Business Intelligence Concepts, Tools, and Applications
Business Intelligence Concepts, Tools, and Applications
This course is part of Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence Specialization
Instructor: Jahangir Karimi
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653 reviews
Skills you'll gain
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Interactive Data Visualization
- Data Analysis
- Data Visualization
- Decision Making
- Business Intelligence Software
- Performance Measurement
- Decision Support Systems
- Analytics
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Business Intelligence
- Data Warehousing
- Operational Performance Management
- Dashboard Creation
- Data Visualization Software
- Business Analytics
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
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There are 5 modules in this course
This is the fourth course in the Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence specialization. Ideally, the courses should be taken in sequence. Effectively and efficiently mining data is the very center of any modern businessβs competitive strategy, and a data warehouse is a core component of this data mining. The ability to quickly look back at early trends and have the accurate data β properly formatted β is essential to good decision making. By enabling this historical overview, a data warehouse allows decision makers to learn from past trends and challenges. In essence, the benefit of a data warehouse is continuous improvement.
By the end of the course, you will be able to enhance Conformity And Quality of Data by gaining the knowledge and skills for using data warehouses for business intelligence purposes and for working as a business intelligence developer. Youβll have the opportunity to work with large data sets in a data warehouse environment and will learn the use of MicroStrategy's Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and Visualization capabilities to create visualizations and dashboards. The course gives an overview of how business intelligence technologies can support decision making across any number of business sectors. These technologies have had a profound impact on corporate strategy, performance, and competitiveness and broadly encompass decision support systems, business intelligence systems, and visual analytics. Modules are organized around the business intelligence concepts, tools, and applications, and the use of data warehouse for business reporting and online analytical processing, for creating visualizations and dashboards, and for business performance management and descriptive analytics. This course is intended for business and computer science university students, IT professionals, program managers, business analysts and anyone with career interests in business intelligence. In order to be successful in this course, you should have either completed Course 3 of the Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence Specialization or have some prior experience with data visualization and document management.
In this module, learners are introduced to decision-making concepts and the role of Decision Support Systems (DSS) in supporting business decisions. The module focuses on how decisions are made and how technology enhances decision-making. This module also includes Strategy training resources and tutorials related to decision-making and DSS concepts, along with AI-generated dialogues to enhance learner engagement. | This module covers: Lesson 1.1 - Overview of decision-making and types of decisions; Lesson 1.2 - Key concepts and models of decision-making; Lesson 1.3 - Introduction to Decision Support Systems (DSS); Lesson 1.4 - Applications of DSS in real-world decision-making. | Applying Concepts Using MicroStrategy Software: 1) Introduction to MicroStrategy software and its role in supporting data-driven decision-making, along with accessing the platform for assignments; 2) Hands-on use of MicroStrategy, including setup, navigation, and data exploration; 3) Creating visualizations and interactive dashboards (dossiers) for analysis and decision support. | To complete the practice assignments, you may: 1) Install Strategy Desktop and analyze offline dashboards; 2) Use Strategy Library (for Mac users). Note: Access requires a corporate or academic email address. | By the end of this module, learners will be able to: 1) Understand decision-making processes and types of decisions; 2) Explain the role of Decision Support Systems (DSS); 3) Use MicroStrategy software for basic data analysis and visualization.
What's included
5 videos21 readings5 assignments
5 videosβ’Total 36 minutes
- Course Introduction Video Lectureβ’3 minutes
- Overview of Decision Making Video Lectureβ’5 minutes
- Conceptual Foundations of Decision Making Video Lectureβ’11 minutes
- Decision Support Systems Video Lectureβ’9 minutes
- Decision Making Support in Practice Video Lectureβ’8 minutes
21 readingsβ’Total 210 minutes
- Optional Text Bookβ’10 minutes
- Additional Resources - Course Overviewβ’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 1.1β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources Lesson 1.1β’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 1.2β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources Lesson 1.2β’10 minutes
- Periodicalsβ’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 1.3β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 1.3β’10 minutes
- Additional Web Resourcesβ’10 minutes
- Vendors and Software Companiesβ’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 1.4β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 1.4β’10 minutes
- Ready Made DSS Products and Servicesβ’10 minutes
- Introduction to Strategyβ’10 minutes
- Strategy Workstation and Cloud Platform Environments β’10 minutes
- Strategy Workstation Software Download and Installation for PC and Macβ’10 minutes
- Strategy Workstation Connections to Oracle VM on PC and MACβ’10 minutes
- Q&A and Errors Knowledge baseβ’10 minutes
- Walking through Strategy interfaceβ’10 minutes
- How are visualizations used for analysis?β’10 minutes
5 assignmentsβ’Total 220 minutes
- Self Reflectionβ’30 minutes
- What if Analysisβ’20 minutes
- Decision Support Systemβ’20 minutes
- Module 1 Practice Quizβ’30 minutes
- Build and Interactive Dossier for Powerful Data Discoveryβ’120 minutes
In this module, learners build on foundational concepts by exploring Business Intelligence (BI), its architecture, components, and relationship with Decision Support Systems (DSS). The module focuses on how BI platforms support data-driven decision-making in organizations. This module also includes Strategy training resources and tutorials related to BI platforms, reporting, and data analysis, along with AI-generated dialogues to enhance learner engagement. | This module covers: Lesson 2.1 - BI concepts, architecture, and key components; Lesson 2.2 - BI platform capabilities, including data connectivity and platform functionality; Lesson 2.3 - business reporting, types of reports, and the structure of reporting systems; Lesson 2.4 - OLAP styles, their applications, and differences between OLAP and OLTP systems. | Applying Concepts Using MicroStrategy Software: 1) Introduction to MicroStrategy as a Business Intelligence tool and its role in supporting data-driven decision-making; 2) Hands-on use of MicroStrategy, including connecting to data sources, exploring datasets, and understanding platform capabilities; 3) Creating reports and visualizations using MicroStrategy to support business reporting and analysis. | To complete the practice assignments for this unit, learners may: 1) Use Strategy Desktop to create data visualizations and analyze data to generate business insights; 2) Use Strategy Library (for Mac users) to complete the corresponding assignments. Note: Access requires a corporate or academic email address; personal email accounts are not permitted. | By the end of this module, learners will be able to: 1) Understand Business Intelligence concepts and platform components; 2) Explain business reporting systems and OLAP functionalities; 3) Use MicroStrategy software for data analysis, reporting, and visualization.
What's included
4 videos13 readings2 assignments1 peer review
4 videosβ’Total 28 minutes
- BI Concepts Video Lectureβ’8 minutes
- BI Platform Capabilities Video Lectureβ’8 minutes
- Business Reporting Video Lectureβ’7 minutes
- BI OLAP Styles Video Lectureβ’5 minutes
13 readingsβ’Total 130 minutes
- PowerPoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 2.1β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 2.1β’10 minutes
- What's new in Workstation for 2025β’10 minutes
- PowerPoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 2.2β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 2.2β’10 minutes
- Training Video for Connecting Data in Strategy Workstationβ’10 minutes
- Business Intelligence Concepts and Platform Capabilitiesβ’10 minutes
- PowerPoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 2.3β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 2.3β’10 minutes
- Training Videos for Connecting to Spreadsheets, Joining Datasets, and Data Blending in Strategy Workstationβ’10 minutes
- PowerPoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 2. 4β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 2.4β’10 minutes
- Training Video for Wrangling and Profiling Data in Strategyβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 60 minutes
- Module 2 Practice Quizβ’30 minutes
- Modules 1 and 2 Graded Quiz #1β’30 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 60 minutes
- Assignment for Module 2: World Wide Carbon Emissions Scenarioβ’60 minutes
In this module, learners focus on creating effective data visualizations and designing interactive dashboards to support business decision-making. The module introduces types of data, chart selection (basic and composite charts), and best practices for creating clear and impactful visualizations. It also covers dashboard concepts, including types of dashboards, key components, metrics, and common design guidelines and pitfalls. This module also includes Strategy training resources and tutorials related to data visualization and dashboard design, along with AI-generated dialogues to enhance learner engagement. | This module covers: Lesson 3.1 - Data Visualization; Lesson 3.2 - Data Visualization Guidelines and Pitfalls; Lesson 3.3 - Performance Dashboards; Lesson 3.4 - Dashboard Design Guidelines and Pitfalls. | Applying Concepts Using MicroStrategy Software: 1) Introduction to MicroStrategy Visual Insight for creating visualizations and dashboards; 2) Hands-on use of MicroStrategy for data exploration and dashboard design; 3) Creating and refining dashboards for business analysis and decision support. | To complete the practice assignments for this unit, you may: 1) Use Strategy Desktop to create data visualizations and analyze data to generate business insights; 2) Use Strategy Library (for Mac users) to complete the corresponding assignments. Note: Access requires a corporate or academic email address; personal email accounts are not permitted. | By the end of this module, learners will be able to: 1) Understand data visualization principles and chart selection; 2) Apply best practices and avoid common dashboard design pitfalls; 3) Use MicroStrategy to create dashboards and visualizations for business analysis.
What's included
4 videos13 readings2 assignments1 peer review
4 videosβ’Total 33 minutes
- Data Visualization Video Lectureβ’9 minutes
- Data Visualization Guidlines and Pitfalls Video Lectureβ’6 minutes
- Performance Dashboards Video Lectureβ’9 minutes
- Dashboard Design Guidelines and Pitfalls Video Lectureβ’9 minutes
13 readingsβ’Total 130 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 3.1β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 3.1β’10 minutes
- Training Videos for Building Business Dashboards with Strategyβ’10 minutes
- Data Visualization and Dashboard Designβ’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 3.2β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 3.2β’10 minutes
- Training Video for Exploring Data in Strategy β’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 3.3β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 3.3β’10 minutes
- Training Videos for Building Visualizations in Strategy β’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 3.4β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 3.4β’10 minutes
- Training Video for Enhancing and Sharing a Dashboard in Strategyβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 60 minutes
- Using AI- Assistant in Excel and Strategyβ’30 minutes
- Module 3 Practice Quizβ’30 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 60 minutes
- Assignment for Module 3: Enrollment in Distance Educationβ’60 minutes
This module focuses on how BI is used for Business Performance Management (BPM). Learners will understand the main components of BPM, the four phases of the BPM cycle, and how organizations deploy performance management systems. In Lesson 4.2, learners will explore performance measurement systems and key performance indicators (KPIs). In Lesson 4.3, learners will examine balanced scorecard perspectives and compare them with Six Sigma approaches. In Lesson 4.4, learners will understand the role of visual and business analytics (BA) in BI and how analytics supports performance management in practice. This module also includes Strategy training resources and tutorials related to performance management and business analytics, along with AI-generated dialogues to enhance learner engagement. | This module covers: Lesson 4.1 - Business Performance Management; Lesson 4.2 - Performance Measurement System and KPIs; Lesson 4.3 - Balanced Scorecards and Six Sigma; Lesson 4.4 - Business Analytics. | To complete the practice assignments for this unit, learners may: 1) Use Strategy Desktop Visual Insight to design a dashboard for a Financial Services company, apply concepts, and explore visualization capabilities in a peer-evaluated exercise; 2) Use Strategy Library (for Mac users) to complete the corresponding assignments. Note: Access to the Strategy Platform is available only through the official Strategy corporate website and requires a corporate or academic email address; personal email accounts are not permitted. | By the end of this module, learners will be able to: 1) Understand Business Performance Management (BPM) concepts and lifecycle; 2) Explain performance measurement systems, KPIs, and balanced scorecards; 3) Compare balanced scorecards with Six Sigma approaches; 4) Understand the role of business analytics in BI and performance management.
What's included
5 videos10 readings1 assignment1 peer review
5 videosβ’Total 49 minutes
- Business Performance Management Video Lectureβ’10 minutes
- Performance Measurement System Video Lectureβ’6 minutes
- Balanced Scorecards Versus Six Sigma Video Lectureβ’10 minutes
- Training Video for Strategy Workstation Business Performance Analysisβ’13 minutes
- Business Analytics Video Lectureβ’9 minutes
10 readingsβ’Total 100 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 4.1β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 4.1β’10 minutes
- Business Performance Management Systemsβ’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 4.2β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 4.2β’10 minutes
- Training Videos for Data Source Connectivity and Adding Data to Strategyβ’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 4.3β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 4.3β’10 minutes
- Powerpoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 4.4β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 4.4β’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 4 Practice Quizβ’30 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 60 minutes
- Assignment for Module 4: Dossier with Salesforce.com dataβ’60 minutes
Module 5 focuses on BI maturity and strategy. Learners will understand different levels of BI maturity, the factors that impact BI maturity within an organization, and the main challenges and potential solutions for achieving pervasive BI maturity. The module also focuses on the critical success factors for implementing a BI strategy, BI framework, and BI implementation targets. This module also includes Strategy training resources and tutorials related to BI maturity, strategy, and implementation, along with AI-generated dialogues to enhance learner engagement. | This module covers: Lesson 5.1 - BI Maturity; Lesson 5.2 - BI Strategy; Summative Project and BI Implementation. | To complete the practice assignments for this unit, learners may: 1) Apply these concepts to create dashboards, blend external datasets, and explore visualization capabilities to find insights faster in a peer-evaluated exercise using Strategy visual analytics; 2) Use Strategy Library (for Mac users) to complete the corresponding assignments. Note: Access to the Strategy Platform is available only through the official Strategy corporate website and requires a corporate or academic email address; personal email accounts are not permitted. | By the end of this module, learners will be able to: 1) Understand BI maturity levels and factors affecting BI maturity; 2) Identify challenges and solutions for achieving pervasive BI maturity; 3) Explain BI strategy, framework, and implementation targets; 4) Apply BI concepts to analyze KPIs and generate insights using Strategy tools in a summative project.
What's included
3 videos8 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews
3 videosβ’Total 16 minutes
- BI Maturity Video Lectureβ’7 minutes
- BI Strategy Video Lectureβ’6 minutes
- Course Closing Videoβ’3 minutes
8 readingsβ’Total 80 minutes
- PowerPoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 5.1β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 5.1β’10 minutes
- BI Maturity, Strategyβ’10 minutes
- Strategy Auto in Business Intelligence: AI-Powered Analytics Capabilitiesβ’10 minutes
- PowerPoint and Lecture Notes for Lesson 5.2β’10 minutes
- Additional Resources for Lesson 5.2β’10 minutes
- Strategy Business User Certificationβ’10 minutes
- Reading: AI Enabled Business User Certificationβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Modules 3, 4, and 5 Graded Quiz #2β’30 minutes
2 peer reviewsβ’Total 120 minutes
- Exploring Impactful Insights with Strategy ONE (Optional)β’60 minutes
- Summative Project: BPM For Blazing' Burger Fast Food Restaurantβ’60 minutes
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Reviewed on Jan 11, 2017
Good course! Although there was some grading issue for last assignment
Reviewed on Nov 20, 2016
Awesome course with complete coverage to BI concepts in general and in specific to microstrategy
Reviewed on Jun 5, 2020
This was a fun course, but too short in my opinion. It would have been better if there were more assignments that didn't have step by step instructions, so that we can learn by doing more efficiently.
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