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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

  • 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
 
 

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

 

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

Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle, 2015.
Reproduced with the permission of PMI. Copyright and all rights reserved.

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

17 Sessions Available

Online Schedule

4 Sessions Available

  • $2,345.00 Non Members
  • $2,095.00 AMA Members
  • $1,879.00 GSA
Date Duration State City Zip
  2019-05-09 2019-05-10 May 9, 2019 - May 10, 2019 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103-3156 San Francisco Register Now

  2019-05-16 2019-05-17 May 16, 2019 - May 17, 2019 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2019-06-06 2019-06-07 Jun 6, 2019 - Jun 7, 2019 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2019-06-10 2019-06-11 Jun 10, 2019 - Jun 11, 2019 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2019-07-11 2019-07-12 Jul 11, 2019 - Jul 12, 2019 2 Days CO Denver 80002 Denver Register Now

  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 Boston Register Now

  2019-08-01 2019-08-02 Aug 1, 2019 - Aug 2, 2019 2 Days TX Dallas 75001 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

  2019-12-09 2019-12-10 Dec 9, 2019 - Dec 10, 2019 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2019-12-12 2019-12-13 Dec 12, 2019 - Dec 13, 2019 2 Days TX Dallas 75001 Dallas Register Now

  2020-01-27 2020-01-28 Jan 27, 2020 - Jan 28, 2020 2 Days IL Chicago 60601 Chicago Register Now

2345.00 $
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