Business Intelligence Concepts, Tools, and Applications

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/business-intelligence-tools

Introduction

### Course Review: Business Intelligence Concepts, Tools, and Applications In today’s data-driven world, the ability to extract, analyze, and leverage information is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the business landscape. Coursera’s course titled **Business Intelligence Concepts, Tools, and Applications**, is a vital component of the Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence specialization, and it is designed to equip learners with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively utilize business intelligence (BI) concepts and tools. #### Overview This course is the fourth in a sequence that progressively builds on the concepts of data warehousing and business intelligence. It emphasizes the importance of data mining as a central strategy for modern businesses, showcasing how a well-structured data warehouse can facilitate accurate decision-making processes. By addressing historical trends and providing the necessary analytical tools, this course prepares participants to navigate and leverage business data for strategic advantage. #### Course Syllabus Breakdown Here’s a detailed breakdown of the course syllabus: 1. **Decision Making and Decision Support Systems** - This module introduces the role of Decision Support Systems (DSS) in aiding managerial decisions. Participants will delve into different decision-making styles and the components of effective DSS. A hands-on activity involving the installation of MicroStrategy Desktop reinforces the learning experience by allowing students to analyze dashboards in a peer-evaluated setting. 2. **Business Intelligence Concepts and Platform Capabilities** - Following the foundational concepts, this module explores BI architecture and the critical capabilities of BI platforms. Learners will gain insights into business reporting systems and the distinctions between OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) and OLTP (Online Transaction Processing). Utilizing MicroStrategy for data visualization, students can practice creating insightful reports based on real business data. 3. **Data Visualization and Dashboard Design** - Data visualization is crucial in making data compelling and understandable. This module dives into effective visualization techniques and dashboard design principles. By creating dashboards for a financial services company, students will apply best practices and explore common pitfalls, gaining practical experience in this essential skill set. 4. **Business Performance Management Systems** - This segment of the course centers on BI’s role in Business Performance Management (BPM). Students will learn how to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilize balanced scorecards as part of their performance measurement systems. The course emphasizes the integration of visual analytics and business metrics, culminating in the design of a comprehensive dashboard with external data sets. 5. **BI Maturity, Strategy, and Summative Project** - The final module addresses the different levels of BI maturity within organizations. Students will explore strategic implementation frameworks and the critical success factors necessary for BI strategy. The course concludes with a summative project where learners analyze KPIs for a fast food company, which will synthesize their acquired knowledge and skills through practical application. #### Recommendation **Business Intelligence Concepts, Tools, and Applications** is highly recommended for business professionals, data analysts, and anyone interested in leveraging BI in their decision-making processes. What sets this course apart is its hands-on approach, with tools like MicroStrategy Desktop offering learners the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical tasks. The sequential structure of the course enables a comprehensive understanding of business intelligence, and the collaborative peer-evaluated exercises foster a community of learning and idea exchange. As businesses continue to rely on data for strategic decisions, understanding BI concepts becomes increasingly essential. Enrolling in this course not only enhances your analytical skills but also prepares you for leadership roles where data-driven decision-making is crucial. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of business intelligence and improve your professional toolkit, this course will serve you well on your journey.

Syllabus

Decision Making and Decision Support Systems

Module 1 explains the role of computerized support for decision-making and its importance. It starts by identifying the different types of decisions managers face, and the process through which they make decisions. It then focuses on decision-making styles, the four stages of Simon’s decision-making process, and common strategies and approaches of decision-makers. In the next two lessons, you will learn the role of Decision Support Systems (DSS), understand their main components, the various DSS types and classifications, and how DSS has changed over time. Finally, in lesson 4, we focus on how DSS supports each phase of decision-making and summarize the evolution of DSS applications, and how they have changed over time. I recommend that you go to Ready Made DSS sites and use some of the DSS that are listed for various types of decisions. You will need to install MicroStrategy Desktop to analyze three stand-alone offline dashboards in a peer-evaluated exercise.

Now that you understand the conceptual foundation of decision-making and DSS, in module 2 we start by defining business intelligence (BI), BI architecture, and its components, and relate them to DSS. In lesson 2, you will learn the main components of BI platforms, and their capabilities, and understand the competitive landscape of BI platforms. In lesson 3, you will learn the building blocks of business reports, the types of business reports, and the components and structure of business reporting systems. Finally, in lesson 4, you will learn different types of OLAP and their applications and comprehend the differences between OLAP and OLTP. You will need to use MicroStrategy Desktop to create compelling data visualizations to analyze data and acquire insights into business practices in a peer-evaluated exercise.

This module continues on the top job responsibilities of BI analysts by focusing on creating data visualizations and dashboards. You will first learn the importance of data visualization and different types of data that can be visually represented. You will then learn about the types of basic and composite charts. This will help you to determine which visualization is most effective to display data for a given data set and to identify best practices for designing data visualizations. In lesson 3, you will learn the common characteristics of a dashboard, the types of dashboards, and the list of attributes of metrics usually included in dashboards. Finally, in lesson 3, you will learn the guidelines for designing a dashboard and the common pitfalls of dashboard design. You will need to use MicroStrategy Desktop Visual Insight to design a dashboard for a Financial Services company in a peer-evaluated exercise.

This module focuses on how BI is used for Business Performance Management (BPM). You will learn the main components of BPM as well as the four phases of the BPM cycle and how organizations typically deploy BPM. In lesson 2, you will learn the purpose of the Performance Measurement System and how organizations need to define the key performance indicators (KPIs) for their performance management system. In lesson 3, you will learn the four balanced scorecard perspectives and the differences between dashboards and scorecards. You will also be able to compare and contrast the benefits of using a balanced scorecard versus using Six Sigma in a performance measurement system. Finally, in lesson 4, you will learn the role of visual and business analytics (BA) in BI and how various forms of BA are supported in practice. At the end of the module, you will apply these concepts to create a dashboard, blend it with external datasets, and explore various visualization capabilities to find insights faster in a peer-evaluated exercise.

Module 5 covers BI maturity and strategy. You will learn different levels of BI maturity, the factors that impact BI maturity within an organization, and the main challenges and potential solutions for a pervasive BI maturity within an organization. The last lesson will focus on the critical success factors for implementing a BI strategy, BI framework, and BI implementation targets. Finally, in your summative project, you will use MicroStrategy visual analytics capabilities to analyze KPIs for a fast food company to find the causes of problems.