategic planning and operational improvements.
Prerequisites
Progress Tracking and Assessment
The program includes multiple checkpoints to monitor your development and ensure you're building the intended competencies.
Weekly Practice Assignments
Each session includes hands-on exercises that reinforce concepts covered in that week. These assignments provide immediate feedback on your understanding and allow you to identify areas needing additional focus.
Mid-Program Assessment
Around week six, you'll complete a comprehensive project that integrates skills from the first half of the program. This helps ensure you're on track before moving to more advanced topics in the second half.
Final Capstone Project
The program concludes with an individual project where you analyze a real business dataset, develop insights, and present recommendations. This demonstrates your ability to apply analytical skills in a realistic context.
Peer Review Sessions
Throughout the program, you'll participate in structured peer feedback activities. This develops your ability to evaluate analytical work critically and articulate constructive observations.
Program Completion Certificate
Upon successful completion of all assignments and the final project, you'll receive a certificate documenting your completion of the Business Analytics Foundations program. This credential can be included on your resume and professional profiles.
Start Your Analytics Journey
Our next cohort begins in early October 2025. Spaces are limited to maintain quality instruction and personalized attention.
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