Analyze data visualizations and summary statistics to inform business decisions
Leverage sampling, variation, bias, and statistical evidence when making decisions under uncertainty
Interpret predictive model outputs and assess different approaches’ effectiveness
Design and evaluate A/B tests in decision-making contexts
Identify when AI tools should be applied in business contexts and evaluate the implications of moving AI systems from experimentation to operational use
Integrate prediction, experimentation, and AI insights to justify business decisions
Who Will Benefit
Learn how to interpret data and ask better questions so you can contribute more strategically in your role.
The biggest impact was the confidence it gave me. I’ve always trusted my instincts, but this program gave me the tools to back them up.
Taahirah O’Neal; Board Member, The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation
91%
Acquired new skills that were immediately applicable
11X
Return on investment, with 24% of HBS Online learners reporting an average $20,466 salary increase
85%
Gained greater confidence in making business decisions
Certificate of Completion Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online Earn by: completing this course
Certificate of Specialization Prove your mastery of digital transformation and AI Earn by: completing any three courses in this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization
Build a foundation in business analytics by learning to identify data types, understand distributions and data quality, draw insights from visualizations, and recognize how machine learning fits into the broader analytics lifecycle.
Highlights
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Understand How to Treat Outliers
Identifying Central Values in a Data Set
Concepts
Visualizing Data
Descriptive Statistics
Relationship Between Two Variables
Analytics and the Business Decision Life Cycle
Featured Exercises
Identify patterns, distributions, and insights in data visualizations
Module 2
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
5 Hours
Develop analytical judgment by learning when and how to use sampling, interpret variation to assess uncertainty, and evaluate statistical evidence and error trade-offs.
Highlights
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Understanding the Normal Distribution
Using Sampled Data
Concepts
Sampling and Bias
Variation, Sample Size, and the Normal Curve
Hypothesis Testing
Costs of Error and Decision Thresholds
Featured Exercises
Evaluate when to rely on sampled data
Identify sources of bias
Assess how uncertainty affects decision quality
Module 3
Prediction for Business Insight
6 Hours
Explore how predictive models create business value by interpreting outputs, choosing the right approach, and assessing model quality and risk in real-world decision-making.
Highlights
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Exploring Variable Relationships with Linear Regression
Visualizing R-Squared
Concepts
Why Prediction Matters
Regression for Managers
Evaluating Models
Featured Exercises
Evaluate business scenarios to determine the appropriate predictive approach
Module 4
Experimentation and AI in Practice
6 Hours
Apply analytics in action through experimentation and AI. Discover how to use A/B testing, evaluate when generative AI fits in business contexts, and integrate predictive and experimental insights into decision-making.
Highlights
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Why Teams Test the Wrong Things
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Using AI Responsibly
Concepts
Why Experiments Matter
AI in Real Systems
Generative AI for Managers
BTE’s Final Plan
Featured Exercises
Apply A/B testing concepts in a business scenario by defining key elements and interpreting results
Led by World-Renowned HBS Faculty
HBS Online courses are taught by Harvard Business School faculty, bringing the renowned HBS classroom experience directly to you.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes and applying your knowledge through group exercises.
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Get hands-on practice interpreting analytics and implementing analyses to solve real business problems.
Real-World Connections
Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after your course. Learners who successfully complete an HBS Online program will be added to the HBS Online Community's Official Networking Group and gain exclusive access to events and other networking opportunities.
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See how the HBS Online course platform engages you in social learning. You exchange ideas, offer input, and seek out viewpoints from a community of learners gathered from around the globe. In the process, you learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives, and leave the program with a broader outlook on the world.
Real-World Applications
Apply concepts through interactive exercises that reflect real business scenarios. Practice analyzing data, evaluating trade-offs, and making data-driven decisions.
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Our courses allow you to apply your learning through real-world examples and experience Harvard Business School’s signature case method. Business leaders will share challenges they’ve faced. As the story unfolds, you’ll leverage course concepts, vital tools and frameworks, and the diversity of your peers’ perspectives to analyze the problem and determine a path forward.
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Get hands-on practice interpreting analytics and implementing analyses to solve real business problems.
I had the opportunity to learn with students from all over the world, all walks of life. Engaging with the platform made my learning experience feel more expansive.
Carmen Hines Gardner
Founder, Momentum Management Group
Business Analytics FAQs
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