Business Analytics (BANA 2100)

About This Course

Welcome to "Gateway to Business Analytics with Microsoft Excel," a dynamic and interactive online course designed specifically for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students. If you think of business analytics as a big city, this course is your gateway to a crowded downtown with bright, neon lights—there is so much to see and do! Instead of settling for passive reading or relying on abstract mathematical theories, this course invites you to actively build, manipulate, and analyze concrete numerical models using a powerful tool you already have on your desktop: Microsoft Excel.

Business analytics is ultimately about answering one critical question: "What do the numbers say?" Throughout this course, you will master the "PED" framework—Process, Explain, and Decide. You will learn how to process complex data to extract meaningful information, explain your findings through clear data visualizations, and make optimal, data-driven decisions.

This course emphasizes numerical literacy over abstract mathematics No prior specialized training in calculus, statistics, or computer programming is required to succeed.

What You Will Learn

By taking a hands-on approach, you will transform Excel from a simple adding machine into a powerful analytical engine. Key modules include:

• Optimization with Solver: We replace complex calculus with Excel's Solver add-in. You will learn how to tackle both unconstrained and constrained optimization problems, ranging from finding the fastest path to save a drowning swimmer to maximizing corporate profits and minimizing production costs.
• Monte Carlo Simulation: Dive into the world of stochastic data and randomness. Using the MCSim add-in, you will use brute-force computer simulations to solve complex probability problems, evaluate optimal search strategies, and even unravel mathematical mysteries like Parrondo's Paradox.
• Growth and Financial Mathematics: Understand what has been called the most powerful force in the universe—compound interest. You will master the mathematics of growth, compute the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), use the Rule of 70, and calculate Present Value (PV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) to make sound financial decisions, such as evaluating the true return on a college education.
• Macroeconomic Data and Demographics: Connect your Excel skills to real-world economic indicators. You will use the FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) add-in to track unemployment trends and GDP volatility, and analyze long-run economic growth using National Income and Product Accounts. Furthermore, you will explore demographics by building dynamic population pyramids to understand how vital statistics shape global business environments.
• Introduction to VBA: Take your spreadsheet skills to the next level by stepping into Excel's "kitchen". You will learn the basics of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to record time-saving macros and build your own custom User-Defined Functions (UDFs).

Why Take This Course?

Whether you are tracking seasonal adjustments in labor markets or deciding between a lump sum and a stream of payments in a lottery, the skills you learn here will be immediately applicable. By the end of this journey, you will possess a highly practical toolkit to extract insights from data, visualize trends, and make informed, ethical business decisions. Join us and learn how to turn raw data into strategic business action!