Introduction to Business Analytics using Excel

McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies Introduction to Business Analytics using Excel course provides a practical foundation in applying analytical thinking to real-world business problems. The course introduces business analytics as a discipline that combines statistical analysis, management science, and information technology, while highlighting Excel as a widely accessible yet often underutilized analytical tool. Participants gain exposure to the powerful capabilities of Excel’s Analysis ToolPak for conducting statistical and financial analyses.

Designed as a hands-on workshop, the course demonstrates how Excel functions and analytical tools can be used to move beyond basic spreadsheets toward more sophisticated data-driven decision-making. Learners develop skills in descriptive analysis to summarize data, as well as correlation analysis to identify relationships between variables. Through guided exercises, participants learn how to organize, analyze, and interpret data in a business context.

The course also introduces predictive modeling using linear regression, enabling participants to forecast outcomes and support strategic decisions. By the end of the workshop, learners are equipped to transform raw data into meaningful insights, strengthening their ability to support evidence-based business decisions using Excel.

Admission Requirements

• Basic knowledge of Excel, and access to Excel 2016 or later.

What You’ll Learn

• Summarize a data set using descriptive statistics.
• Identify patterns using correlation analysis.
• Produce linear regression models.
• Examine the results of linear regression models.