• Kogod School of Business

Business Analytics: The Data Explosion

Explore the origins of the current data explosion. Learn to present data findings using a case study in fraud and fraud detection.

6,315 enrolled on this course

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  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    2 hours

Discover how data is helping detect fraud, and learn how to use data yourself

90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years. This astonishing increase in data is what’s known as the data, or information, explosion. It has fundamentally transformed every sector of the global economy.

In this course, you will learn about the data explosion and you’ll master the skills to harness big data yourself. You’ll learn how to use data to tell stories and create powerful presentations, using a case study about fraud and fraud detection.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 8 seconds Have you posted any updates to your social media accounts today, or sent someone a text message, or visited a website which stored information about your online activity? Every time we take one of these simple actions, we generate data. As a global population we create an incredible amount of data every day. In fact, 90% of the data in the world today has been created in just the last two years. This is what’s known as the data explosion. And it is fundamentally transforming every sector of our global economy.

Skip to 0 minutes and 43 seconds In this course from the Kogod School of Business we’ll explore things like the computing power explosion, the digital transformation of the world we live in, and the democratization of data storage and analytic tools, and how these factors have led to this astonishing increase in data generation. It’s hard to think of any industry or activity which has not been affected by the data explosion. In this course, we will focus on one industry in particular, fraud and fraud detection. You will learn about the people who commit fraud and the organizations that are impacted by it. You will also learn a key data analysis technique and have a chance to use this technique to identify fraud as part of a hands on assignment.

Skip to 1 minute and 22 seconds This assignment will also allow you to practise building and delivering great data driven presentations. This will be the focus for us in the final part of the course where we will examine how humans process visual data and discuss how to use the information to improve the graphs and the visuals that we create. I’m Professor Casey Evans. I’m an Executive in Residence at American University’s Kogod School of Business. And I’m a certified fraud examiner. And I’m Professor Jeff Rinehart, also an Executive in Residence at the Kogod School of Business where I teach graduate level analytics and marketing classes, including the online master’s in analytics programme, Analytics at American.

Skip to 1 minute and 58 seconds We’ll be your educators during this course and we’re really looking forward to meeting you.

What topics will you cover?

  • Developments that have led to the current ‘Data Explosion’
  • Key concepts in fraud and fraud detection
  • The ‘Fraud Triangle’ and how to leverage it in spotting fraud
  • The science of perception and how to build great data-driven visuals and presentations.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Articulate the developments that have fueled the data explosion
  • Describe how data has impacted fraud and fraud detection
  • Identify the nature of fraud, its victims and its perpetrators
  • Apply knowledge to a hands-on experience by identifying potential fraud and building a data-driven presentation to present your findings

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone with an interest in fraud and data, you don’t need any previous experience. It is ideal for anyone considering postgraduate study in the field, such as the online MBA and Masters in Analytics from Kogod.

What do people say about this course?

"Thank you very much for providing this course, I have gained some insight. I am sure I will be using this knowledge in my workplace in the future."

Who will you learn with?

I am Executive-In-Residence in the Information Technology & Analytics Department at American University’s Kogod School of Business where I teach graduate analytics and digital marketing classes.

I am Executive-In-Residence in the Accounting and Taxation Department at American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C. where I teach undergraduate and graduate accounting courses.

Who developed the course?

Kogod School of Business at American University

Known for our focus on experiential learning, the Kogod School of Business at American University has been educating the world’s business leaders since 1955.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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