Business Analytics
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.
Apply NowWhat You'll Learn
- 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
About the Professor
Janice Hammond is the Jesse Philips Professor of Manufacturing and Senior Associate Dean for Culture and Community at Harvard Business School. She currently teaches Supply Chain Management in the MBA program and is program chair for the HBS Executive Education International Women’s Foundation and Women’s Leadership Programs. Her research focuses on speed and flexibility in manufacturing and logistics systems to respond to changing customer demand.
Who Will Benefit
College Students and Recent Graduates
Prepare for your next opportunity by learning how to apply basic statistics to real business problems.
Those Considering Graduate School
Strengthen your analytical skills before pursuing an MBA or other graduate program.
Mid-Career Professionals
Gain data literacy and hands-on practice interpreting data and implementing analyses in Excel.
Program Structure
Business Analytics consists of approximately 40 hours of material delivered over an eight-week period. You can complete the coursework on your own time while meeting regular deadlines.
- Length: 8 Weeks
- Program Dates: 1/20/21 – 3/17/21
- Cost: $1,600
- Application Deadline: January 11
- Detailed Calendar
This course is also part of our three-course Credential of Readiness (CORe) program—consisting of Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting—available for $2,250.
Interested in mastering business essentials in CORe?
Note: Participants that enroll in the Business Analytics course are not eligible to enroll in the CORe program. And if enrolling in the CORe program, participants are not eligible to enroll separately in the Business Analytics course.
Syllabus
Business Analytics introduces quantitative methods used to analyze data and make better management decisions. This course is not based on rote memorization of equations or facts, but focuses on honing your understanding of key concepts, your managerial judgment, and your ability to apply course concepts to real business problems.
Learning requirements: In order to earn a Certificate of Completion, participants must thoughtfully complete all 5 modules, including satisfactory completion of associated quizzes, by stated deadlines.
| Modules | Case Studies | Takeaways | Key Exercises |
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| Module 1: Describing and Summarizing Data |
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| Module 2: Sampling and Estimation |
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| Module 3: Hypothesis Testing |
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| Module 4: Single Variable Linear Regression |
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| Module 5: Multiple Regression |
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The HBS Online Advantage
- World-class faculty
- Edge-of-your-seat online learning
- Global peer collaboration and networking
- Real-world, case-based learning
Harvard Business School Online offers a unique and highly engaging way to learn vital business concepts. Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by business leaders across a variety of industries—from how to accurately predict home video sales based on box office performance to forecasting staffing needs for a hotel front desk. You’ll wrestle with the same issues and imperfect information, while problem-solving and interacting with fellow learners from around the world.
Stories from Our Learners
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I am applying concepts from the Business Analytics course in my current venture. From designing surveys to hypothesis testing, every aspect of data collection and analysis informs our customer validation process.
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The way Business Analytics blended numbers with the impact on business forecasting and improvement of business processes was simply amazing. The real-life cases from different spheres made the learning more insightful. The subject further helped affirm the power of data/numbers in analyzing and forecasting about a particular business initiative.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to log in at a set time? How does the grading process work? At this point, you probably have a few questions, and we’ve got answers.
Enrollment Eligibility
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 course. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.
Enroll today in Harvard Business School Online's Business Analytics course.
Apply Now