Introduction
As organizations become increasingly dependent on data, managers and executives must be able to read, question, and use information with confidence. Data Literacy for Managers and Executives is designed to build the essential knowledge leaders need to interpret data, engage meaningfully with analysts, and make better business decisions. The course focuses on practical understanding rather than technical depth, enabling participants to become confident consumers of data across strategic and operational contexts.
Course Objectives
- Build confidence in reading and interpreting business data
- Strengthen the ability to challenge assumptions using evidence
- Understand common data terms, structures, and reporting formats
- Improve communication with analysts and technical teams
- Recognize the role of data in strategic and operational decisions
- Promote a stronger data culture within teams and departments
Target Audience
- Managers seeking greater confidence in working with data
- Executives responsible for performance and strategic direction
- Department heads involved in reporting and decision-making
- Team leaders supervising analytics-driven functions
- Professionals transitioning into more data-informed roles
- Business owners aiming to improve evidence-based management
Course Outline
- 5 Sections
- 0 Lessons
- 5 Days
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Day 1: Understanding Data in Business• What data literacy means for modern leaders
• Different types of data used in organizations
• Structured and unstructured data explained simply
• Where business data comes from and how it flows
• Case examples: Good and poor use of data in leadership0 - Day 2: Reading Reports and Dashboards• How to interpret charts, dashboards, and summaries
• Key metrics, KPIs, and performance indicators
• Spotting trends, outliers, and inconsistencies
• Recognizing misleading visuals and reporting errors
• Workshop: Reviewing a business performance dashboard0 - Day 3: Asking Better Questions with Data• Turning business problems into data questions
• Understanding context before interpreting numbers
• Using comparisons, benchmarks, and historical patterns
• Identifying gaps in evidence and weak conclusions
• Practical activity: Challenging a management report0 - Day 4: Data Communication and Decision Support• Communicating findings clearly to different audiences
• Using data to support recommendations and action plans
• Balancing intuition, experience, and evidence
• Working effectively with analysts and BI teams
• Case study: Executive decisions improved through data literacy0 - Day 5: Building a Data-Literate Culture• Encouraging data confidence across teams
• Creating routines for evidence-based decisions
• Avoiding common cultural barriers to data use
• Supporting accountability through better reporting
• Final group exercise: Designing a data-literate team action plan0
Instructor
Lessons:
