Module 2:
Systematic Thinking to Exploit Data for Better Insights

8 Core Credits

Insights – come from an ability to think about how to approach data analysis

There are many sources of data.  ERP, CRM, BI, EPM, POS to name a few.  However, Finance, Ops, Sales, Marketing, Business Analytics, and support groups like Strategy, IT and HR that need to analyze data are challenged to exploit these data sources to uncover insights for better decisions because of two predominate reasons; (1) they are relegated to spreadsheets that limit the size of the data and analytics that can be productively performed, and (2) its personnel lacks the skills to systematically approach the analysis of data.  This course is focused on the latter weakness to enable analysts, managers, and directors to think “systematically” to exploit data for high value insights, regardless of the tool being used.  Systematic thinking also extends to assembling/cleaning data that’s needed to make meaningful analyses.  This course will further provide basics in AI and ML, tools and techniques for unbiased forecasting and budgeting throughout finance and operations, and applications of advanced analytics in business.

If you are responsible for analyzing data and providing insights for data driven decision making, you will gain the necessary knowledge by attending this track.

Typical titles that attend: Directors, Managers & Analysts in Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT, HR

Module 3:
Systems & Storytelling for Data Driven Decisions

8 Core Credits

Data driven decisions – tools to transform data to insights & an ability to tell a “compelling” story

This class builds the needed “take home” capabilities to utilize and implement analytics. We start with the “How To” implement your first analytics project then to tackle the first issue of gaining bandwidth for analytics by cutting the 65% to 85% of time currently spent on data capture and report compilation. Next, you can only go so far with Excel, after which other tools for deeper insights are required. We explore tools and techniques for unbiased forecasting, as well as, practical examples of advanced analytics for better decisions throughout finance and operations that increase forecast accuracy and forecast horizon. We will also develop skills to tell a “story” to decision makers. Too often, too much time is spent to make “pretty” dashboards that add no value to decisions, or produce statistical reports that confuse executives. Through group interactive exercises, we’ll develop the framework to tell a “story” that gives insights without overwhelming with detail or complexity, and how to “sell” the culture of analytics for data driven decisions.

The analytics workshop will enable you to be hands-on with the premiere Aurora LightZ™ AI-Enabled analytics tool. LightZ intuitive Excel style interface enables development of examples of storytelling with analytics.

If you are responsible for analyzing data and delivering insights you will gain necessary knowledge by attending this day of sessions.

Typical titles that attend: Directors, Managers & Analysts in Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT, HR

Module 4 :
AI & Analytics Training for Insights & Your Career Advancement

8 Specialized Credits

Practical analytics you can use today with your data

This 2 part hands-on training module enhances the participants Module 3 experience. Part 1 is a 3.5 hour virtual training with a limited class size (max of 6). Part 2 of this module is also virtual, but will be 3.5 hours of 1-on-1 personalized training and consultation to discover insights from YOUR own data.

Start transforming your career today by learning AI-Enabled analytics for forecasting, predicting, reporting, and analysis to find insights not available from spreadsheets, BI, visualization, and budgeting tools that will elevate your skills and enhance your career advancement. Bring your own data for applications of statistical drivers for planning and flex budgeting, demand planning, forecasting, supply-chain disconnects, correlations with leading indicators, trend predictions, product portfolio management, promotion timing, predictive sales closures, etc.

You’ll learn how to build, change, and load data into predictive models, first with a sample dataset, then with your dataset.  Students will experience first-hand the insights available from analytics with their data.  We then proceed to forecast data using One-Touch™ AI forecasting and how to approach forecasting to obtain the highest levels of reliability.  We’ll further explore predictive reporting with correlations and leading indicators, charting, and dashboarding then introduce statistical forecasting, and statistically significant drivers for planning, normalizing comparisons, and finding revenue opportunities.

This training workshop will enable you to be hands-on with the premiere Aurora LightZ™ AI-Enabled analytics tool.

If you are responsible for analyzing data and delivering insights you will gain necessary knowledge by attending.

Typical titles that attend: Directors, Managers & Analysts in Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT, HR

Module 5:
From Basic Statistics to Real Insight & Foresight

8 Specialized Credits

Diagnostic Analytics & Predictive Analytics to influence decision making

This module takes the students through an analytics journey starting with an understanding of basic statistics and how to apply that into analytics techniques to generate insight and foresight that business stakeholders use for data driven decisions.

The module is a combination of lecture, case studies and workshops, where participants will learn Diagnostic Analytics techniques (Correlations, Clusters, etc.) to find deep patterns in data to generate real insight. From there the module will further advance into Predictive Analytics to understand the concept of unbiased forecasting to challenge the business stakeholders on their future projections.

If you are analyzing data and wants to deliver real insight which will influence decisions and foresight to impact the strategic direction, you will gain the necessary knowledge from attending this module.

Typical titles that attend: Directors, Managers & Analysts in Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT and HR

Module 6:
Analytics Business Partnering

8 Specialized Credits

Transform your organization into world class business partners

This module provides the journey to advance an organization from a hindsight looking reporting center to a forward looking Analytics Powerhouse.

The participants will get grounded on the evolution of analytics & business partnering and learn the new skillset and toolbox needed to become a world class Analytics Business Partner in the 2020s.

The module is a combination of lecture, case studies and full class workshops where participants will leave with a proven capability building framework to bring back home to start your transformation. Before starting that journey it is important to understand where you are today. This module will provide an assessment for where you are today and lay out the journey for how you get to where you want to be in the future.

If you are responsible for setting the direction or transforming a business partnering team in your organization you will gain the necessary knowledge from attending this module.

Typical titles that attend: CXO, VP, Directors & Managers of Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT and HR

Module 7:
Long Range Modelling with Predictive Analytics & Monte Carlo Simulation

8 Specialized Credits

Become an expert modeler with the use of advanced analytics

This module educates on the use of advanced analytics concepts to become an expert modelers who predict future outcome and simulate future ranges of outcome.

With a combination of Scenario Analysis, Predictive Analytics and Monte Carlo Simulation the participants will learn how to build models that provides unbiased outcome and allow the participants to have a probabilistic discussion with its decision makers.

The module is a combination of lecture, case studies and group workshops and will teach how to improve forecasting, budgeting and long range planning through the use of advanced analytics techniques.

If you are responsible for forecasting, budgeting and long range planning and want to advance your analytics toolbox to challenge and influence decisions you will gain the necessary knowledge from attending this module.

Typical titles that attend: Directors, Managers & Analysts in Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT and HR

Module 8:
Statistical Driver Based Planning

8 Specialized Credits

This module instructs on the use of statistical drivers for better planning, forecasting, product portfolio management, and flex budgeting.  We start by reintroducing the concept of Systematic Thinking™ to reinforce the concept, then work through building a model with sample data.  From this basis we’ll start to explore your data to find statistical drivers and their application in your business.  We’ll incorporate drives for efficiency analysis and correlations in supply-chain, sales, and middle-of-the P&L cost management.

This Module will enable you to be hands-on with the premiere Aurora LightZ™ AI-Enabled analytics tool. LightZ intuitive Excel style interface means fast adoption and its built-in AI-Enabled analytics automatically finds insights in the data so you don’t have to be a data scientist or need IT support.

If you are responsible for analyzing data and delivering insights you will gain necessary knowledge and skills by attending this Module.

Typical titles that attend: Directors, Managers & Analysts in Finance, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Marketing, Business Analytics, Strategy, IT, HR.