Ateneo - UPO

The course is designed as a comprehensive exploration of advanced Excel techniques, with a focus on leveraging its capabilities to enhance decision-making processes within the field of Human Resources.

Target Competencies:

Automation of Routine Tasks: Learn to automate repetitive HR tasks using Excel, streamlining processes and improving efficiency.

Charting and Visualization Techniques: Gain proficiency in creating informative and visually appealing charts and graphs to represent HR data effectively.

Data Modeling: Develop skills in building complex data models within Excel to facilitate better data analysis and decision-making.

Report Structuring Techniques: Explore techniques for structuring HR reports in a clear and organized manner, enhancing readability and usability.

HR Reporting Techniques: Master specialized reporting methods tailored to the Human Resources field, ensuring the presentation of HR data aligns with industry standards and best practices.

Analyzing HR Data: Acquire advanced analytical skills to extract valuable insights from HR data, enabling informed decision-making in the HR domain.

By the end of this course, participants will be well-equipped to harness Excel's advanced capabilities to support and optimize decision-making processes within the realm of Human Resources.

A useful reference: "Microsoft Excel 365 Bible" by Michael Alexander, Richard Kusleika, John Walkenbach, March 2022.

The course is centered around the use of Excel 2021 for Windows. The instructions and teaching materials are specifically designed for Windows users. Please note that compatibility with other operating systems such as Linux or macOS is not guaranteed.

Upon completing this course, students should have the following capabilities:

Utilize Excel/Power BI at an advanced level to assist in managerial decision-making.
Formalize and enhance the decision-making process by employing quantitative analysis techniques.
Conduct advanced data analysis and effectively communicate the outcomes of their analyses.

Prerequisites:

Fundamental understanding of Excel, including basic operations and functions when working with worksheets.
Proficiency in Google Suite applications, such as Google Sheets, Docs, and Forms.

The lectures encompass both theoretical concepts and practical exercises, utilizing Excel 365. Each student must have a laptop with Office 365 installed for the course.

Further details and updates will be provided on the course webpage (www.dir.uniupo.it) during the course.

Attending the course lessons in person is highly recommended.

Please note that the teaching instructions and materials are specifically designed for Windows PC users.

For face-to-face classes, you will be using a computer lab, and there is no need to bring your own device.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities.

Active participation in the classroom is expected.

The course assessment includes a final individual or group project (up to 3 members per group). This project involves preparing a written report and delivering a presentation. The objective is to evaluate the comprehension of advanced topics and the capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to analyze intricate and complex issues.

Course Modules:

Introduction to Spreadsheet Modeling: Developing Proficient Spreadsheet Models
Visualizing Data and Excel Charts: Effectively Presenting Data Through Visualization
Data Entry and Manipulation: Advanced Functionalities in Excel 365
Data Queries: Utilizing Sort, Filter, and Advanced Filter Techniques, Pivot Tables, and Charts
Dashboards and Web Apps: Designing Dashboards and Web Applications for Data Presentation
What-If Analysis: Employing What-If Scenarios and Sensitivity Analysis
Excel Data Analysis: Calculating Averages, Variance, Probability, and More
Power Query for Importing, Cleaning, and Transforming Data: Utilizing Power Query to Manage Data Importation and Transformation

These modules will provide a comprehensive understanding of Excel and its applications for data analysis and modeling.

Knowledge and understanding
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Identify appropriate models and the correct methodology for solving managerial problems.
Knowing how to use deterministic models and scenario analysis.

Skills:
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Properly organize the information contained in the data to build a consistent quantitative model.
Formalize the decision process in a quantitative model.
Use the advanced features of Excel in order to implement the quantitative model and present its results.