Executive Programme in Data Science Using Excel and R

Program Overview

Course Objective:

• Today every business is trying to engage with data science in one form or another. Unfortunately, very few businesses have been able to even grasp the idea of what constitutes data science, let alone a useful or profitable implementation of the same. The phrase – data science triggers thoughts on related terms like business analytics, operations research, business intelligence, competitive intelligence, data analysis and modeling, etc. In addition, the latest craze doing the rounds is big data analytics. No wonder an average business manager is utterly confused about how to start introducing data science in the organization. Meanwhile, popular press keeps exhorting managers not to be late in embracing data science. The consequence is that business managers employ technical solutions without having a good idea of how data science can actually add value to their businesses.
• To preside over a successful implementation of data science in the organization the managers must have a good understanding of the basics, and it is quite impossible to get a feel of data science without getting one’s hands dirty. This course is an entirely hands-on approach to data science where participants would be working with data sets to generate insights for businesses. The tools that we will use are Excel and R.
• The objective of this course is to introduce participants to the world of data science and who have not got a foothold into the techniques. The purpose of this course is to strip away all the distractions around data science – codes, tools, etc., and teach the techniques using practical cases that can be understood and appreciated by someone with an elementary knowledge of mathematics.

Course Benefits:

• Opportunity to earn Certificate of Completion or Certificate of Participation from XLRI.
• Hands on exposure to popular Business Analytics tools like Excel and R.
• Programme completely oriented towards imparting practical and working knowledge of tools.
• Course content and structure designed entirely by XLRI
• Lectures imparted by eminent faculty from XLRI
• Fully online program with LIVE interactive lectures that provides a “real” classroom experience in a “virtual” environment.
• In the event that students miss the LIVE lecture, he/she can request “On Demand” access to the recorded session.
• Seamless technology that can transmit lecture videos effectively at home broadband connection of 512 kbps.
• User friendly and easy to use technology interface. No complicated hardware or software installations required.
• Virtual classrooms that allow for active interactions with other fellow students and faculty
  Convenient weekend schedules.
• Students on our virtual social learning platform are provided access to course presentations, case studies and other learning aids and reference materials as applicable for specified courses.
• Students can raise questions and doubts either real time during the live class or offline through the Cloud Campus.

Who Should Attend

• Professionals who want learn practical aspects of data handling across applicable areas like Big Data, IT Services, Marketing, eCommerce, Research etc.
• Project Managers, Business Managers and Senior Leaders who have the responsibility to manage large data analytics/big data based projects and would like to gain understanding of this domain.
• Young professionals and Managers who have little or no formal education in Business Analytics, but who now feel the need to embrace technologies which will help them generate insights from data.
• Executives with analytical aptitude who are interested in and want to learn Data Analytics through hands on practice on popular tools.
• This programme is entirely hands-on and so it is recommended, though not a necessity that students have two devices – one to follow the lecture, and the other for hands-on practice on Excel and R. However, it is mandatory that the sole or primary device must be a laptop or desktop to facilitate hands on practice on tools.

Duration of the Course: April 2016 to July 2016

Batch Number: DS-01-0416-01 and DS-01-0416-02

Important Dates:

Curriculum (Content)

Data Science Using Excel and R is organized in eight modules. The first part of the course will introduce participants to R and Excel. The second part will consist of solving real-life problems using data analytic techniques. The eight modules are:

• Introduction to Excel
  • Working with Pivot Tables
  • Working with Functions – VLOOKUP, MATCH, INDEX, OFFSET, INDIRECT, etc.
  • Array formulas
  • Solver
• Introduction to R
  • Basic Classes of R Objects
  • Working with Vectors, Matrices, Dataframes
  • Advanced functions in R
  • Looping in R
  • Writing functions in R
  • An introduction to data analytics in R
• Market Basket Analysis
  • Implementing Apriori algorithm in Excel and R
  • Calculating Lift
• Customer Segmentation: Cluster Analysis
  • K-means Clustering Using solver
  • Generating Insights from the Clusters
  • Implementing Spherical K-means Clustering Using Excel and R
• Optimization Modelling 
  • Simple Linear Programming
  • Minimax Formulation
  • Modelling Risk within a Linear Program
  • Implementation of Optimization Models in Excel and R
• Classification Techniques
  • Naïve Bayesian Classifier
  • Learning Bayes Rule to Create an AI Model
• Regression
  • Training Linear Regression Models
  • Statistical Significance of Models
  • Evaluating Model Performance
  • Logistic Regression
  • Comparing Models with ROC curves
  • Implementing Models using Excel and R
• Forecasting 
  • Simple Exponential Smoothing
  • Holt’s Trend Corrected Exponential Smoothing
  • Holt-Winter’s Method
  • Prediction Intervals Using Monte Carlo Simulation
  • Graphing Predictions Using Fan Cart
  • Implementing Models using Excel and R

Faculty Profile:

• Dr. Soumyakanti Chakraborty (Fellow (IIM Calcutta), B.Tech (Calcutta University))

Fee Structure

Program Fee:

• Additional Service tax applicable for Indian residents.

Installment Structure:

• For Participants Opting for Certificate of Completion

Admission Process

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• Do your research before selecting the course that interests you from the wide range of courses available.
• Complete your application form.
• Make payment to apply for the course of a particular college and finish the application process.
• You will receive a confirmation mail from the respective institute right away. In case the college is closed for new applicants, you can simply register for the course and you would be apprised of the updates from the institute through mails.