course 1 – foundations of business intelligence

Module 1: Data-driven results through business intelligence

GOOGLE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

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TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION – Data-Driven Results Through Business Intelligence

Embark on a foundational exploration of business intelligence in the inaugural course of the Google Business Intelligence Certificate. This introductory module sets the stage for participants to delve into the multifaceted world of BI, unraveling the pivotal roles played by BI analysts and engineers in organizational dynamics. Gain insights into the specialized tools and techniques employed by BI professionals, empowering them to make informed business decisions and enhance operational processes.

As part of this course, you’ll not only grasp the intricacies of BI but also discern the nuances that differentiate it from data analytics. Uncover the synergies and distinctions between these closely related domains, providing a comprehensive understanding of their applications and significance within the broader organizational context. This initial step lays the groundwork for a more profound exploration of BI tools and methodologies, paving the way for participants to navigate the evolving landscape of business intelligence with confidence and competence.

Learning Objectives

PRACTICE QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ORGANIZATIONS AND TEAMS THAT BENEFIT FROM BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

1. What are the typical responsibilities of a business intelligence analyst? Select all that apply.

Correct: Business intelligence analysts gather requirements from stakeholders, partners, and team members. They use their understanding of large datasets to retrieve, organize, and interpret data. Then, they create visualizations, dashboards, and reports. Business intelligence engineers evaluate and streamline devices, infrastructures, and information channels.

2. Fill in the blank: To enable different computer programs to communicate with one another, companies can use an application programming _____. This is a set of functions and procedures that integrate diverse systems.

Correct: To enable different computer programs to communicate with one another, companies can use an application programming interface, or API. This is a set of functions and procedures that integrate diverse systems.

3. Which stakeholders do business intelligence professionals collaborate with in order to maximize available data and data tools?

Correct: Business intelligence professionals collaborate with information technology, or IT, professionals in order to maximize available data and data tools. IT professionals test, install, repair, upgrade, and maintain the hardware and software solutions.

PRACTICE QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE STRUCTURES AND STAGES

1. A business intelligence professional is considering how effectively their team is able to use the data available to them in order to extract actionable insights. What BI concept is the focus of this situation?

Correct: This situation is focused on data maturity. Data maturity describes the extent to which an organization is able to effectively use its data in order to extract actionable insights.

2. In business intelligence, which stage might involve querying a database to return a financial dataset or accessing a spreadsheet of marketing campaign data?

Correct: In business intelligence, the capture stage might involve querying a database to return a financial dataset or accessing a spreadsheet of marketing campaign data. This stage pertains to static, backward-looking data.

3. In what ways might data analysis be used in order to help business intelligence professionals provide data-driven insights? Select all that apply.

Correct: Data analysis may be used to help business intelligence professionals provide data-driven insights in many ways. Some examples include exploring why things happened, understanding relationships between data points, and examining data more in-depth.

PRACTICE QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: HOW BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE MAKES AN IMPACT

1. What concept involves managing the people, processes, and tools used in the business intelligence process?

Correct: Business intelligence strategy involves managing the people, processes, and tools used in the business intelligence process.

2. A data pipeline is a series of processes that transports data from different sources to a new destination. What happens to the data at this destination?

Correct: A data pipeline is a series of processes that transports data from different sources to a new destination for storage and analysis.

3. A business intelligence professional wants to improve a procedure in order to achieve better outcomes. To do this, they repeat the procedure over and over until they get closer to the desired results. What business intelligence concept does this situation describe?

Correct: This situation describes iteration. Iteration involves repeating a procedure over and over again in order to keep getting closer to the desired result.

PRACTICE QUIZ: ASSESS YOUR READINESS FOR THE GOOGLE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE CERTIFICATE

1. What is data science?

Correct: Data science is a field of study that uses data to create new ways of modeling and understanding the unknown.

2. What is the key difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Correct: Qualitative data measures qualities and characteristics; quantitative data measures numerical facts.

3. Which of the following statements accurately describe wide and long data? Select all that apply.

Correct: Wide data subjects can have data in multiple columns. Long data subjects can have multiple rows that hold the values of subject attributes.

4. Structured data is likely to be found in which of the following formats? Select all that apply.

Correct: Structured data is organized in a certain format such as rows and columns. It is likely to be found in a table or spreadsheet.

5. Fill in the blank: A Boolean data type can have _____ possible values.

Correct: A Boolean data type can have two possible values.

6. What is the term for the individuals who have invested time and resources in a project and are interested in its outcome?

Correct: Stakeholders are individuals who have invested time and resources in a project and are interested in its outcome.

7. When collecting data for a study, what are some reasons to consider sample size? Select all that apply.

Correct: Considering sample size ensures the data represents a diverse set of perspectives and helps avoid skewed results or inaccurate judgements.

8. The SMART methodology can be used to ask a question that promotes change. What type of SMART question leads to change?

Correct: A SMART question that promotes change is action-oriented.

9. Which of the following inquiries are leading questions? Select all that apply.

Correct: Leading questions include: How satisfied were you with our customer representative? In what ways did our product meet your needs? And what do you enjoy most about our service? Leading questions direct the respondent to a particular answer, often because they suggest the answer within the question.

10. Which of the following data security tools can be used to ensure only specific people can access, edit, and download a spreadsheet? Select all that apply.

Correct: Encryption and sharing permissions can be used to ensure only specific people can access, edit, and download a spreadsheet.

11. Which type of bias is the tendency to construe ambiguous situations in a positive or negative way?

Correct: Interpretation bias is the tendency to construe ambiguous situations in a positive or negative way.

12. Before completing a survey, an individual acknowledges reading information about how and why the data they provide will be used. What concept does this describe?

Correct: This concept is called consent. Consent is the aspect of data ethics that presumes an individual’s right to know how and why their personal data will be used before agreeing to provide it.

13. A data analyst commits a SQL query to a repository as a new and improved query. Then, they specify the modifications they made during data cleaning and why they were made. What process does this scenario describe?

Correct: This scenario describes creating a changelog.

14. Fill in the blank: To remove leading, trailing, and repeated spaces when cleaning data, use the _____ function.

Correct: To remove leading, trailing, and repeated spaces when cleaning data, use the TRIM function.

15. Which spreadsheet tool changes how cells appear when values meet a specific condition?

Correct: Conditional formatting is the spreadsheet tool that changes how cells appear when values meet a specific condition.

16. Fill in the blank: In a spreadsheet, the SPLIT function divides a text string around a ___ and puts each fragment into a new, separate cell.

Correct: A delimiter is the specified character separating each item.

17. The date and time a photo was taken is an example of which kind of metadata?

Correct: The date and time a photo was taken is an example of administrative metadata.

18. In spreadsheets, an absolute reference is used to lock a function array so that rows and columns don’t change if the function is copied. What symbol is used to create an absolute reference?

Correct: A dollar sign is used to create an absolute reference.

19. Which spreadsheet function vertically searches for a certain value in a column in order to return a corresponding piece of information?

Correct: VLOOKUP vertically searches for a certain value in a column in order to return a corresponding piece of information.

20. When creating a SQL query, which JOIN clause returns all matching records in two or more database tables?

Correct: The INNER JOIN clause returns all matching records in two or more database tables.

21. In a SQL query, which calculation does the modulo (%) operator perform?

Correct: The modulo operator returns the remainder of a division calculation when included in a SQL query.

22. What are the main benefits of using a programming language to work with data? Select all that apply.

Correct: There are three main benefits of using a programming language to work with data: Easily reproduce and share work, save time, and clarify the steps of analysis.

23. What goals are programming languages designed to achieve? Select all that apply.

Correct: Programming languages are designed to achieve effective data transformation, cleaning, and visualization.

24. What is the term for programming code that is freely available and may be modified and shared by the people who use it?

Correct: Open-source code is freely available and may be modified and shared by the people who use it.

25. To demonstrate how often data values fall into certain ranges, what type of data visualization should be used?

Correct: To demonstrate how often data values fall into certain ranges, use a histogram.

26. A dashboard is designed to share insights about the housing market in a city. What type of data visualization would be most effective at demonstrating how the city’s annual home sales have risen over time?

Correct: To demonstrate how often data values fall into certain ranges, use a histogram.

27. What type of visualizations enable the data in a presentation to automatically update and change over time?

Correct: Dynamic visualizations enable the data in a presentation to automatically update and change over time.

28. Why is it more effective to label a data visualization instead of using a legend? Select all that apply.

Correct: It is more effective to label a data visualization instead of using a legend for several reasons: Labels can be placed near the data, they make the data visualization more accessible, and they allow for text explanations to be placed directly on the visualization.

29. A data visualization reveals two variables in the data that rise and fall at the same time. When variables are related in this way, what is likely happening?

Correct: When two variables in a visualization rise and fall at the same time, this is an example of correlation. Correlation is the measure of the degree to which two variables change in relationship to each other.

30. Which of the following are appropriate uses for filters in data visualization tools? Select all that apply.

Correct: Filters can be used to highlight individual data points, limit the number of rows or columns in view, and provide data to different users based on their needs.

QUIZ: MODULE 1 CHALLENGE

1. In order to transform data into actionable insights, what do business intelligence professionals work to automate? Select all that apply.

2. What are some of the primary responsibilities of a business intelligence engineer? Select all that apply.

3. An application programming interface integrates computer programs, forming a connection that enables them to communicate with each other. What does it use to accomplish this? Select all that apply.

4. Fill in the blank: The primary reason business intelligence professionals collaborate with the _____ department is to maximize the company’s software and hardware.

5. Which of the following statements accurately describes what data analytics and business intelligence professionals do when working to achieve higher levels of data maturity? Select all that apply.

6. A business intelligence professional is working for a local photography business. In which business intelligence stage might they access a spreadsheet that contains data about a seasonal marketing campaign?

7. What are stakeholders most likely to do during the business intelligence monitor stage?

8. Business intelligence strategy is the management of the people, processes, and tools used in the business intelligence process. What are some key considerations with regard to the tools part of this concept? Select all that apply.

9. Which business intelligence tool is used to keep data consistent across systems and explain to users how it’s organized?

10. What business intelligence process involves gathering data from source systems, converting it into a useful format, and bringing it into a unified system?

11. Fill in the blank: To enable disparate _____ to communicate, business intelligence professionals integrate them using an application programming interface.

12. Which team members maximize a company’s software and hardware resources so they may be used effectively in business intelligence projects?

13. A business intelligence professional learns that a company is not using customer data to make decisions. What actions might they make in order to achieve higher levels of data maturity? Select all that apply.

14. Business intelligence strategy is the management of the people, processes, and tools used in the business intelligence process. What are some key considerations with regard to the people part of this concept? Select all that apply.

15. What are some benefits of data models? Select all that apply.

16. Fill in the blank: ETL is a type of _____ that enables data to be gathered from source systems, converted into a useful format, and brought into a data warehouse or other unified destination system.

17. What is an application programming interface?

18. What are some typical tools involved in the business intelligence monitor stage? Select all that apply.

19. What steps are involved in the ETL process? Select all that apply.

20. Fill in the blank: Business intelligence involves automating processes and information channels in order to transform relevant data into _____ for decision-makers.

21. Which of the following statements correctly describes the roles of business intelligence engineers versus business intelligence analysts?

22. Business intelligence projects often require the help of information technology (IT) professionals. What are some of the typical responsibilities of these team members? Select all that apply.

23. A business intelligence professional is working for a global food service provider. In which business intelligence stage might they download a spreadsheet that contains data about grocery orders over the past six months?

24. Business intelligence strategy is the management of the people, processes, and tools used in the business intelligence process. What are some key considerations with regard to the processes part of this concept? Select all that apply.

25. Which business intelligence team members are responsible for the formal management of an organization’s data assets?

Correct: Data governance professionals are responsible for the formal management of an organization’s data assets. This may involve managing the availability, integrity, and security of data based on internal standards and policies.

26. Fill in the blank: To get clear directions when navigating a database, business intelligence professionals use _____, which organize data elements and how they relate to one another.

27. A business intelligence professional is working for a national shipping company. In which business intelligence stage might they query a database to return a dataset about last month’s shipping speeds?

28. What events might occur during the monitor stage of the business intelligence process? Select all that apply.

29. When helping their organizations achieve data maturity, business intelligence professionals are typically responsible for which of the following tasks? Select all that apply.

Correct: Business intelligence professionals are typically more involved with building data-reporting tools and dashboards, establishing repeatable methods for monitoring data, and working on large-scale projects that are helpful to multiple stakeholders.

30. Fill in the blank: The business intelligence stages of capture, analyze, and monitor help determine BI’s business value, as well as an organization’s _____.

Correct: The business intelligence phases of capture, analyze, and monitor help determine BI’s business value, as well as an organization’s data maturity level. Data maturity is the extent to which an organization is able to use its data in order to extract actionable insights.

31. In business intelligence, what does ETL stand for?

Correct: ETL stands for extract, transform, and load. ETL is a type of data pipeline that enables data to be gathered from source systems, converted into a useful format, and brought into a data warehouse or other unified destination system.

CONCLUSION – Data-Driven Results Through Business Intelligence

In conclusion, this foundational course marks the beginning of an enriching journey into the realm of business intelligence through the Google Business Intelligence Certificate. Participants have delved into the fundamental roles of BI analysts and engineers, acquiring insights into the tools and techniques that drive effective decision-making and process improvement. As they move forward, the newfound understanding of the distinctions between BI and data analytics provides a robust foundation for navigating the intricacies of the field.

Guided by Google employees immersed in the BI landscape, learners have engaged in hands-on activities, simulating real-world tasks and gaining practical skills to prepare them for success in BI roles. This concluding reflection emphasizes the importance of the acquired knowledge, setting the stage for further exploration and application of business intelligence principles in subsequent courses. As participants advance, they are well-equipped to harness the power of BI tools and methodologies, propelling them toward successful careers in this dynamic and essential field.