Introduction to Business Analysis

Teachers

Included in study programs

Teaching results

The aim of the course is to provide overview regarding use of software solutions in business management as well as to transfer software knowledge and software skills related to business analysis to the students of this course.
Knowledge:
• knowledge of modern spreadsheets software used in management practice
• knowledge of basic commands, functions used in spreadsheets
• knowledge of methods of evaluation and presentation of data provided by modern information technologies and used in managerial practice
Competences:
• Using MS Excel for business data processing
• Evaluation and graphical presentation of data using basic MS Excel functions
• Creating reviews and reports to support decision making
Skills:
• practical use of individual MS Office applications on a PC with a focus on economic applications for business analysis
• use of basic commands of Microsoft Excel functions focused on data analysis
• providing basic data analysis and evaluation, creation of tables and simple graphs.

Indicative content

Providing basic information about working with a spreadsheet. Be able to design the structure of a table, insert different types of data into cells and define the links between cells through formulas. Gain an overview of basic mathematical and statistical functions and be able to use them in performing calculations in tables. Be able to import external data into a spreadsheet list and further process that list by sorting, applying filters, subtotals, and PivotTables. During the exercises, students will gain practical skills in using individual functions of the spreadsheet on practical cases.
Lectures:
1. Introduction to the subject. History of spreadsheet applications. Conditions for completing the course.
2. Philosophy of work in spreadsheet applications.
3. Techniques of data acquisition and recording (primary and secondary data).
4. Formatting techniques, areas, tables and types of addressing.
5. Defining relationships, creating sessions in the application, links and dynamic formulas.
6. Description and principles of using mathematical operations.
7. Description and principles of using functions.
8. Principles of database processing used in spreadsheet applications.
9. Functions, functionalities and tools for data analysis.
10. Conditional structuring and nesting of logical functions.
11. Reports, subtotals, dependencies and error indication.
12. Data visualization - graphical form of presentation of results.
13. Data export, connection with other applications (OLE, DDE ...).
Seminars:
1. Introduction to interface of spreadsheet applications
2. Basic operations in spreadsheet applications.
3. Principles of data acquisition and recording.
4. Formatting, types of addressing.
5. Writing sessions and relationships in the application.
6. Basic functions in spreadsheet applications.
7. Basic operations with a table as a database
8. Midterm testing
9. Data analysis - functions for data analysis (logical, mathematical, search)
10. Interactive tables - a tool for calculating, summarizing and analysing data
11. Creation of contingency tables
12. Practical exercises - solving tasks with the support of spreadsheet applications.
13. Presentation and evaluation of semester assignments.

Support literature

1. NAVARRŮ, M. 2019. Excel 2019 - Podrobný průvodce uživatele. Grada, 2019.
2. ŠTEFÁNEK, J. – GRELL, M. – CÁRACHOVÁ, M. – LEVČÍK, M. 2011. Praktické príklady z hospodárskej informatiky: praktikum. Bratislava : Vydavateľstvo EKONÓM, 2011.
3. PECINOVSKÝ, J. – PECINOVSKÝ, R. Office 2019. Grada, 2019. ISBN 9788024723037.
4. KLATOVSKÝ, K. 2020. Excel 2019 nejen pro školy. Computer Media, 2020. ISBN 9788074023859.
5. Manuály k aplikácii MS Excel.
6. GUERRERO, H. 2019. Excel data analysis: modeling and simulation. 2nd edition. Springer Science & Business Media, 2019.
7. FAIRHURST, D. S. 2015. Using Excel for business analysis: a guide to financial modelling fundamentals. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

Syllabus

Lectures: 1. Introduction to the subject. History of spreadsheet applications. Conditions for completing the course. 2. Philosophy of work in spreadsheet applications. 3. Techniques of data acquisition and recording (primary and secondary data). 4. Formatting techniques, areas, tables and types of addressing. 5. Defining relationships, creating sessions in the application, links and dynamic formulas. 6. Description and principles of using mathematical operations. 7. Description and principles of using functions. 8. Principles of database processing used in spreadsheet applications. 9. Functions, functionalities and tools for data analysis. 10. Conditional structuring and nesting of logical functions. 11. Reports, subtotals, dependencies and error indication. 12. Data visualization - graphical form of presentation of results. 13. Data export, connection with other applications (OLE, DDE ...). Seminars: 1. Introduction to interface of spreadsheet applications 2. Basic operations in spreadsheet applications. 3. Principles of data acquisition and recording. 4. Formatting, types of addressing. 5. Writing sessions and relationships in the application. 6. Basic functions in spreadsheet applications. 7. Basic operations with a table as a database 8. Midterm testing 9. Data analysis - functions for data analysis (logical, mathematical, search) 10. Interactive tables - a tool for calculating, summarizing and analysing data 11. Creation of contingency tables 12. Practical exercises - solving tasks with the support of spreadsheet applications. 13. Presentation and evaluation of semester assignments.

Requirements to complete the course

midterm test, semester assignment
written exam
• midterm test - 30%
• semester assignment - 10%
• written exam - 60%

Student workload

• participation in lectures - 26 hours
• participation in exercises - 26 hours
• preparation for the continuous test - 13 hours
• processing of the semester assignment - 13 hours
• preparation for the exam - 26 hours
Total: 104 hours

Language whose command is required to complete the course

Slovak

Date of approval: 14.02.2023

Date of the latest change: 15.11.2022