Data Visualization and Dashboard Design with Excel and Cognos

Raw data only tells part of a story, but clear visual dashboards can turn complex numbers into actionable business insights. This text-based course guides you through the essentials of data visualization using Excel and Cognos Analytics. You will progress from understanding core visualization principles to building interactive, professional dashboards. By learning how to structure your data, select the right chart types, and design with the end-user in mind, you will gain the skills needed to communicate data insights clearly and effectively. What you'll learn: - Understand fundamental data visualization principles, chart types, and dashboard design best practices. - Prepare and clean raw data using modern Excel features like Power Query to ensure accurate reporting. - Create dynamic charts, pivot tables, and interactive dashboards within Excel. - Navigate Cognos Analytics to import data, build professional visualizations, and construct web-based dashboards. - Apply modern design techniques to ensure your dashboards are clean, accessible, and easy for stakeholders to interpret. The course begins with foundational concepts of data storytelling and visualization theory before moving into practical, step-by-step written exercises. You will practice cleaning data in Excel, building interactive components, and transferring those skills to create dashboards in Cognos Analytics. This course is designed for beginners, business professionals, and aspiring data analysts who want to build practical dashboarding skills without any prior technical background. Start reading today to transform raw data into clear, impactful visual stories.