Data Analytics for Business

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON DATA ANALYTICS FOR BUSINESS

COURSE BACKGROUND

ukoIn the modern business world, data is a critical asset. Companies are collecting vast amounts of information about their customers, operations, and market trends, yet many struggle to turn this raw data into meaningful insights. Businesses that rely solely on intuition and past experience risk falling behind their competitors. Data analytics provides the tools and techniques to transform this data into actionable intelligence, enabling organizations to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions. From optimizing marketing campaigns and improving supply chain efficiency to predicting customer behavior and identifying new market opportunities, data analytics is the engine of modern business strategy.

The demand for professionals who can leverage data to drive business value is growing rapidly, particularly in dynamic and technologically advancing markets like Kenya. Local businesses are generating significant digital data through e-commerce, mobile payments, and online interactions. However, a significant gap exists in the ability to effectively analyze this data. Mastering data analytics is crucial for Kenyan businesses seeking a competitive edge, enhancing customer understanding, and navigating an increasingly complex economic landscape.

ECAS Institute offers this “Data Analytics for Business” course to equip managers, analysts, marketers, and entrepreneurs with the foundational knowledge and practical skills to harness the power of data. This program will empower participants to become data-literate professionals who can ask the right questions, interpret data correctly, and use insights to drive strategic business outcomes.

COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the fundamental concepts of data analytics and its strategic role in business.
2. Master the process of data collection, cleaning, and preparation for analysis.
3. Apply descriptive and diagnostic analytics to understand business performance.
4. Create clear and compelling data visualizations to communicate insights effectively.
5. Understand the principles of predictive and prescriptive analytics.
6. Utilize common tools like Microsoft Excel for practical data analysis.
7. Formulate a basic data strategy and understand ethical considerations in data usage.
8. Translate data findings into actionable business recommendations.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

This course will provide you with the comprehensive toolkit to conduct data analysis and apply it directly to business challenges. You will learn to:

• Define business problems and frame them as data analytics questions.
• Identify and gather relevant data from various sources.
• Clean and transform messy data into a usable format.
• Perform descriptive analysis to summarize key trends and patterns.
• Conduct diagnostic analysis to uncover the root causes of business outcomes.
• Create effective charts, graphs, and dashboards using visualization principles.
• Tell a compelling story with data to influence stakeholders.
• Use key functions and features in Microsoft Excel for data manipulation and analysis (e.g., PivotTables, VLOOKUP, formulas).
• Explore an introduction to predictive modeling (e.g., forecasting) to anticipate future trends.
• Understand the legal and ethical implications of using customer and business data.
• Develop a data-driven mindset to continuously improve decision-making.

DURATION AND PROGRAM

This is a structured, highly practical, and hands-on training course designed for immediate application. The program will feature a blend of expert-led lectures, interactive workshops on data cleaning and visualization, and practical exercises using real-world business datasets. Participants will work on a capstone project to analyze a dataset, create a dashboard, and present actionable recommendations. This project-based approach ensures participants not only understand the theory but can also execute the entire data analytics process. The specific duration of the course will be communicated upon registration, tailored to ensure comprehensive coverage and the development of actionable data analytics expertise.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

This course is essential for any professional who wants to enhance their decision-making skills by leveraging data. It will particularly benefit:

• Managers and Team Leaders
• Business Analysts
• Marketing Professionals
• Sales Managers
• Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
• Financial Analysts
• Operations and Supply Chain Managers
• Anyone who works with data and wants to gain more strategic insights.

TRAINING MODULES

Based on a holistic approach to building a data-driven mindset, here are some of the most critical modules for a “Data Analytics for Business” course, along with their key topics:

No	Module	Details
1.	The Foundations of Business Analytics	This module introduces the strategic role of data analytics in business, the different types of analysis, and the process of framing a business problem. Topics: What is data analytics? The analytics process (from problem to recommendation). Descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Asking the right business questions. The role of the data-driven professional in an organization.
2.	Data Collection, Cleaning, and Preparation	This module focuses on the crucial, and often time-consuming, first step of any analytics project: getting data ready for analysis. Topics: Identifying and sourcing data (internal vs. external). Common data quality issues (missing values, duplicates, inconsistencies). Practical data cleaning techniques. Data transformation and normalization. The importance of data governance and integrity.
3.	Descriptive and Diagnostic Analytics	This module covers the core techniques for summarizing data and diagnosing the reasons behind past performance, which forms the foundation of all other analysis. Topics: Descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation). Frequency distributions and trend analysis. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and business metrics. Correlation vs. causation. Root cause analysis techniques.
4.	Data Visualization and Storytelling	This module teaches participants how to present complex data in a simple, clear, and compelling way to a non-technical audience, a skill vital for influencing decisions. Topics: Principles of effective data visualization. Choosing the right chart or graph type for your data. Dashboard design best practices. The art of storytelling with data. Introduction to visualization tools (e.g., Excel, and an overview of Tableau/Power BI).
5.	Practical Application with Tools (Excel)	This module provides hands-on experience using Microsoft Excel, a universally available tool, for practical data analysis tasks. Topics: Advanced Excel formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, PivotTables). Using PivotTables and PivotCharts for quick analysis. Data validation and conditional formatting. Basic trend forecasting and regression analysis in Excel. Best practices for data management in spreadsheets.

TRAINING STYLE

The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.

The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.

The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.

GENERAL NOTES

• Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
• Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
• We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
• Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.

ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE

The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.