In the era of 鈥渂ig data,鈥� companies have access to an abundance of information from disparate sources. But a company鈥檚 real strategic advantage lies in its ability to glean insights from data to drive better decision-making.
鈥淚f companies and individuals want to avoid drowning in data while thirsting for insights, they have to develop a smart data strategy that focuses on the few things they really need,鈥� Bernard Marr, a data and tech speaker, told Forbes.
This includes skilled professionals. In fact, today鈥檚 explosion of data will lead to 2.7 million new jobs in analytics and data science by 2020, according to PwC. 鈥淭he ability to bring data-driven insights into decision-making is extremely powerful, all the more given companies can鈥檛 hire enough people with these capabilities,鈥� said Jan Hammond, a professor at 性视界 Business School.
To meet this new marketplace reality and provide practical, in-demand knowledge to working professionals, 性视界 created its . Launched in March 2018, this nine-month, cross-disciplinary online offering, powered by 2U, represents a groundbreaking collaboration among the , the and .
Drawing on faculty expertise from all three schools was a strategic choice according to Karim Lakhani, a professor at HBS who teaches the Digital Strategy and Innovation course in the 性视界 Business Analytics Program.
鈥淥ur hypothesis is that leaders of organizations that are data-centric will require both the technical skills and the understanding of their application to the business side; hence, all three parts of 性视界 have come together to work on this,鈥� Lakhani said.
The program curriculum is specifically designed to reflect this interdisciplinary approach and includes courses focused on data architecture, predictive analytics, emerging technology, change management and operations. The goal is to ensure that students are equipped to understand and tackle real-world, data-driven issues from multiple angles.
Ranging in age from their late 20s to late 60s, the students come from multiple industries, including consulting, education, finance, health care, information systems and retail, as well as seven countries. On average, they bring nearly 18 years of work experience, with 70 percent holding graduate degrees and half working in technology and data-centric roles.
Building on this depth of perspective and experience, the cohort works together through a blend of online and in-person learning. They collaborate and debate in live classes over a Zoom-powered platform and use the case-based method pioneered by the HBS to solve data-specific business problems. Students also gather together twice for on-campus, in-person immersions where they can network and learn from each other.
鈥淭he professors are not just teaching us concrete knowledge, but teaching us how to think. Being a good leader in this era is not about what we already know about analytics and technology. It鈥檚 more about exploring future trends and understanding the impact across industries鈥攁nd this program has helped me do that,鈥� said 性视界 Business Analytics student Anferny Chen.
The need to upskill in the face of the big data revolution is both critical and necessary, noted Lakhani.
鈥淯ntil recently, [business analytics] and data tended to be seen as a retrospective recording function. Now it鈥檚 a prospective decision-making function,鈥� Lakhani said. 鈥淭his move from the periphery to the center means business executives not only need to understand the technology, the economics and the strategy around them, but how to effectively bring all three elements together.鈥�
By equipping professionals with the skills to leverage and apply data within their organization, the new 性视界 Business Analytics Program prepares working professionals to get up to speed. Through the program, students learn to harness analytics to make smarter decisions and help organizations employ effective strategies for long-term efficiency and success.
You can learn more about the 性视界 Business Analytics Program .