Microsoft Office Excel – data analysis and presentation

Characteristics

Microsoft Excel remains one of the most frequently used tools for working with data in a business environment. In practice, its value comes not only from the ability to perform calculations, but from the fact that it allows you to quickly organize data, detect dependencies, create reports, and present results in a way that is understandable to business audiences.

The "Microsoft Office Excel – data analysis and presentation" course has been prepared for people who want to move from everyday work in a spreadsheet to the conscious use of Excel as an analytical tool. Participants learn not only how to use individual functions, but above all, good practices for working with data: from building formulas, through tabular analysis, to visualization and the preparation of clear reports.

The program has been structured practically. It covers both issues essential in operational and reporting work, as well as elements that realistically increase work efficiency: pivot tables, charts, scenarios, data validation, custom formats, as well as importing data from files and external sources. As a result, participants finish the course with a set of tools that can be immediately applied in their daily duties.

Course objectives

• organizing and accelerating work with data in Excel;
• developing skills in building formulas and applying functions in data analysis;
• teaching how to prepare reports based on pivot tables and charts;
• improving data quality through validation, conditional formatting, and correct cell formatting;
• showing how to connect Excel with external data and create simple, interactive reporting dashboards.

Target group

• beginner and intermediate business analysts and data analysts;
• specialists preparing reports, summaries, and analyses for teams or clients;
• employees of finance, sales, operational, and administrative departments who work on data spreadsheets;
• people wanting to better present data and draw practical conclusions from it.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the Windows environment and basic spreadsheet operation is recommended. The course does not require prior analytical experience or advanced knowledge of Excel.

Delivery form

• interactive presentation and discussion;
• demonstrations led by the trainer;
• a large number of practical exercises performed in spreadsheets;
• work on examples and mini-scenarios similar to real business applications;
• possibility of implementation in an online or stationary formula.

Availability in BUR

The service can be prepared for publication in the Development Services Database (BUR). In practice, this means the necessity of preparing a service card containing, among others, a description of the course, target group, learning outcomes, participation conditions, validation method, and organizational parameters.

The attached XLSX table includes a set of information needed to develop or enter the service into BUR. The final publication should be verified each time for the current requirements of the operator and the rules of a given funding round.

Course organization standard

• confirmation of scope, date, and organizational parameters before implementation;
• contact with the coordinator responsible for the preparation and course of the training;
• possibility of gathering participants' needs before the start of the course;
• conducting the course according to the agreed program and group level;
• issuing certificates and providing post-course information after completion.

Learning outcomes

• The participant applies Excel formulas and functions for calculations and working on data.
• The participant creates and modifies pivot tables.
• The participant presents data using charts and PivotCharts.
• The participant controls data quality.
• The participant imports data from selected external sources and prepares a simple dashboard.

Verification criteria

• The participant creates formulas using logical, mathematical, and lookup functions; correctly refers to data in the spreadsheet.
• The participant builds a PivotTable report, changes the layout, filters data, groups items, and selects the type of calculation.
• The participant selects the chart type, modifies data series, and adds elements supporting result interpretation.
• The participant applies data validation, conditional formatting, and custom cell formats.
• The participant downloads data from a file or external source and uses it in an interactive report.

Validation methods

• Practical tasks in the spreadsheet, observation of the participant's work.
• Practical exercise, report mini-case.
• Practical task, discussion of results.
• Practical exercise, checklist of results.
• Case study, final summary.

Module 1. Excel Basics

• creating and modifying styles
• organizing work in the spreadsheet and preparing data for further analysis

Module 2. Creating Formulas

• logical functions
• mathematical functions
• lookup functions

Module 3. Data Management in a Spreadsheet

• creating custom sort lists
• data consolidation
• creating outlines
• page division and preparation of print versions

Module 4. PivotTables

• basic information about pivot tables
• overview of report fields
• creating a report based on a data list
• changing layout, filtering fields, and calculation types
• grouping elements and adding extra calculations
• calculated fields, calculated items, and retrieving values from the report

Module 5. Charts and PivotCharts

• creating PivotCharts
• changing chart type and layout
• creating custom charts
• adding trendlines and data tables
• modifying data series, filtering, and grouping field items
• creating Pivot Chart from data originating from a database or external source

Module 6. Advanced Data Quality Management

• conditional formatting and custom cell formats
• creating masks and own number formats
• subtotals, scenarios, and data validation

Module 7. Processing Information from External Sources

• import from Excel file
• import from CSV file
• import from website
• import from folder

Module 8. Interactive Dashboards – Case Study

• building a simple dashboard based on input data
• combining tables, charts, and filters into a useful final report