Digital Transformation, AI & Data
Data-Driven Decision Making and Business Intelligence
A five-day programme for managers and analysts who produce or consume performance information. It works on framing the decision before selecting data, assessing data quality honestly, defining measures unambiguously, reading variation without over-interpreting it, and designing reporting that drives action.
The business challenge
Why organisations commission this programme
Organisations commonly produce a large volume of reporting and still decide on instinct. Measures are defined loosely or differently in different places, data quality is assumed rather than assessed, and reports describe a position rather than answer a question. The reporting burden grows while its influence on decisions falls.
The organisation produces a large volume of reporting and still makes decisions on instinct, because measures are poorly defined, data quality is unexamined and reports answer no particular question.
Who it is for
Participants
- Audience
- Managers, analysts, planners and functional leads accountable for performance
- Recommended cohort
- 12 to 18 participants
- Prerequisites
- Accountability for performance, planning or reporting in a function. No statistical background assumed.
Outcomes
What participants will be able to do
- Frame a decision question before selecting data, and identify what evidence would actually answer it.
- Assess data quality, completeness and fitness for purpose, and state the resulting limitations.
- Define measures unambiguously, including source, calculation, frequency and owner.
- Interpret variation, trend and uncertainty without over-reading noise.
- Design reporting and dashboards that drive a decision rather than describe a position.
Learning objectives
- Establish the discipline of framing a decision question before selecting data.
- Build honest assessment of data quality, completeness and fitness for purpose.
- Standardise measure definition including source, calculation, frequency and owner.
- Improve interpretation of variation and uncertainty, and the design of reporting that supports decisions.
Indicative content
Programme structure
Content is confirmed during design and adapted to your context.
Day 1
Decision framing, evidence requirements, and the organisation's current reporting landscape; baseline assessment.
- Decision framing
- Evidence requirements
- The current reporting landscape
- Baseline assessment
Day 2
Data quality, sources, definitions, lineage and the construction of a measure specification.
- Data sources and lineage
- Quality, completeness and bias
- Measure specification
- Definition disputes and resolution
Day 3
Interpretation: variation, trend, correlation and causation, uncertainty and common analytical errors.
- Variation and trend
- Correlation, causation and confounding
- Uncertainty and confidence
- Common analytical errors
Day 4
Reporting and dashboard design, visual discipline, exception reporting and self-service practice.
- Reporting and dashboard design
- Visual discipline
- Exception reporting
- Self-service practice and governance
Day 5
Applied build using client data structures, presentation of recommendations, and assessment.
- Applied build on client data structures
- Presentation of recommendations
- Assessment
- Action planning
Delivery and customisation
Configured around your organisation
- Typical duration
- Five days
- Formats
- Classroom or blended
- Language
- English by default. Other languages subject to facilitator availability and materials translation, agreed during design.
How it can be tailored
- Client data sources, existing reports and performance framework.
- Real performance questions supplied by the sponsor.
- The client reporting and business intelligence toolset.
- Sector-specific measures, including regulatory or operational reporting obligations.
- Depth of statistical content adjusted to the analytical maturity of the cohort.
Methods
- Work throughout on the client's own reports, measures and performance questions.
- A measure specification produced to a defined standard and challenged by peers.
- Interpretation exercises using real data patterns, including deliberately misleading ones.
- Presentation of a recommendation to a simulated management forum which tests the evidence.
Materials, assessment and completion
Materials
- Participant workbook containing session content, frameworks, exercises and space for applied work.
- Client-contextualised case material and scenario packs used during the programme.
- Job aids, checklists and templates designed for use in the role after the programme.
- Assessment instruments and the marking criteria applied to them.
- Individual action plan template and a manager briefing note.
- Measure specification template, reporting design patterns and an interpretation checklist.
Reinforcement
- Individual action plans agreed during the programme and shared with line managers where the client permits.
- Manager briefing material setting out what was taught and what should be reinforced in the role.
- Toolkits and templates issued in editable form for continued use.
- Follow-up session at 30, 60 or 90 days where commissioned, reviewing action-plan progress and obstacles.
- Review of implemented reporting changes at 60 days against the designs produced, where commissioned.
Completion
- Attendance at no less than 80 per cent of scheduled contact time, recorded daily and reconciled against the registered cohort.
- Participation in the assessed practical components of the programme.
- Submission of the assessed work product and the individual action plan.
- Achievement of the assessment threshold where the client sets one; where no threshold is set, results are reported without a pass or fail determination.
Participants who meet the completion criteria receive a Knull certificate of completion recording the programme, dates, duration, content covered and, where assessed, the assessment outcome. Knull does not award accredited or regulated qualifications and does not hold third-party training accreditation. Attendance and assessment records are retained under the engagement terms and provided to the client with the completion report.
| Component | Weighting | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline and post assessment | 30% | Knowledge and interpretation instrument administered before and after, reported as learning gain. |
| Measure specification | 25% | Completeness, precision and resolution of ambiguity, marked against a defined standard. |
| Reporting design | 30% | Whether each element supports a decision, clarity of presentation and treatment of uncertainty. |
| Recommendation presentation | 15% | Structure, use of evidence, statement of limitations and handling of challenge. |
Next step
Make it fit your organisation
Dates, cohort, format and fees are agreed in a proposal once scope is defined. To register interest in a closed cohort, use a corporate booking request — Knull reviews every request; it is not a confirmed reservation.
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Discuss this programme for your organisation
Tell us about your priorities, capability gaps or business challenges. We'll help identify an appropriate next step.