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There are 3 modules in this course
Data is now one of the most powerful resources available to leaders, but only if you know how to use it. In this course, you'll develop the practical skills and frameworks needed to become a more data-savvy leader, able to assess the quality, volume, and timeliness of data and apply it confidently to real-world decision-making.
The need for these skills has never been greater. With 82% of decision-makers now expecting basic data literacy from employees across every department, yet only 39% of organisations making data training available to all staff (Forrester Consulting/Tableau, 2022), the gap between expectation and capability represents a significant opportunity for leaders who invest in this area.
You'll gain a practical understanding of the data deluge facing modern organisations, explore what can and cannot be managed within it, and apply a multi-stage decision-making framework designed to simplify complex projects in volatile and uncertain environments. By the end of this course, you'll be equipped to critically evaluate how data — and its limitations — should shape leadership decisions in the 21st century.
This course is suitable for current or aspiring leaders and managers who want to strengthen their data literacy and decision-making capabilities. No prior technical knowledge is required.
References: Forrester Consulting. (2022). Building data literacy: The key to better decisions, greater productivity, and data-driven organizations [Commissioned study on behalf of Tableau]. Tableau. https://www.tableau.com/sites/default/files/2022-03/Forrester_Building_Data_Literacy_Tableau_Mar2022.pdf
Welcome to the third and final course in this specialisation. The course is a deeper dive into data than the previous two course, we will tie up the themes of traditional leadership and agility to describe a data landscape, how to navigate and how to lead. In this module, we will focus on that landscape with a brief history of data and how it has radically changed our environment as leaders.
Control of Information Case Study Part One•20 minutes
Introducing the Information Supply Chain•20 minutes
Resources and References•10 minutes
Exercise: Data collection and presentation•30 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Graded Quiz•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 40 minutes
Control of Information Case Study Part One•20 minutes
The Information Supply Chain•20 minutes
Navigating the Data Landscape
Module 2•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module we will look at the best approach to explore and navigate this new data landscape. At the heart of this approach, I introduce my SWAN model which begins any leadership venture by challenging existing beliefs and stories in the organisation. You could say that when surrounded by data, verifying those data is of paramount importance. We will then look at some recent case studies surrounding decision making in the Covid-19 crisis. Our approach here is not make leaders look silly but to highlight just how difficult it is to make a decision about something you know too much about.
In this final module, of the final course we will put our learning together to create a framework for leadership in the age of data. This draws on the legacy of 'traditional' leadersship because it must. But we also recognise the mismatches between this form of leadership an an emerging agile workplace of hyperconnected humans and, yes, machines. This requires embrace more power to the edge, but that we also get control of our data. In short, we must be kind to humans and demand that our data work for us. In this module you will find out how.
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Reviewed on May 14, 2026
The professor presents his own frameworks for using data in planning. Would have liked some concrete examples of which data, and how it is used, in business planning.
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