Problem Solving with Excel
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Problem Solving with Excel
This course is part of Data Analysis and Presentation Skills: the PwC Approach Specialization
Instructor: Alex Mannella
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course explores Excel as a tool for solving business problems. In this course you will learn the basic functions of excel through guided demonstration. Each week you will build on your excel skills and be provided an opportunity to practice what you’ve learned. Finally, you will have a chance to put your knowledge to work in a final project. Please note, the content in this course was developed using a Windows version of Excel 2013.
This course was created by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with an address at 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10017.
In this module, you will learn the basics of Excel navigation and Excel basic functionality. You will learn how to navigate the basic Excel screen including using formulas, subtotals and text formatting. We will provide you an opportunity to perform a problem solving exercise using basic Excel skills. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.
What's included
13 videos10 readings4 assignments1 discussion prompt
13 videos•Total 61 minutes
- Welcome to Problem Solving with Excel•4 minutes
- Tao of Excel•6 minutes
- Week 1 Welcome•2 minutes
- Excel Basics and Navigation Part 1•6 minutes
- Excel Basics and Navigation Part 2•7 minutes
- A Message from our Chief People Officer at PwC•1 minute
- Paste Special - Part 1•7 minutes
- Paste Special - Part 2•3 minutes
- Cell Locking - Part 1•7 minutes
- Cell Locking - Part 2•3 minutes
- Named Ranges•6 minutes
- Subtotal - Part 1•8 minutes
- Subtotal - Part 2•2 minutes
10 readings•Total 170 minutes
- Course Overview and Syllabus•10 minutes
- Meet the PwC Content Developers•10 minutes
- Guiding Principles for Using Excel•30 minutes
- Excel Basics Workbook•10 minutes
- Excel Basics and Navigation Handout•10 minutes
- Basic Functionality Workbook•25 minutes
- Basic Functionality Handout•10 minutes
- Subtotal Excel Workbook•25 minutes
- Subtotal Handout•10 minutes
- Week 1 Project•30 minutes
4 assignments•Total 95 minutes
- Excel Basics and Navigation Quiz•30 minutes
- Basic Functionality Quiz•30 minutes
- Subtotal Quiz•30 minutes
- Week 1 project quiz•5 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Meet Your Classmates•10 minutes
In this module you will learn about VLookup, value cleansing and text functions. We will also introduce you to PwC's perspective on the value in cleansing data and using the appropriate functions. Finally, we will provide you an opportunity to perform a problem solving exercise using VLookup, value cleansing and text function. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.
What's included
16 videos8 readings4 assignments
16 videos•Total 51 minutes
- Welcome to Week 2•2 minutes
- VLookup•6 minutes
- Use VLOOKUP, data validation and multiple VLOOKUPs together•2 minutes
- HLOOKUP•2 minutes
- Nesting•6 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - CLEAN- 1a•2 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - CLEAN -1b•2 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - TRIM•2 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - SUBSTITUTE -3a•3 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - SUBSTITUTE - 3b•2 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - STORED AS TEXT•3 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values - De-DUPLICATING•2 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Text Functions•4 minutes
- Text - LEN & FIND•4 minutes
- Text - CONCATENATE•3 minutes
- Text - Data Validation•6 minutes
8 readings•Total 160 minutes
- VLookup Workbook•30 minutes
- VLookup Handout•10 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values Workbook•30 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Values Handout•10 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Text Workbook•30 minutes
- Data Cleansing: Text Handout•10 minutes
- Hints for Week 2 Project•5 minutes
- Week 2 Project•35 minutes
4 assignments•Total 95 minutes
- VLookup•30 minutes
- Data Cleansing - Values Quiz•30 minutes
- Data Cleanse - Text Quiz•30 minutes
- Week 2 Quiz•5 minutes
In this module, you will learn about logical functions and pivot tables. We will show you how to create and use pivot tables to solve business problems. We will give you an opportunity to practice creating and using a pivot table to solve a business problem. Finally, we will share some insight on PwC’s perspectives on the impact of Excel on your career and work. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.
What's included
17 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt
17 videos•Total 68 minutes
- Welcome to Week 3•2 minutes
- Logical Functions: Introduction•5 minutes
- Logical Functions - COUNTIFS•7 minutes
- Logical Functions - COUNTIFS Part 2•3 minutes
- Logical Functions - SUMIFS•3 minutes
- Logical Functions - SUMIFS Part 2•5 minutes
- Logical Functions - IF + THEN•2 minutes
- Logical Functions - IF + AND•3 minutes
- Logical Functions - IF + OR•2 minutes
- Logical Functions - Nesting•4 minutes
- Bringing Value with Excel•5 minutes
- Pivot Tables•5 minutes
- Navigate a Pivot Table•8 minutes
- Sort a Pivot Table•4 minutes
- Advanced Filtering•6 minutes
- Calculated Fields•3 minutes
- Slicers•2 minutes
5 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Logical Functions Workbook•10 minutes
- Logical Functions Handout•10 minutes
- Pivot Tables Workbook•40 minutes
- Pivot Tables Handout•10 minutes
- Week 3 Project•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Logical Functions Quiz•30 minutes
- Pivot Tables Quiz•30 minutes
- Week 3 Project Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- How will you bring value by using Excel?•10 minutes
In this module you will learn more advanced Excel formulas. We will show you how to create statistical formulas, perform an index match, and lastly, build financial formulas. We will provide you with an opportunity to problem solve using statistical formulas. Finally, we will give you an opportunity to practice what you have learned through a final project. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.
What's included
12 videos8 readings4 assignments
12 videos•Total 64 minutes
- Welcome to Week 4•2 minutes
- Intro to Statistical Forecasting•9 minutes
- Statistical Forecasting - Part 1•17 minutes
- Statistical Forecasting - Part 2•8 minutes
- Index Match•3 minutes
- Index Match: MATCH Formula•2 minutes
- x and y Variables•4 minutes
- 2 Variable Lookup•6 minutes
- Financial Function - NPV and IRR•6 minutes
- Financial Function - Calculating Payment Schedule•3 minutes
- Financial Function - Calculating Payment Period•2 minutes
- Course Wrap-up•2 minutes
8 readings•Total 170 minutes
- Statistical Forecasting Workbook•30 minutes
- Statistical Forecasting Handout•10 minutes
- Index Match Workbook•30 minutes
- Index Match Handout•10 minutes
- Financial Function Workbook•30 minutes
- Financial Function Handout•10 minutes
- Week 4 Project•40 minutes
- Learn more about PwC and our career opportunities•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 100 minutes
- Statistical Forecasting Quiz•30 minutes
- Index Match Quiz•30 minutes
- Financial Functions•30 minutes
- Week 4 Project Quiz•10 minutes
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Reviewed on Sep 4, 2017
Great course so far, learned a lot about how to use Excel functions to solve problems. However, the course may need an update on the missing videos and minor calculation errors in the workbooks.
Reviewed on Nov 23, 2018
The course is awesome but do not provide more detailed level usage and exercise as well as it is bit difficult to match with the requires knowledge and expectation within a single video.
Reviewed on Oct 5, 2017
Helpful in learning Excel basics. The projects might be too advanced from what you are practicing, but they provide the answers so you can see how they calculated their answers.
Frequently asked questions
You'll learn how to use Excel to solve common business problems, not just how to navigate a spreadsheet. It starts with core skills like formulas and formatting, then builds into data lookup, data cleansing, logic, and reporting tools like pivot tables. You'll apply those skills through downloadable workbooks and projects, for example by cleaning a dataset or using VLOOKUP to pull the right values into your analysis.
No, prior Excel expertise isn't required. The course begins with Excel basics and navigation, then moves into formulas and workbook-based practice fairly quickly, so you'll get more from it if you can follow along in Excel. The lessons were created using the Windows version of Excel 2013, so if you're using another version, some menus may look a little different.
Yes, it's a good fit if you're new to Excel analysis and want a step-by-step introduction. The lessons build from simple tasks into more involved work, and the course gives you guided demonstrations, exercises, quizzes, and weekly projects along the way. If you already use lookup formulas and pivot tables comfortably, the opening sections may feel basic.
More questions
Financial aid available,