Data-Driven Decision Making for Managers

Instructor: Alaa Hady · Language: English or Arabic · Suggested duration: 1 day · Level: Foundation (Level 100)

Objectives

• Connect operational and strategic business decisions to measurable evidence.
• Define clear decision questions and leading/lagging success measures.
• Interpret trends, variance, and statistical uncertainty without overreacting to noise.
• Establish practical routines for data-informed management reviews.

Outline and contents

1. Decision framing and business problem definition
2. Leading versus lagging indicators and value driver trees
3. Setting realistic targets, thresholds, and tolerance bands
4. Trend, variance, segmentation, and exception analysis for leaders
5. Asking effective questions of data analysts and BI dashboards
6. Cognitive biases (confirmation bias, survivorship bias, anchoring) and limits of data
7. Facilitated case study: diagnosing a business unit slowdown and action planning

Target audience

Executives, directors, department managers, supervisors, and team leaders.

Expected outcomes

Participants can frame measurable business questions, challenge assumptions constructively, prioritize high-leverage indicators, and translate dashboard observations into accountable follow-up actions.