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Introduction to Business Analytics
 

Business Analytics

$1,750
Next 8-week session starts April 12th
Apply
Apply fundamental data analysis to real business problems.
8
weeks
5
hours per week
5
modules
Self-Paced
with regular deadlines

 This course earns you a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online. What you earn.

Overview
Syllabus
Enrollment
Stories
FAQs
Apply Now

Key Concepts

Interpret data to inform business decisions
Recognize trends, detect outliers, and summarize data sets
Analyze relationships between variables
Develop and test hypotheses
Craft sound survey questions and draw conclusions from population samples
Implement regression analysis and other analytical techniques in Excel

Who Will Benefit

Prepare for your next opportunity by learning how to apply basic statistics to real business problems.
Meet Arjun, an HBS Online participant who took Business Analytics to better understand content creation research in his industry
Arjun Bhandegaonkar
Film studio executive
Strengthen your analytical skills before pursuing an MBA or other graduate program.
I majored in engineering and minored in economics as an undergraduate, but the content of Business Analytics and Economics for Managers showed me new ways for using the theoretical foundations I already had.
Carolina Ragolta
MBA Student at Stanford Graduate School of Business
Gain data literacy and hands-on practice interpreting data and implementing analyses in Excel.
Professor Hammond is an outstanding and inspirational teacher. Her Business Analytics course helped to demystify statistics for me, rendering the subject matter approachable and appealing. The fabulous visualizations and graphics, combined with relevant and interesting case studies, brought the concepts to life in a stimulating and engaging way. Mastery of data analysis is critical for business success and I now feel confident that I have the foundations in place. I am looking forward to embracing this capability further in my career.
Emily Hardy
Sr. Director Traffic Generation & Web Analytics, adidas Group

What You Earn

Certificate of Completion

Certificate of Completion

Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online

Earn by: completing this course

Credential of Readiness

Credential of Readiness

Prove your mastery of business fundamentals

Earn by: completing the three-course CORe curriculum and passing the exam

Learn More about what you earn

Syllabus

5 Modules, 40 Hours
Download full syllabus
8
hrs
Module 1

Describing and Summarizing Data

Recognize trends in data and detect outliers, summarize data sets concisely, and analyze relationships between variables.

Highlights

Histograms and Summarizing Data
Understand How to Interpret Outliers
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Visualizing Data
  2. Descriptive Statistics
  3. Relationship Between Two Variables

Featured Exercises

  • Create visual representations of data in Excel
  • Define and calculate descriptive statistics
  • Create scatter plots and calculate the correlation coefficient
8
hrs
Module 2

Sampling and Estimation

Create representative samples and draw conclusions about the larger population and craft sound survey questions.

Highlights

Sampling
Calculating Confidence Intervals
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Creating Representative and Unbiased Samples
  2. The Normal Distribution
  3. Confidence Intervals
  4. Amazon's Inventory Sampling

Featured Exercises

  • Calculate sample statistics and apply the properties of the normal distribution
  • Calculate confidence intervals to estimate the accuracy of statistics
8
hrs
Module 3

Hypothesis Testing

Quantify the evidence in favor of or against your hypothesis in order to make managerial decisions.

Highlights

Hypothesis Testing
Interpreting A/B Tests
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Designing and Performing Hypothesis Tests
  2. Improving the Customer Experience

Featured Exercises

  • Develop and test hypotheses in Excel to assess the impact of changes on an entire population or estimate differences between populations
  • Interpret the results of a series of website A/B tests
8
hrs
Module 4

Single Variable Linear Regression

Analyze the relationship between two variables and develop forecasts for values outside the data set.

Highlights

Prediction Intervals
Interpreting Regression Analysis
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. The Regression Line
  2. Forecasting
  3. Interpreting the Regression Output
  4. Performing Regression Analyses
  5. Forecasting Home Video Units

Featured Exercises

  • Identify the best fit line for a data set and interpret its equation through an analysis of housing data
  • Perform a regression analysis of box office and home video sales using Excel and interpret the output
8
hrs
Module 5

Multiple Regression

Identify relationships among three or more variables to improve understanding of data and provide better forecasts.

Highlights

Single Versus Multiple Regression
Adjusted R-Squared
Improving the Model
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. The Multiple Regression Equation
  2. Adapting Concepts from Single Regression
  3. Performing Multiple Regression Analyses
  4. New Concepts in Multiple Regression
  5. The Caesars Staffing Problem

Featured Exercises

  • Estimate the relative predictive power of different combinations of variables by performing and interpreting a multiple variable regression analysis using Excel
  • Apply multiple regression analysis to a staffing challenge faced by a hotel
  • Expand the range of your analysis by using dummy and lagged variables
Free E-Book

Advance Your Career with Essential Business Skills

Learn how to contribute to key business discussions and drive strategic decision-making with this free guide.
Access your free e-book

Our Difference

The most engaging, interactive way to master business analytics.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes.
Description of silent animated video above: People walking on the street transitions into data points on a map
Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after the course.
Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after the course.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner types an answer in the discussion board in response to a peer's question
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading companies, including Amazon, Walt Disney Studios, and Caesars Entertainment.
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading companies, including Amazon, Walt Disney Studios, and Caesars Entertainment.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner scrolls through video interviews from prominent business leaders

About the Professor

Janice Hammond
Business Analytics

Jesse Philips Professor of Manufacturing and Senior Associate Dean for Culture and Community at Harvard Business School
“Business Analytics will help demystify data and strengthen your analytical skills. Beginning with basic descriptive statistics and progressing to regression analysis, you’ll implement analytical techniques in Excel and apply fundamental quantitative methods to real business problems—from performing A/B testing on a website to using sampling to check warehouse inventory.”

Dates & Eligibility

Starting
Apr
12
8 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline April 3
View weekly calendar
Apply Now
Starting
Jun
14
8 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline June 5
View weekly calendar
Apply Now
Starting
Aug
09
8 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline July 31
Apply Now
  • Scholarships available
  • Free application
  • No documentation required
  • Confirmation within one week

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course.

Learn about bringing this course to your organization.

Learner Stories

92%
strengthened analytical skills
I'm using regression analysis and other statistical concepts from Business Analytics to build predictive models, analyze trends, and conduct surveys and hypothesis testing. Business Analytics has helped me pursue a career in data analytics and land a job as a Business Intelligence Analyst at Ministry of Justice New Zealand. I'm leading a few modelling and reporting projects across the Ministry using the knowledge I gained from the course.
Hiển Nguyễn Thế
Business Intelligence Analyst at New Zealand's Ministry of Justice
The excel I learned from Business Analytics has become useful as I started working as a data analyst for an economic research firm, BMI Research. The techniques I learned make it easier to comprehend the more complex functions. In addition, the integrated learning I took from the case studies allows me to apply “total analysis” in my everyday work and assessments, which is in fact the core business of my company.
Anna Ngarachu
Data Analyst
Read more learner stories
* Source: 2022 surveys and course data
 
All FAQs

Business Analytics FAQs

How does the Business Analytics certificate program relate to the Credential of Readiness program?

+–

In addition to being a standalone certificate program, Business Analytics is also one component course of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, which also includes Economics for Managers and Financial Accounting. Designed for those interested in learning business fundamentals more broadly, CORe program participants progress through the three courses in tandem, and the program concludes with a final exam.

What are the learning requirements in order to successfully complete Business Analytics, and how are grades assigned?

+–

Participants are expected to fully complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely manner. This will mean meeting each week’s deadline to complete a module of the course and fully answering questions posed therein, including satisfactory performance on the quizzes at the end of each module (earning an average score of 50% or greater). This helps ensure your cohort proceeds through the course at a similar pace and can take full advantage of social learning opportunities. A module is composed of a series of teaching elements (such as faculty videos, simulations, reflections, or quizzes) designed to impart the learnings of the course. In addition to module and assignment completion, we expect participation in the social learning elements of the course by offering feedback on others’ reflections and contributing to conversations on the platform. Participants who fail to complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course.

More detailed information on individual course requirements will be communicated at the start of the course. No grades are assigned for Business Analytics–participants will either be evaluated as complete or not complete.

For more information on grading, please refer to the Policies Page.

Are there scholarships for Business Analytics? How do I qualify?

+–

Business Analytics participants may be eligible for financial aid based on demonstrated financial need. To receive financial aid, you will be asked to provide supporting documentation. Please refer to our Payment & Financial Aid page.

What materials will I have access to after completing Business Analytics?

+–

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final deadline in the program. At the end of each course module, you will be able to download a PDF summary of the module’s key takeaways. At the end of the program, you will receive a PDF compilation of all of the module summary documents.

How should I list my certificate on my resume?

+–

Harvard Business School Online
Certificate in Business Analytics
[Cohort Start Month and Year]

List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" with the language from the Credential Verification page:

School: Harvard Business School Online
Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program]
Degree: Other; Certificate in Business Analytics
Field of Study: Leave blank
Grade: Complete
Activities and Societies: Leave blank

For the program description on LinkedIn, please use the following:

Business Analytics is an 8-week, 40-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. Business Analytics introduces quantitative methods used to analyze data and make better management decisions. Participants hone their understanding of key concepts, managerial judgment, and ability to apply course concepts to real business problems. Business Analytics was developed by leading Harvard Business School faculty and is delivered in an active learning environment based on the HBS signature case-based learning method.

How does HBS Online Business Analytics relate to the Harvard Business Analytics Program?

+–

HBS Online Business Analytics and the Harvard Business Analytics Program are completely separate programs.

HBS Online Business Analytics consists of approximately 40 hours of material delivered entirely online through the HBS Online course platform over an eight-week period.

The Harvard Business Analytics Program is an online certificate program offered through a collaboration between Harvard Business School, the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The program consists of six core courses, two seminars, and two in-person immersions, and can be completed in as little as nine months.

How does Business Analytics differ from Data Science Principles and Data Science for Business?

+–

These three courses cover different topics related to data and analytics and do so in different ways.

Business Analytics teaches participants to apply basic statistics to real business problems and includes hands-on practice implementing analyses in Excel. The course covers descriptive statistics, sampling and estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. The course is intended for individuals at all stages of their careers who would like to strengthen their analytical skills, including college students and recent graduates without a background in statistics, those considering an MBA or other graduate program, or professionals seeking data literacy.

Data Science Principles introduces key concepts in data science—such as prediction, causality, visualization, data wrangling, privacy, and ethics—but does so without coding or mathematical application. The course is intended for organizational leaders and managers to be prepared to act on data analysis and to decide whether data science applications are appropriate tools for their businesses or organizations. The course is also well suited for business operations specialists to understand the building blocks of basic data visualization.

Data Science for Business moves beyond the spreadsheet and provides a hands-on approach for demystifying the data science ecosystem and making you a more conscientious consumer of information. Starting with the questions you need to ask when using data for decision-making, this course will help you know when to trust your data and how to interpret the results. By the end of the course, you should understand how to create a data-driven framework for your organization or yourself; develop hypotheses and insights from visualization; identify data mistakes or missing components; and, speak the language of data science across themes such as forecasting, linear regressions, and machine learning to better lead your team to long-term success. You will learn how to create a compelling story that uses proven, collected data to make core business decisions, and explore coding environments such as R and visualization software.

 

Related Courses

3 Courses

Credential of Readiness (CORe)

Designed to help you achieve fluency in the language of business, CORe is a business fundamentals program that combines Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting with a final exam.

10-17 weeks, 8-15 hrs/week
Apply by May 15
$2,500Credential 

Financial Accounting

Professor V.G. Narayanan

Discover what's behind the numbers in financial statements.

8 weeks, 6–8 hrs/week
Apply by April 10
$1,750Certificate 

Economics for Managers

Professor Bharat Anand

See the world through the lens of economics and gain the knowledge and skills to craft successful business strategy.

8 weeks, 6-8 hrs/week
Apply by May 15
$1,750Certificate 
 
All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

+–

We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

+–

We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Written English proficiency should suffice.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

+–

No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

+–

All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

+–

No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

+–

We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

+–

After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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