Blog Archives

Data for Decision Making – Online/Asynchronous

Data for Decision Making is an online, asynchronous program with the flexibility for participants to start and complete the program on their own time. It focuses on the business leader using data and its hidden secrets to make and communicate better business decisions.

XLC recommends completing the program in 3 weeks. Access to the program will expire after 6 months.

Description

This program is designed to familiarize participants with basic statistical tools, methods, and techniques used to transform raw data into actionable information. This information is used to support and validate business decisions. Using the vast array of data available in and outside an organization paired with basic statistical knowledge, leaders can predict trends and make decisions while assessing risk. This gives leaders a greater opportunity for them to outpace their competitors.

Audience

Data for Decision Making is designed for managers and emerging leaders who strive to lead others and make organizational decisions based on actual data.

Outcome

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Using statistical methods to create, analyze, and transform data into information used in business decision making
  • Describing data using tools to measure central tendency and dispersion
  • Employing systems to describe data using levels of confidence and interpret confidence intervals
  • Using Excel to complete statistical data analyses including normal distribution functions and linear regression

Venue

Online

Metrics that Matter

Practically all organizations have metrics, but in most cases, they don’t provide the information we believe they provide, they are constructed improperly, and they are difficult to comprehend and manage.

This course will help you understand how to create metrics that truly matter and avoid the pitfalls of poorly conceived metrics.

Description

This highly-interactive, fun, and fast-paced session provides a framework for understanding and applying tools to meet real business needs. You will walk away from this session with increased confidence to generate creative ideas, techniques to recognize/replace unproductive thinking patterns, and a methodology to foster creative potential and innovation.

Participants are encouraged to think about real-life organizational problems and bring these situations to the program to discuss and brainstorm together. By walking through these problems together, participants will learn the steps to creatively solve problems.

Audience

Supervisors and managers at any level can benefit from a better understanding of metrics.

Outcomes

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Understanding the difference between measures and metrics, and how/when to manage each
  • Identifying bad metrics
  • Learning the basics of operational and financial performance, and what metrics to use for each
  • Learning to design key operational and financial metrics to provide managers insight and improve organizational performance
  • Creating examples of metrics that matter for your organization

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States + Google Map
Phone:
513-745-1094

Data-Driven Storytelling

Data provides the foundation for making smart and appropriate choices in many contexts. However, it is not unusual for managers to be overwhelmed by the amount of data available to them within their organization and the marketplace. To tell an effective, data-inspired story, it is important to find and use the most applicable information.

Description

This session first aims to aid participants in understanding what question is at hand, differentiating between the types of data available, and pinpointing the data source that best explains the narrative behind the numbers. Discussion on what makes a good data-driven story will follow. Then, the program will explore the interpretation of relevant data to convey an effective narrative and visual story, guiding more informed business choices.

Broad discussion related to the type of statistical analyses needed for the data interpretation will be incorporated where necessary to aid understanding. However, the scope of the session does not cover data analysis in detail. Instead, emphasis is on telling a better story with the right data.

Audience

Professionals in any industry wanting to improve data-driven storytelling practices.

Outcomes

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Identifying the story that needs to be told as well as the needed data
  • Understanding how to interpret the collected data.
  • Translating the data into an effective story for the desired target audience.
  • Incorporating relevant visuals to support the data's story
  • Persuading an audience with a narrative inferred from data

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States + Google Map
Phone:
513-745-1094

Business Acumen Certificate

XLC’s Business Acumen Certificate gives you skills to manage with a strategy that is understood and can be implemented at all levels, along with a strong foundation of how business operates, makes money, and sustains profitable growth.

You will learn tools to effectively manage and engage the workforce. You will gain knowledge in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the activities of an organization in order to satisfy customers’ needs.

Participants must attend 4 of the following one-day programs within the same semester:

Description

Change Leadership:
Change Leadership includes more than just looking at what change is needed, but how the change will affect people. This program will provide participants with practical tools to assess and manage change, successfully identify the role and phases of change, and walk through how to create action plans to overcome challenges and reach desired outcomes.

Creative Problem Solving:
This highly-interactive, fun, and fast-paced session provides a framework for understanding and applying tools to meet real business needs. You will walk away from this session with increased confidence to generate creative ideas, techniques to recognize/replace unproductive thinking patterns, and a methodology to foster creative potential and innovation.

Data-Driven Storytelling:
This session first aims to aid participants in understanding what question is at hand, differentiating between the types of data available, and pinpointing the data source that best explains the narrative behind the numbers. Discussion on what makes a good data-driven story will follow. Then, the program will explore the interpretation of relevant data to convey an effective narrative and visual story, guiding more informed business choices.

Effective Decision Making:
In this fast-paced world, a person’s and their team’s effectiveness in getting things done at work depends on decision-making. How a person manages their time, what meetings they go to, and the work their team focuses on are all based on effective decision-making methods. In this one-day program, participants will explore various ways and methods to make decisions as both an individual and as a leader. Then, the program will focus on how to build a culture of effective decision-making within an organization. Real-world examples and interactive activities will guide discussions and showcase examples of great and not-so-great decision-making skills.

Executing Business Strategy:
In this program, you will learn how to define a business strategy and communicate it to peers, supervisors, and reports. Once participants can capture the elements of a strategy, they will explore the strategy’s execution. Creating a cohesive and comprehensive strategic plan will be guided by the OGSM method while also referencing other approaches. Filled with small and large group exercises, case studies, and concrete examples, participants will be able to immediately identify and advance their organization’s strategy.

Finance for Non-Financial Professionals:
In this one-day program, you will develop an understanding of key financial documents, how to interpret them, and why they are important. Financial terms and calculations will be explained in a way that makes sense for non-financial business professionals. Finally, you will also be challenged to apply what you learn in class by analyzing how your work and your decisions are related to the overall performance of the company.

Time Management and Accountability:
This program aims to provide practical tips, tools, and strategies to help individuals approach their use of time wisely and help managers lead their teams more effectively. Oftentimes, procrastination sets in because a certain task seems daunting or emotionally taxing. Participants will explore ways to manage their energy and mindsets to aid in their productivity. Finally, the program will discuss how accountability is created between managers and their teams, among colleagues, and within oneself.

Audience

Professionals at any level who want to increase their business acumen.

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States + Google Map
Phone:
513-745-1094