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

In a Classroom
Online
Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

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.

Classroom2 Day(s)
1.2 CEU, 14 CPE, 12 CPU, 12 PDU
Online4 Lesson(s)
1.2 CEU, 14 CPE, 12 CPU, 12 PDU

Overview
How You Will Benefit
What You Will Cover
Outline - Classroom
Outline - Live Online
Credits

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

Special Feature

Conducting research is part of this class. Please bring a laptop equipped with MS 2007 (or higher) or another equivalent electronic device.

BONUS: Receive a flash drive containing tools and templates to use at work.

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 for Your Business, 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 Analytical Process

The Plan Phase

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

The Analyze Plan

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

LESSON ONE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Apply Techniques to Information to Determine What Is Relevant
Put Information into a Form That Can Be Analyzed Analyze Information in Order to Identify the “Best” Opportunity for Your Business, and Explain Your Reasoning
Recognize Patterns and Discern What They Can Mean for Your Business
Identify a Framework for Creating Presentations That Uses 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 of the PAC Model Analysis Process

LESSON TWO

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 Requester and Audience When Developing the Plan
Create a Data Collection Plan

LESSON THREE

The Analyze Phase

Use an Outline to Organize Data for Analysis
Aggregate Unstructured Data into Segments
Organize Data via Graphic Tools
Assess the Potential Risk Associated with an Analysis
Explain the Significance of a Cost-Benefit Analysis
Develop a Decision Matrix  Use an Outline to Evaluate Data and Deal with Information Gaps

The Conclude Phase

Describe How to Develop 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
Deliver a Brief Presentation Highlighting Your Conclusions and Recommendations

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

This course qualifies for 12 CPUs toward your recertification as a CAP (Certified Analytics Professionals).

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

American Management Association (AMA) is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). AMA complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, AMA is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

AMA has been reviewed and approved as a provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Talent Triangle PDUs

[T] 6 [L] 6

AMA 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 Martha Leon at 212-903-8173.

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

Classroom Schedule

16 Sessions Available

Online Schedule

3 Sessions Available

$2,345.00 Non Members
$2,095.00 AMA Members
$1,879.00 GSA

Date

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Date	Duration	State	City	Zip
2019-07-22 2019-07-23 Jul 22, 2019 - Jul 23, 2019	2 Days	DC	Arlington/Washington	22202-4807 Arlington/Washington	Register Now
2019-07-29 2019-07-30 Jul 29, 2019 - Jul 30, 2019	2 Days	MA	Boston	02110-1817 Boston	Register Now
2019-08-01 2019-08-02 Aug 1, 2019 - Aug 2, 2019	2 Days	TX	Dallas	75001-3505 Dallas	Register Now
2019-09-05 2019-09-06 Sep 5, 2019 - Sep 6, 2019	2 Days	DC	Arlington/Washington	22202-4807 Arlington/Washington	Register Now
2019-09-16 2019-09-17 Sep 16, 2019 - Sep 17, 2019	2 Days	NY	New York	10019 New York	Register Now
2019-09-23 2019-09-24 Sep 23, 2019 - Sep 24, 2019	2 Days	IL	Chicago	60601 Chicago	Register Now
2019-10-03 2019-10-04 Oct 3, 2019 - Oct 4, 2019	2 Days	CA	San Francisco	94103-3156 San Francisco	Register Now
2019-10-17 2019-10-18 Oct 17, 2019 - Oct 18, 2019	2 Days	FL	Lake Buena Vista / Orlando	32830 Lake Buena Vista / Orlando	Register Now
2019-11-14 2019-11-15 Nov 14, 2019 - Nov 15, 2019	2 Days	DC	Arlington/Washington	22202-4807 Arlington/Washington	Register Now
2019-12-02 2019-12-03 Dec 2, 2019 - Dec 3, 2019	2 Days	TX	Dallas	75001-3505 Dallas	Register Now
2019-12-09 2019-12-10 Dec 9, 2019 - Dec 10, 2019	2 Days	NY	New York	10019 New York	Register Now
2020-01-27 2020-01-28 Jan 27, 2020 - Jan 28, 2020	2 Days	IL	Chicago	60601 Chicago	Register Now
2020-02-10 2020-02-11 Feb 10, 2020 - Feb 11, 2020	2 Days	CA	Los Angeles	90045 Los Angeles	Register Now
2020-02-24 2020-02-25 Feb 24, 2020 - Feb 25, 2020	2 Days	DC	Arlington/Washington	22202-4807 Arlington/Washington	Register Now
2020-03-02 2020-03-03 Mar 2, 2020 - Mar 3, 2020	2 Days	NY	New York	10019 New York	Register Now
2020-03-19 2020-03-20 Mar 19, 2020 - Mar 20, 2020	2 Days	WA	Seattle	98101 Seattle	Register Now

$2,195.00 Non Members
$1,995.00 AMA Members
$1,795.00 GSA

Date

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Date	Duration
2019-08-06 2019-08-15 Aug 6, 2019 - Aug 15, 2019	4 Lesson(s) 08/06/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 08/08/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 08/13/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 08/15/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM;	Register Now
2019-10-29 2019-11-07 Oct 29, 2019 - Nov 7, 2019	4 Lesson(s) 10/29/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 10/31/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 11/05/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 11/07/2019, 2:00PM- 5:00PM;	Register Now
2020-01-07 2020-01-16 Jan 7, 2020 - Jan 16, 2020	4 Lesson(s) 01/07/2020, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 01/09/2020, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 01/14/2020, 2:00PM- 5:00PM; 01/16/2020, 2:00PM- 5:00PM;	Register Now

2345.00 $