• The Data Lab

Introduction to Data for Business Leaders

A leadership course that goes beyond the hype surrounding data by focusing on the practicalities of achieving business outcomes.

5,039 enrolled on this course

People engaging with The Data Lab in meaningful conversation.
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

The data world is awash with buzzwords, go beyond the hype to explore outcomes.

This course explores data at an introductory level for decision makers.

Upon completion of this course the participants will be able to:

  • Describe how organisations use data to drive value.
  • Identify and classify data and opportunities within your own organisation.
  • Explain how data mature your organisation is and identify what to do to increase your maturity to align with your ambitions.
  • Summarise the main challenges organisations face.
  • Begin to justify the investment required within your own organisation.

This course was previously called “Driving Value from Data”

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Driving value from data

    • Welcome and introduction

      Welcome to the course. Meet the team and your fellow learners.

    • Data Value

      This sections introduces the value of data.

    • Data Outcomes

      This activity considers the outcomes you might expect from data.

    • End of Week 1

      Summarising the first week

  • Week 2

    Case studies and data analytics maturity

    • Week 2 Welcome

      Welcome to the second week of the course in which we will explore examples in practice and explore data analytics maturity.

    • Case Studies: applying the maturity model

      Let's look at some examples of the kinds of uses of data we have been talking about.

    • Monetisation and completing the maturity model

      We develop our understanding of data maturity and explore monetisation in more depth.

    • End of Week 2

      We reflect on your learning from week 2 and look ahead to week 3.

  • Week 3

    Full data maturity assessment

    • Week 3 welcome

      Welcome to the third week of the course in which we build upon the data analytics assessment and introduce the data maturity matrix to understand what, beyond the data, is needed for success.

    • Alignment to ambition

      By aligning your strategy and explicitly funding to your ambition, you are more likely to succeed.

    • Delivering your ambition

      Execute your ambition

    • Embrace data insights

      We look at creating an environment conducive to embracing data insights

    • Reflection on all three dimensions

      We extend the maturity model to more dimensions.

    • End of Week 3

      We bring together the learning from week 3.

  • Week 4

    Tips for successful execution

    • Week 4 welcome

      This final week focuses on successful execution.

    • The value challenge

      Let's explore the first theme of value.

    • Data as a valued asset

      How to value data.

    • The leadership challenge

      Who should lead on data and how?

    • Taking action

      In this section we look at how to take action to realise opportunities with data.

    • Course conclusion

      Well done! You have made it to the end and the opportunity to test your knowledge.

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...

  • Describe how organisations use data to drive value.
  • Identify and classify data and opportunities within your own organisation.
  • Explain how data mature your organisation is and identify what to do to increase your maturity to align with your ambitions.
  • Summarise the main challenges organisations face.
  • Begin to justify the investment required within your own organisation.

Who is the course for?

This is a course for leaders who are setting up data capabilities for the 1st time, or are moving to their next level of data maturity. This is for you if you are leading the change to make your organisation more data savvy so that you can achieve meaningful business outcomes.

The target learners are:

  • Leaders who are directly or indirectly accountable for driving value in their organisations.
  • Small to medium size business owners who want to drive more value from the information they already have.
  • Data professionals who are struggling to get business buy-in to driving value from data.

The main goal of this course is to give you the confidence and leadership skills to transform your business into one that uses data to achieve business outcomes quicker and with great certainty.

Who will you learn with?

I'm a strategy advisor and coach with specialisms in Business, Data & Digital strategy development and execution. I get my energy from working with smart people to solve relevant challenges.

Who developed the course?

The Data Lab

The Data Lab is Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI. We foster innovation through collaboration, build skills and grow talent, and champion Scotland’s data science community.

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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Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

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