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Developing Your Analytical Skills: How to Research and Present Information

Quickly synthesize qualitative data, determine implications, and make informed decisions.

When making decisions, how do you assess the credibility of information? Do you conduct research and gather data methodically, or act on instinct and follow the latest trends? Do you know what key questions to ask? Feel confident you’re making valid decisions? Whether you are developing a new product or service, presenting findings on a competitor’s product, or deciding how to allocate resources, you need the analytical skills to be able to support your conclusions with valid and credible evidence. In this course, you’ll learn the basics to implement a process for data analysis that ensures you’re focusing on the most critical information, involving the right people, and conveying your message in terms your audiences will understand.

Seminar Number: 02162

4.6
(378 reviews)
  • In-Person
  • Live Online
  • At Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

Home>Course Topic>Analytical Skills>Developing Your Analytical Skills: How to Research and Present Information

Who Should Attend

All business professionals who want to learn basic analytical skills that they can apply to their jobs to make more informed and successful business decisions.
 

 

  •   In-Person2 Day(s)
    1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PMU
  •   Live Online2 Day(s)
    1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PMU
 
 

When making decisions, how do you assess the credibility of information? Do you conduct research and gather data methodically, or act on instinct and follow the latest trends? Do you know what key questions to ask? Feel confident you’re making valid decisions?

Whether you are developing a new product or service, presenting findings on a competitor’s product, or deciding how to allocate resources, you need the analytical skills to be able to support your conclusions with valid and credible evidence. In this course, you’ll learn the basics to implement a process for data analysis that ensures you’re focusing on the most critical information, involving the right people, and conveying your message in terms your audiences will understand.

  • Identify relevant information
  • Research and organize data from multiple sources in appropriate formats
  • Categorize data for analysis
  • Make difficult decisions involving qualitative data
  • Perform analysis from multiple perspectives
  • Recognize patterns and determine what they mean for the business
  • Evaluate the evidence to identify the best opportunity or most rational solution
  • Communicate findings and recommendations clearly

Analytical Skills and Data Analysis

  • Identifying core analytical skills
  • Exploring the challenges of collecting, evaluating, and presenting information
  • Describing the steps in the analytical process: plan, analyze, conclude

The Planning Phase

  • Defining the purpose of the analysis
  • Improving your analytical skills by clarifying relevant issues: Why? Who? What are the options, benefits, and risks?
  • Identifying issues that are essential for comprehensive understanding
  • Deciding on an approach for an analysis project
  • Creating a data collection plan for obtaining information

The Analysis Phase

  • Organizing, collecting, and evaluating data via graphic tools
  • Performing affinity grouping to aggregate unstructured data into categories
  • Using a 2x2 grid and SWOT analysis to evaluate ideas and analyze strategies
  • Determining risks and performing cost-benefit analysis
  • Evaluating data and addressing information gaps

The Conclusion and Reporting Process

  • Understanding the characteristics of valid conclusions
  • Getting from conclusions to recommendations
  • Presenting conclusions graphically

Telling Your Story

  • Utilizing tools, tips, and techniques to present your story to multiple audiences
  • Creating and delivering a brief presentation that inspires and persuades

Learning Objectives

  • Apply Techniques to Information to Help Determine What Is Relevant
  • Put Information into a Form that Can Be Analyzed
  • Analyze Information in Order to Identify the “Best” Opportunity and Explain Your Reasoning
  • Recognize Patterns and Discern What They Can Mean for Your Business
  • Identify a Framework as the Basis for Creating Presentations That Use Information You’ve Derived from Your Analysis

Analytical Skills for the Business Professional

  • Identify Core Analytical Skills Commonly Used by Business Professionals
  • Describe Some of the Challenges Business Professionals Face in Collecting, Evaluating, and Presenting Information and Recommendations
  • Identify the Basic Steps in the Analysis Process

The Planning Phase

  • Identify the Purpose of the Analysis
  • Use a Tool for Clarifying Questions
  • Decide on an Approach for an Analysis
  • Discuss the Importance of Considering the Needs of Your Audience When Developing the Plan
  • Create a Data Collection Plan

The Analysis Phase

  • Use an Outline to Organize Data for Analysis
  • Aggregate Unstructured Data into Segments Based on Common Characteristics That Define Them
  • Organize Data Via Graphic Tools
  • Assess the Potential Risk Associated with an Analysis
  • Use an Outline to Evaluate Data and Deal with Information Gaps

The Conclude Phase

  • Describe the Characteristics of Valid Conclusions
  • Explain How to Get from Conclusions to Recommendations
  • Develop Recommendations That Can Be Used in a Presentation

Telling Your Story

  • Discuss Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Presenting Your Findings/Telling Your Story to Multiple Audiences
  • Create and Deliver a Brief Presentation Highlighting Your Conclusions and Recommendations

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

View a Sample of Our Reviews

4.6

378 reviews

 
The instructor was very knowledgeable and did a terrific job. I also appreciated the chance to network with people from diverse industries.
4
Karen M.
 
Manager, Regualtory, Quality and Analytics
 
Industry: Hospitals & Physicians Clinics
Seems to be applicable to my current job. Will try to implement the concepts within the next month to two months.
5
Mauricio B.
 
Budget Officer
 
Industry: Organizations
Found the course to be very informative and helpful for understanding the terminology and tools utilized in developing analytical skills. I have been doing a lot of this work for years and now have a good understanding of the terminology that relates to the work I was doing.
5
Francis D.
 
Program Manager
 
Industry: Construction
Great course and great tech support. I learned a lot and I am looking forward to applying my learnings to my work. The 3 hours flew by every session. I really appreciated Lauri's willingness to listen to feedback and adjust accordingly.
5
Chase E.
 
Marketing Operations Associate
 
Industry: Finance
The instructor was knowledgeable and well-spoken on the subject matter. I think we could have benefited from some coaching from the instructor during our initial analysis group break out (remote class). I appreciated the instructor's enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the seminar. She also made the subject interesting. The other staff members were also very positive and gave great constructive feedback.
4
Angelique A.
 
Assistant Vice President
 
Industry: Holding Companies & Conglomerates

This course is valid for 12 PMUs.

This program is valid for 12 PDCs for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM

American Management Association is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

Talent Triangle PDUs
6 Ways of Working [WOW] 6 Power Skills [PS]
Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle, 2015.
Reproduced with the permission of PMI. Copyright and all rights reserved.

American Management Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. For additional information or for more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact Customer Service at 800-262-9699.

Recommended CPE Credit: 14 hours/Basic
Prerequisite: Familiarity with basic online research skills
Advance Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live/Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Non-technical – Business Management & Organization

In-Person Schedule

4 Sessions Available

Live Online Schedule

5 Sessions Available

  • $2,745.00 Non Members
  • $2,495.00 AMA Members
  • $2,301.00 GSA
Date Duration State City Zip
  2025-08-25 2025-08-26 Aug 25, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2025-11-06 2025-11-07 Nov 6, 2025 - Nov 7, 2025 2 Days IL Chicago 60601-5927 Chicago Register Now

  2025-12-01 2025-12-02 Dec 1, 2025 - Dec 2, 2025 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2026-04-13 2026-04-14 Apr 13, 2026 - Apr 14, 2026 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103 San Francisco Register Now

The instructor was very knowledgeable and did a terrific job. I also appreciated the chance to network with people from diverse industries.
4
Karen M.
 
Manager, Regualtory, Quality and Analytics
 
Industry: Hospitals & Physicians Clinics
Seems to be applicable to my current job. Will try to implement the concepts within the next month to two months.
5
Mauricio B.
 
Budget Officer
 
Industry: Organizations
Found the course to be very informative and helpful for understanding the terminology and tools utilized in developing analytical skills. I have been doing a lot of this work for years and now have a good understanding of the terminology that relates to the work I was doing.
5
Francis D.
 
Program Manager
 
Industry: Construction
Great course and great tech support. I learned a lot and I am looking forward to applying my learnings to my work. The 3 hours flew by every session. I really appreciated Lauri's willingness to listen to feedback and adjust accordingly.
5
Chase E.
 
Marketing Operations Associate
 
Industry: Finance
The instructor was knowledgeable and well-spoken on the subject matter. I think we could have benefited from some coaching from the instructor during our initial analysis group break out (remote class). I appreciated the instructor's enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the seminar. She also made the subject interesting. The other staff members were also very positive and gave great constructive feedback.
4
Angelique A.
 
Assistant Vice President
 
Industry: Holding Companies & Conglomerates
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