30 credits 

This module provides you with a strategic and conceptual foundation in business intelligence (BI), focusing on how organisations leverage data and AI to enhance decision-making, performance, and innovation. 

You will explore the full BI value chain from data acquisition and governance to insight generation and executive reporting - through the lens of emerging AI capabilities. The curriculum is structured around real-world business applications, allowing you to critically evaluate how BI systems and AI technologies are reshaping operational and strategic practices across industries.

Rather than focusing on technical tool training, the module emphasises high-level understanding of BI systems, data storytelling, and the organisational conditions necessary for successful BI adoption. Through business case studies and simulated scenarios, you will examine key topics including data governance, leadership in analytics transformation, AI-augmented decision-making, and ethical use of data and algorithms.

You will also explore how AI applications such as predictive modelling, natural language processing, and generative AI are integrated into modern BI strategies. A capstone group project will challenge you to design a BI roadmap for a simulated organisation, demonstrating your ability to link data strategy with business value creation.

By the end of the module, you will have developed the skills to evaluate BI and AI initiatives from a managerial perspective, communicate data-driven insights to non-technical stakeholders, and lead BI adoption within a business setting.

The module prepares you for strategic roles such as BI Consultant, Insight Manager, or Analytics Translator roles that require not only data fluency but also leadership and communication skills essential for business transformation in the AI era.

Teaching and learning

This module adopts a practice-based, exploratory learning approach that empowers you to transform raw data into meaningful, visual, and actionable business insights. The teaching structure blends theory, software application, and real-world business cases to develop your technical and storytelling capabilities using industry-standard BI platforms like Tableau and Power BI.

Weekly teaching will typically involve one, one-hour lecture and a three-hour workshop (which includes tutorial and lab sessions).

Lectures introduce the foundations of data visualisation theory, dashboard design, and the principles of effective business intelligence (BI). You will explore best practices in visual encoding, data ethics, visual literacy, and the strategic use of dashboards for business performance monitoring, reporting, and decision-making. Theoretical content is always contextualised using real organisational examples (e.g. KPIs, sales performance, operational dashboards).

Hands-on workshops form the core of the module delivery, providing structured and guided experience using Tableau and Power BI. You will develop dashboards with slicers, drilldowns, filters, and calculated fields, applying them to various business domains (marketing, finance, operations, HR). As the course progresses, you will move from structured tasks to open-ended scenarios, allowing you to design bespoke dashboards that meet real business needs.

Tutorials offer additional support for skill development and assessment preparation, focusing on data preparation, interface design, user experience, and translating complex datasets into clear, decision-ready visualisations. Tutorials also provide feedback and coaching tailored to individual progress and group project work.

The module is structured progressively, beginning with visualisation principles and basic dashboard construction, and advancing toward multi-source integration, interactivity, and storytelling for senior business audiences. The learning environment encourages peer collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking around how visual analytics can influence strategic outcomes.

Assessment

This module will be assessed by group coursework (30%) and case studies (70%).

30 credits 

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to business analytics with a clear focus on developing data-driven decision-making skills through practical tools and applied statistical thinking. Structured around real-world business challenges, it equips you with the ability to extract insights, visualise patterns, and support strategic decisions using analytics.

The curriculum is designed to build sequentially across three pillars: data visualisation, statistical analysis, and forecasting. You will begin by exploring how business analytics addresses core problems in marketing, finance, and operations, before advancing into descriptive analytics, probability, regression modelling, and time series forecasting. Each topic is anchored in practical relevance, with examples from demand prediction, customer segmentation, sales optimisation, and campaign evaluation.

By the end of the module, you will be confident in applying key statistical methods, communicating insights through dashboards and reports, and designing models that inform performance and planning. The content is aligned with QAA benchmarks and BCS accreditation standards, supporting careers in business analytics, insight consultancy, and data-informed management roles.

Teaching and learning

This module adopts a blended, student-centred approach to support diverse learners and promote digital fluency, critical thinking, and professional competencies. Weekly delivery consists of one, one-hour lecture and a three-hour workshop each week.

Lectures focus on introducing core business analytics concepts, statistical methods, and data interpretation frameworks. Pre-recorded video tutorials and digital resources are made available prior to each session to support flipped learning, enabling you to engage confidently with upcoming topics. In-class time is dedicated to discussion, real-world case analysis, and reflective dialogue to encourage critical thinking and collaborative learning.

Workshops offer hands-on practice with tools in Excel. You will solve realistic, sector-relevant problems (e.g. retail, healthcare, public services), developing your technical skills while enhancing business understanding. Tasks are scaffolded starting with guided exercises and progressing to open-ended challenges to support the transition to postgraduate-level learning.

You will also have an additional 30 minutes of online support each week to enhance your understanding and learning.

Assessment

This module will be assessed by a multiple-choice test (30%) and a business analytics report (70%).

Module details to be confirmed.

Module details to be confirmed.

Module details to be confirmed.

Module details to be confirmed.