Developing Your Analytical Skills: How to Research and Present Information

Learn to synthesize complex data quickly, draw clear implications, and make confident, well-informed decisions.

Who Should Attend:

Business professionals at all levels who want to build foundational analytical skills they can apply to their work immediately to support smarter, more defensible decisions.

When you make decisions, how do you assess whether the information in front of you is credible? Do you research and organize data in a structured, systematic way, or do you rely on instinct and emerging trends? Do you know what questions to ask to get to the heart of a problem? This course helps you answer all of those questions with greater confidence.

Whether you are evaluating a new product concept, presenting findings on a competitor, or allocating limited resources, you need the analytical tools to support your conclusions with valid and credible evidence. In this course, you will learn a practical process for data analysis that keeps you focused on the most critical information, involves the right stakeholders at the right time, and communicates your findings in terms your audiences will understand and act on.

How You Will Benefit:

• Identify the information that is most relevant to a given decision or problem
• Research and organize data from multiple sources in appropriate, usable formats
• Categorize data effectively for deeper analysis
• Make well-reasoned decisions involving complex qualitative data
• Perform analysis from multiple perspectives to surface hidden insights
• Recognize patterns and understand what they mean for your business
• Evaluate evidence to identify the best opportunity or most rational solution
• Communicate your findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively

What You Will Cover:

Analytical Skills and the Data Analysis Process

• Identifying the core analytical skills that business professionals rely on
• Exploring the challenges involved in collecting, evaluating, and presenting information
• Describing the steps in the analytical process: plan, analyze, and conclude

The Planning Phase

• Defining the purpose and scope of your analysis
• Sharpening your analytical skills by clarifying the key questions: Why? Who? What are the options, benefits, and risks?
• Identifying the issues essential for a complete and accurate understanding
• Selecting an analytical approach appropriate to the project
• Creating a practical data collection plan

The Analysis Phase

• Organizing, collecting, and evaluating data using visual and graphic tools
• Performing affinity grouping to bring structure to unstructured data
• Using 2x2 grids and SWOT analysis to evaluate options and assess strategies
• Assessing risk and performing cost-benefit analysis
• Evaluating data quality and addressing information gaps proactively

The Conclusion and Reporting Phase

• Understanding the characteristics of a valid, well-supported conclusion
• Moving from conclusions to actionable, defensible recommendations
• Presenting conclusions graphically for maximum clarity and impact

Telling Your Story

• Using tools, tips, and techniques to present your findings to diverse audiences
• Designing and delivering a brief presentation that informs, inspires, and persuades

Outline

Lesson One: Learning Objectives

• Apply analytical techniques to determine what information is truly relevant
• Organize information into a form that can be analyzed effectively
• Analyze information to identify the best opportunity for your business and explain your reasoning
• Recognize patterns and understand their implications for your organization
• Identify a presentation framework that draws on your analytical findings

Lesson Two: The Planning Phase

• Identify the purpose of the analysis
• Use a clarifying-questions tool to sharpen focus
• Decide on an analytical approach
• Create a data collection plan that accounts for the needs of your audience

Lesson Three: The Analysis Phase

• Organize data using visual tools and structured outlines
• Aggregate unstructured information into meaningful segments
• Assess risk and conduct cost-benefit analysis
• Develop a decision matrix to evaluate options systematically
• Evaluate data quality and address information gaps

The Conclude Phase

• Develop valid, well-supported conclusions
• Move from conclusions to clear, actionable recommendations
• Develop recommendations that can anchor a compelling presentation

Telling Your Story

• Apply tools and techniques for presenting findings clearly across different audience types
• Deliver a focused presentation that highlights your conclusions and recommendations