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Short Course

Leading With Analytics: Foundations of Analytic Decision Making

Lead with data, not assumptions. Learn practical tools and frameworks for capturing, analyzing, and applying data to business decisions through case studies and interactive discussion.

Leading with Analytics

Current Offerings

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Overview

Data analytics is key to long-term viability but requires more than technological investments alone. It demands leaders who can confidently build organizations that embrace and communicate through data. This course helps you emerge from the information overload and help your organization claim ownership of its data. Through in-depth case studies and interactive discussions, you'll learn tools and techniques that strategically capture, analyze, and apply data to decision-making.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for mid- to senior-level managers and executives from all industry types who seek to create a data-driven culture.

Program Benefits

Improve your ability to:

  • Assess your organization's data quality, technical architecture, and analytical maturity

  • Question and improve data to bring clarity to high-value KPIs

  • Empower and leverage technical experts to mine and analyze relevant data

  • Develop an analytics ecosystem that encourages a culture of data and synthesizes external data sources and partnerships

Organizations must build business strategies on a foundation of analytics, if they expect to succeed in a world where most other organizations are basing decisions on data."

Chris Solo

Penn State University

Program Content

This course reveals how all leaders must champion data-backed decision-making at every enterprise level. Penn State professors and business leaders will provide an overview of the strategic, cultural, and technological requirements to integrate analytics seamlessly and successfully. You will learn how to make decisions based on quantifying objectives, articulating the terms, and interpreting the results. To ensure coordination and scalability, you will learn how to foster a 'culture of data'.

In-depth hands-on case studies illustrate the most common operational and strategic challenges. Facilitated interactive discussions encourage students to learn leadership styles from peers across sectors. The course culminates in an in-depth exercise, prompting you to immediately apply leadership tools and techniques, with the support of Penn State professors and business leaders every step of the way.

Please note that this is a leadership program that focuses on using data and analytics capabilities to guide strategic, organizational decision-making and helping your analytical experts generate the most relevant insights to answer critical questions. It is not intended to offer in-depth statistical training or technical approaches; rather it is intended to help you make sense of the data at your disposal for data-driven, problem-centric decision-making.

  • Exploring applications for descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics

  • Ensuring stakeholder buy-in to achieve consistent, clear data

  • Proving leadership's role in implementing a culture of data

  • Instating data governance best practices including management, reporting, and security

  • Coordinate data mining, reporting, and analysis into a consolidating workflow

  • Prioritizing Quality Improvement science through a disciplined, focused process

  • Minimizing risk and setting realistic goals through techniques such as regression and forecasting models

  • Avoiding common decision-making errors including confirmation bias and sunk cost fallacies

  • Leveraging optimizations, simulations, and decision analysis techniques

  • Creating intuitive tools and compelling visualizations that recommend actions for non-technical staff

  • Assigning and managing data stewards responsible for data quality

  • Facilitating Communities of Practice who incorporate data learning into their activities and interactions

Faculty

This course is led by expert faculty, with extensive academic and industry leadership experience, who are committed to sharing unique insights into your organization.

Christopher J. Solo, Ph.D.

Associate Clinical Professor of Supply Chain Management, Smeal College of Business

Dr. Solo teaches supply chain management, business analytics, and information systems at Penn State. A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, he served more than 21 years in intelligence, acquisition, and operations research and taught statistics, optimization, and decision analysis at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Cat Truxillo

Director, Advanced Analytics, SAS Institute; Adjunct Faculty, Smeal College of Business

Catherine (Cat) Truxillo leads advanced analytics at SAS and brings more than 20 years of experience. Her expertise includes predictive modeling, analytics leadership, data science communication, and applied statistics. She teaches graduate analytics courses to help students apply data to business challenges.

J.D. Whitlock

Chief Information Officer, Dayton Children’s; Owner, Whit’s End Consulting; Founder, Certified Organic SEO

As CIO, J.D. Whitlock leads teams across IT, cybersecurity, analytics, and enterprise systems. A retired USAF lieutenant colonel, he brings 25 years of experience in healthcare operations, IT, and analytics. He also teaches on analytics and technology and is a frequent conference speaker.

Professional Certificate

Earn an Analytics Professional Certificate

Gain broader analytics expertise while earning a credential that reflects your continued professional development. Complete three qualifying programs to earn an Analytics Professional Certificate, taking programs in any order and over time to fit your goals and schedule.

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Customize this Program

All programs and delivered to groups of 10 or more. A member of our team will reach out to discuss your goals and explore the right fit for your group. You can also reach us directly at 800-311-6364.

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Additional Information

Our Learning Solutions Associate can hold a seat for you in the program. A reservation does not commit you until you submit the online registration form. To reserve your spot, email our office.

A 10% reduced rate on live remote delivery is available to military and government employees, Penn State alumni, individuals pursuing a professional certificate, teams of three or more from the same organization, and CSCR corporate sponsors or affiliated groups.

Yes. This program can count toward a . Complete three qualifying programs at your own pace to earn the certificate. Note: Each program can only count toward one certificate.

After you register, you’ll gain access to your personal learning portal. There, you’ll find pre-program assignments, information about faculty and fellow participants, plus other program resources.

Accepted applicants can transfer to another section if the transfer is arranged more than four weeks before the program begins. Additional transfers are subject to a charge of 10% of the current program fee. A sponsoring company may also identify a replacement candidate, provided the candidate is accepted into the program.

Refunds are based on when written notice of withdrawal is received:

  • More than six weeks before the program begins: Full refund

  • Between two and six weeks before the program begins: 50% refund

  • Two weeks or less before the program begins: No refund

All withdrawals, transfers, and substitutions must be confirmed in writing by the registered participant or their agent. If written notification is not received, the full program fee will be assessed.

Penn State may cancel or postpone a program due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled, registration fees will be refunded; however, Penn State is not responsible for other related expenses, including airline or travel agency cancellation or change fees. If a program is postponed, you may receive a refund or transfer your program fee to another session.

If you have questions about transfers or cancellations, please contact us.