Certificate in Visual Analytics (i2VSA) - Workshop SG 2019

The course incorporates pre-course learning and preparation followed by two-day face to face training in a highly participative workshop. The focus is on typical real life challenges in information analysis and presentation.  

Pre-course learning

• Reading material - “data dump” versus information for decision making
• Problems with current reporting 
• Identifying a report/ dashboard to re-work post course (potential project)

Face to face training
 Day 1

• “Data dump” reporting versus information for decision making - recap and case study
• Visual techniques for providing focus for action, new insights into data and for measuring and comparing performance
• Common techniques and mistakes to avoid   
• Mini case studies in applying the visual techniques learnt on the course
• Dashboards - why they are useful,  level and amount of information to include (one page and drill down), structure to show the big picture and tell the stories in the data
• Case study in dashboard design - developing a board level dashboard for a multi business organisation with financial and non financial information

Day 2

• Review/ finalise and debrief on case study in dashboard design
• Creating the advanced charting techniques and building mini case study solutions in Excel
• How to successfully introduce new tools and techniques into the organisation
• How to complete the post course project and attain certification
• Share examples of past participant dashboards

Optional post course project work (required for certification)

• Create a dashboard design to replace,  or as a “front end” to, a current reporting pack 
• Demonstrate understanding and application of key techniques and lessons learnt from the course
• Compare “before” and “after” approaches, explaining benefits achieved 

Trainer Profile

Simon Lindley
Simon is a specialist in business and finance function transformation including Excel and enterprise based solutions for business intelligence and reporting. He has over 20 years’ experience in this area including; programme managing ERP, CRM and Business Intelligence (BI) programmes, implementing shared services, process re-engineering and outsourcing solutions. Simon is a UK Chartered Accountant, MBA, a Chartered Engineer and IT Professional with a Masters level Diploma in Corporate Governance.  He also has training and qualifications in Data Science and Statistics.

The objectives of this course are to:

• Provide participants with the capability to transform their organisation’s decision making through visual analytics and dashboards
• Better position participants to adapt to the changing role of finance and the increasing importance of business and visual analytics
• Provide participants with visual analytics and dashboard skills that can significantly improve their potential in  their  current role and future career.

• Finance and non-finance staff who want to present/ commission information and dashboards for analysis and decision making
• Particularly relevant to those who need to produce financial and non-financial information for board level/ senior stakeholders who have limited time and broad information requirements
• Anyone who wants to contribute to management information/ Business Intelligence (BI) / dashboard projects within their organisation (whether using specialist BI/ systems software or Excel)