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Business Analytics Learning Resources: 3 Top Resources for Getting the Most Out of Your Analytics

Companies are using business analytics (BA) to make data-driven decisions that help them to automate and optimize their business processes. Business analytics–which is defined as “the study of data through statistical and operations analysis, the formation of predictive models, application of optimization techniques, and the communication of these results to customers, business partners, and college executives”–requires quantitative methods and evidence-based data for business modeling and decision making. Companies that implement business analytics best practices gain a competitive advantage, as they are able to use the insights gained through BA to conduct data mining, complete statistical analysis and quantitative analysis to explain why certain results occur, test previous decisions using A/B and multivariate testing, and make use of predictive modeling and predictive analytics to forecast future results.

If your company is looking to implement business analytics and start on the path toward making proactive tactical decisions, you will find useful information, tips, and strategies in our business analytics learning resources. We’ve rounded up our top picks for business analytics resources from leading experts and thought leaders, to help you prepare for successful adoption and implementation of business analytics, or to help your organization use business analytics more effectively. From articles and white papers to slide decks and infographics, our business analytics learning resources contain the information and insight you need to determine your objective for using BA, define your criteria for success and failure, select your BA methodology, and validate models using your BA success and failure criteria.

Please note that while we have listed our top 50 business analytics learning resources here in no particular order, we have included a Table of Contents so that you can jump to the resources that are of most interest to you.




Degree Programs, Certification Programs, Events, and Courses

1. Online MS in Business Analytics @KelleySchool


The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University offers Online MS in Business Analytics, a degree program that will help students become Big Data specialists and gain a competitive advantage in all aspects of business. Kelley is one of the first top-ranked schools to offer an MS in business analytics, and the online degree is the same degree students who study on the IU campus receive.

Three key features we like about Online MS in Business Analytics:

  • Opt to add an MBA for a dual degree and add general management to your portfolio in less time than it would take someone to earn both degrees alone

  • Earn the Online MS in Business Analytics, a 30 credit-hour degree, in 15 months to five years

  • Learn how to make business decisions based on analytic modeling, think strategically in management situations, unlock statistical information from any dataset, and develop analytical models to provide solutions in multiple areas

Cost: Contact for a quote

2. Business Analytics Certificate (Online) @UMassBoston


UMass Boston, “a research university with a teaching soul,” offers its online Business Analytics Certificate for professionals who seek more knowledge in business concepts and technology, including business analytics and decision analysis. This online business analytics certification program consists of four courses that focus on “the transformative capabilities of BA and the technologies needed for implementation,” so that students may more successfully integrate BA into enterprise business processes.

Three key courses we like about Business Analytics Certificate (Online):

  • Enterprise Business Intelligence

  • Enterprise Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence

  • Enterprise Data Mining and Predictive Analytics

Cost: $490/credit and $800/semester curriculum and service fee during the fall and spring semesters or $400/semester curriculum and service fee during the summer semester

3. Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics @PSUWorldCampus


Penn State World Campus gives students the ability to take classes anytime, anywhere, and offers more than 125 accredited online degree programs, including the Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics. This nine-credit online business analytics certification program teachers students how to apply Big Data analytics and predictive analytics to meet their organization’s business objectives and leverage the information in order to gain a competitive advantage.

Three key we features like about Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics:

  • Learn from the same faculty who teach in resident programs at the Penn State Smeal College of Business, an AACSB accredited and widely recognized program

  • Covers the complete spectrum of analytics activities, including descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive

  • Built-in option to continue your studies and apply the three courses to the Masters in Data Analytics – Business Analytics degree

Cost: $930/credit + information technology fee each semester

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