Business Analytics Certification: What Is It and Why Do I Need It?
Explaining Business Analytics
How do businesses predict what’s next? How do people in charge make smarter, faster decisions? Business Analytics offers these answers and so much more.
A Business Analytics certificate or concentration gives you the skills to use raw data to create unique advantages in moments that matter most.
It’s not just about crunching numbers or mining data online, it’s about being and becoming the kind of business leader who can solve problems, create winning strategies and spot opportunities that otherwise would fall through the cracks.
Generally, Business Analytics is described as three different forms of analysis that can be used separately or together as organizations make decisions:
- Descriptive analytics looks for patterns and trends within data
- Predictive analytics uses historical data by extrapolating the past to predict the future
- Prescriptive analytics uses data to optimize decisions
The Benefits for You as a Leader
Students learn to analyze large quantities of data to support the process of decision making in organized settings by using tools and techniques to learn data mining, applied statistics, predictive modeling and data visualization while pursuing an MBA with the Business Analytics concentration or certificate.
More than ever, in today’s fast-moving and constantly evolving business environment, companies need leaders who can aggregate disparate data, interpret big data and convert the results of business analytics models into decisions that move their companies forward and create advantage.
An Online MBA in Business Analytics or a Business Analytics Certificate from Baylor gives graduate students these tools so they can perform at a higher level and deliver measurable results that meet business needs. Nothing about today’s business environment is predictable, but even when you don’t know exactly what’s coming tomorrow, you can be prepared to wisely approach and solve any challenge that comes your way. That’s the kind of versatility Business Analytics knowledge can provide.
An Expert Perspective
James Stamey, PhD, Chairman and Professor of Statistical Science in the Baylor College of Arts & Sciences, agrees today’s work environment needs thinkers with a wide array of skills – exactly the training Baylor’s OMBA program offers. Stamey firmly believes the biggest challenge facing MBAs today is the fast pace of technological advancement.
“When you have a full-time job or are a full-time student studying a variety of topics, it is hard to take the time to stay up to date in all areas that impact your job and/or business,” Stamey said. “Staying completely up to date is impossible, but continuously surveying the landscape to see trends and advances and know how to incorporate those things appropriately into what you do is very important.”
Stamey has designed a class that will be available to Online MBA program students and online Business Analytics certificate students through the Hankamer School of Business. This offering provides an overview and crucial understanding of a selection of business analytics techniques. These include methods for predicting both quantitative variables, such as home prices or annual sales, and qualitative variables, such as customer attrition. Stamey sees great value in exposing students to machine learning ideas and AI tools.
“Predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI are revolutionizing nearly every industry,” he said. “A Business Analytics certification will provide you with a solid understanding of these concepts, proficiency in key methodologies and technologies, and the ability to effectively communicate with experts to facilitate their implementation within your organization.”
Get the Career Edge You Want
The benefits of a Business Analytics certificate run deep. Here are the top five reasons every MBA student should consider deepening their data knowledge with this timely certification:
1. Gain a Competitive Edge and Enhance Professional Credibility
In a crowded job market, a Business Analytics certification validates your expertise in business analysis, and signals to employers that you possess specialized skills beyond general management knowledge.
2. Increase On-the-Job Performance and Earning Potential
The ability to analyze data quickly and effectively increases your performance and value to companies, broadening your earning power.
3. Choose from More Career Opportunities Across Industries
Certification diversifies and deepens your skillset, allowing for greater career flexibility and advancement.
4. Alignment with Employer Needs and Market Trends
The demand for MBA professionals skilled in data analysis and business strategy is on the rise; employers need individuals who can navigate complex data to inform decision-making.
5. Access to a More Specific Professional Network
Certification connects you to a community of professionals who can provide opportunities for mentorship, knowledge sharing, and fostering ongoing professional growth.
Take The Next Step
Graduate business students can earn a Business Analytics certification within their graduate business degree program by completing four required courses as a stand-alone graduate certificate or as part of the Baylor Online MBA program
One of the largest obstacles for professionals considering how they can embark on the career-changing path of an MBA degree or graduate certificate is figuring out how it can fit into their busy lives. The Baylor University Online MBA program and graduate certificates are 100 percent online, which makes it flexible to fit whatever your needs might be. Baylor’s program is unique in that our online students receive 100 percent of the resources you’ve come to expect from Baylor.
Our online students get access to nationally-acclaimed faculty and curriculum that is helping successful professionals take their careers to the next level. It isn’t only about where careers can go in the future, our classes evolve with trends and technology so that what we are teaching in the classroom is work-relevant and can immediately transfer to skills and knowledge for where you currently are as well.
No matter the stage of your career, this certification expands networks, deepens expertise, and opens doors.
How Do I Find Out More?
Are you looking for more ways to expand your knowledge? Click here to learn more about MBA programs at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business or fill out the form to speak directly with an Enrollment Coordinator.
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