Using Data: Discovery, analysis, visualisation and decision-making
Building capacity to use data. Drive strategies, tactics and operations.
Course overview
Over two days of learning, this course will provide an overview of the modern data landscape. You will build your capacity to use data to inform your decisions and to drive your organisation’s strategies, tactics and operations as well as gaining a better understanding of how to manage and interact with people who manage data directly.
Engaging presentations interspersed with examples and discussion, the course will be tailored to you and the other participants to make it more relevant to the types of data you encounter in your own workplace as much as possible.
This course is not designed to make you an expert in any of the topics covered, it should give you familiarity enabling you to ask questions when presented with data, know when data might be helpful and know where to start when situations can be improved through data.
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What you'll learn
- Identify situations in which data can help improve decision making, aid operations, or assess effectiveness.
- Determine what type(s) of data will be most useful in particular situations.
- Learn about different approaches for interrogating and manipulating data and what types of data and problems each is best suited to.
- Find the most accurate and compelling way to visualise results of data analysis.
- Develop the skills needed to assess the trustworthiness of conclusions drawn from data.
Course modules
The 2-day course is split into 4 sessions:
Day 1 Morning – Data discovery
- The role of data in the modern organisation.
- Why judgement is necessary but not sufficient.
- Matching data to organisational needs, questions, and decisions.
Day 1 Afternoon – Data analysis (A gentle introduction)
- Quantifying qualitative data.
- Descriptive statistics.
- Measuring associations and differences.
- Understanding what can be done with more advanced quantitative methods.
Day 2 Morning – Data visualisation and communication
- What makes visualisations good or bad, and how to do more of the good things and less of the bad.
- Matching visualisations to data, objectives and audiences.
- How subtle edits can improve the impact of visualisations.
Day 2 Afternoon – Data-driven decision-making
- Improving communication between data people and decision-makers.
- Increasing the chances of getting the information needed on the first try.
- Evaluating the quality and generalisability of data provided by others.
Here's what others are saying
“Useful for a very high-level overview on how to use data. If you request data a lot, take this course – it will make you appreciate all the work that goes into preparing data.”
“This course was exactly what it had said it would be. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to get out of it but I know I got even more than what I thought I could. Mary Ellen was excellent, if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge on the power of data and how to communicate data, do this course!”
“Very workable and interesting.”
Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options
03 Sep 2025 | Wellington
Duration: 2 days
$NZD 1,395
excl. GST
Can’t make these dates or want a private course?
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