Analytics Value Training (AVT9) takes you from the fundamentals to the advanced analytics concepts, regardless of your choice of software. We cover the components and techniques required to succeed and create real value with analytics.
The program is designed to help organisations to become more data-driven and generate value from analytics and AI. It combines three disciplines—business, IT and data science—in an active learning program tailored to organisational needs and individual analytics knowledge and skills.
The AVT program runs over 12 months and involves online learning, workshops and case studies.
As the course designer, I am particularly proud of the feedback we have received. So far, there are five main reasons why customers love AVT.
1. People remember and apply the content
AVT is practical and memorable. It uses models like the analytics lifecycle, the analytics maturity and capability model, the analytics case canvas and the skills and competence matrix. It also enables participants to apply their new knowledge to real-world problems immediately. This cements the learning in their minds.
The program includes enterprise analytics, operationalising analytics and analytics use cases. Over the 12 months, participants have seven sessions by remote covering the critical industry standard methodologies and models from analytics and AI success. Connected to all session-day, there is a cohort-coaching session week after, where participants practice the industry standard models in their situation and organisation.
When learning is applied immediately, participants tend to remember over 90% of the course content two weeks later, significantly higher than in traditional education. This retention is even better when the training is repeated over an extended period, so the multiple case study approach embeds the learning more fully.
2. Team-based program improves collaboration in the workplace
Knowledge may be individual, but analytics is a team sport. Data scientists, IT professionals and business users need to be able to collaborate and cooperate within a team and work closely to identify key problems that need insights and solutions. Analytics value training and therefore emphasises the importance of teams going through the program together. Team collaboration is a central part of the program. This means that what participants do in the training program helps them work better together once they return to the workplace.
3. Training is delivered by thought leaders and experts
One of the issues with traditional classroom or university-based learning is that academics often deliver it. They may be experts in the theory, but few have much practical experience. This makes it harder for them to show participants how to apply their knowledge. Analytics value training is different. Thought leaders deliver the program from within and beyond SAS. The aligned program ecosystem has industry thought leaders sharing the same passion, vision and commitment to the value of analytics. Together we are aligned to develop analytics professionals and impact organization change for actionable outcomes with analytics. The ecosystem of experts understands the problems of applying analytics, and participants can benefit from their experience and expertise.
4. Brings together groups from different functions
Analytics value training is not just for data scientists. It brings together data scientists, IT professionals, business analysts and business managers. The focus is on giving them the skills to work together to get value from data and analytics. Analytics value training helps these groups understand each other better—and appreciate what others bring to the table. This, in turn, helps to ensure that everyone’s skills and knowledge are used as effectively as possible. We use personas to show participants how to improve value co-creation and integrate analytics in a way that recognizes everyone’s needs and skills.
5. Uses participants’ organisational examples
Participants translate their business issue into the theory with the opportunity to build a proof of concept in a hackathon in block three. This is good news for participants because they can apply their new skills and knowledge to something relevant. It is also good news for their sponsoring organization because it gives real practical value even before the training is complete.
Looking ahead
Since this program was started, we have been fortunate with a dynamic group of easy-adopter participants. As AVT expands into domain-specific topics, the program's shape has evolved. I am looking forward to seeing what the future cohort of participants will choose to love about AVT. Will you be joining us
