Become a "Data Head" and learn to make smarter decisions with data. You will learn to think critically about data, communicate with effective visualizations, and avoid data failures.

Even with the most expensive software and the best analysts on our teams, we still make bad decisions with data. Often we believe more math and statistics skills or some new technology platform will address these shortcomings. Such fixes, however, are temporary and only address problems at the surface. Instead, we must spend more time thinking critically about our data-what the underlying data actually says and how underlying assumptions affect its interpretation. Indeed, all the technical and mathematical knowledge in the world will not help if we haven't learned to think about and interpret data correctly.

This course will teach you how to make better decisions with your data-to become the "data head" in your organization. Data heads are people who know how to think critically about data. They know how to communicate data and results effectively with data visualizations, when to trust data, and when to question it.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will learn about:

• How the brain relies on patterns and shapes to interpret information-and how you can use data visualizations to make the most of it
• The best charts and data visualizations to communicate data effectively
• Historical and current examples of using data incorrectly and what you can learn from them
• How to identify common biases that affect your understanding of data and what to do about them
• How to be successful using open source and inexpensive software (like spreadsheets) for data analytics
• How to evaluate failed data projects and ensure your future projects succeed
• Best practices to help your organization visualize data better, correct bias, and improve decision making

WHO WILL BENEFIT

This course is geared towards:

• Business and data analysts
• Data scientists
• Developers
• Front-line managers
• Anyone who uses and works with data every day and who wants to make better decisions with it

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