By the end of this course, learners are prepared to identify and test the best solutions for improving performance and integrating concepts from operational excellence methodologies for optimum data-driven decision making. The course begins with a focus on deciphering the root cause of problems through a variety of tools before determining and assessing best-fit solutions. Learners discover how to apply ISO, Lean and Six Sigma in the pursuit of aligning organizational operations data with performance standards. Hospitality, manufacturing and e-commerce case studies help illustrate how to build data literacy while ensuring privacy and data ethics measures are in place.

Material features online lectures, videos, demos, project work, readings and discussions. This course is ideal for c-suite professionals, directors and senior-level managers who want to develop a data-driven mindset. Learners should have some familiarity with reading reports, gathering and using data, and interpreting visualizations. It is the third course in the Data-Driven Decision Making (DDDM) specialization. To learn more about the specialization, check out a video overview at https://youtu.be/KlSRkRj_Iz4. Continuing education units (CEUs) and professional development hours (PDHs) are available through the UB Center for Industrial Effectiveness (UB TCIE) for learners who earn a course certificate.