Are you currently working in a business leadership or managerial role and looking to develop your understanding of emerging technologies and information resources? It could be time to pursue your Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Intelligence (BI).
Specifically, a business intelligence degree program can help sharpen your understanding of how technology impacts the modern workplace — and how to leverage it to improve efficiency and achieve business objectives.
So, what role does business intelligence play in today’s evolving business world, and what kinds of skills can you expect to develop in an advanced BI degree program?
The Role of Business Intelligence in Modern Organizations
Business intelligence refers to the techniques and strategies used to collect, analyze, and interpret business data with the end goal of extracting valuable insights from that raw data. Businesses of all sizes and across all industries can benefit from BI when it comes to understanding their performance, predicting future trends, and making informed decisions to achieve short- and long-term objectives.
What Is an MBA in Business Intelligence?
An MBA in Business Intelligence is a specialized version of a master’s in business administration, effectively combining “traditional” business knowledge with data analytics expertise. Examples of core focus areas in a business intelligence program may include:
- Data analysis
- Data visualization
- Business strategy and decision-making
- Leadership in data-driven environments
Who Should Consider This Degree?
Could an advanced degree in business intelligence and analytics be right for you? Generally, this type of degree program is ideal for aspiring business leaders who are looking to combine their managerial and leadership expertise with more technical data analysis and decision-making skills. This type of degree program may also be suitable for professionals preparing to transition into business intelligence roles or advancing within their current fields.
9 Key Analytical Skills You’ll Develop in a Business Intelligence Degree Program
Considering a business intelligence career? If so, you’ll want to possess certain core skills that range from data analysis proficiency and general business acumen to database management, statistical modeling, and beyond. Below are nine essential skills you can expect to develop as part of a business intelligence analytics program at the graduate level.
1. Data Analysis and Interpretation
Students in a reputable MBA in BI program will learn how to extract, clean, and analyze raw data to uncover patterns, trends, and other valuable insights. This includes statistical analysis techniques like regression and hypothesis testing — which allows business professionals to better understand data, make informed decisions, and solve problems in real-world business situations.
2. Data Visualization
Being able to create visual representations of complex data empowers business leaders to more thoroughly understand data and pinpoint trends. In an MBA in BI program, then, students can expect to learn how to use popular data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Google Data Studio while exploring industry best practices for designing dashboards and user-friendly visual reports.
With the ability to create visual representations of data, business leaders can more effectively leverage visual storytelling to help stakeholders quickly understand insights and make decisions based on even the most complex data.
3. Predictive Analytics
Students in a business intelligence MBA program also learn how to use predictive modeling and machine learning techniques to forecast and predict future business trends. This includes working with algorithms to create working models for customer behavior, market trends, risk analysis, and beyond.
These skills are essential for BI professionals because being able to anticipate future business trends can help businesses stay ahead of the competition while mitigating potential risks.
4. Business Strategy Alignment with Data
Another key skill learned in an MBA in BI program is how to seamlessly integrate business intelligence insights into functional strategic planning and decision-making. In doing so, students can work toward bridging the proverbial gap between data teams and executive leadership — all of which can better align data insights with company goals while ensuring actionable outcomes and organizational success.
5. Database Management and Querying
Students in an MBA in BI program also have the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of database design and management, including the ins and outs of relational databases. By knowing how to write SQL queries to retrieve and manipulate data more efficiently, business intelligence professionals can build proficiency in database systems and confidently access/analyze the right data when they need it.
6. Problem-Solving Using Data
Many of today’s most common business challenges can be solved through the use of data, but it calls for considerable problem-solving and analytical skills to do so effectively. In an MBA in BI program, students learn how to approach business challenges by using data to identify root causes and potential opportunities. They can also discover best practices and frameworks for applying analytics to solve operational and strategic problems, thus becoming better equipped to tackle business challenges with precision and confidence.
7. Statistical Modeling
Statistical modeling is another competency covered in an MBA in BI program. Students can learn how to apply different statistical models to make informed predictions and decisions through an understanding of core concepts such as probability, correlation, and variance. Statistical literacy skills, in turn, can help BI professionals better evaluate data reliability while drawing more accurate conclusions from raw data sets.
8. Big Data and Cloud Analytics
Today, more organizations are relying on cloud-based analytics platforms (like AWS and Google Cloud) to store and work with incredibly large data sets. BI professionals, then, need to understand how to use these platforms while working with big data concepts (such as distributed computing and data lakes) in order to process and extract insights from raw data. An MBA in BI program allows students to gain valuable experience working with these platforms, thus building their proficiency and confidence.
9. Communication of Analytical Insights
Another important skill for any BI professional is the ability to effectively “translate” highly complex and technical data insights to non-technical stakeholders. As part of an MBA in BI program, students can learn how to communicate complex data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders who might not otherwise speak the language. This entails building compelling data presentations and data storytelling techniques, as well as using data visualization tools to communicate findings effectively and drive meaningful action among stakeholders.
Why an MBA in Business Intelligence Is Different from Other BI Degrees
When it comes to business intelligence master’s programs, an MBA is far from your only option. However, compared to other types of BI degrees (such as a technical master’s degree in business intelligence), an MBA offers a more balanced and comprehensive curriculum that could better align with your career goals.
Practical Business Focus
Unlike a master’s in business intelligence, which focuses only on technical BI skills, an MBA in Business Intelligence will offer a more practical business emphasis that combines analytics with leadership and management training. This could be more suitable for business managers and other leaders who are looking to sharpen their analytical skills without deviating too far from their foundations in business.
Global Business Perspective
Additionally, an MBA in BI program will focus more on business intelligence and analytics as they relate specifically to their impact on international markets and operations. This global perspective can be particularly useful and applicable to leaders in the business world who want to better understand how to use technology and analytics to grow and scale on an international level.
Versatility in Career Opportunities
Compared to a more traditional master’s in BI, an MBA in BI can also offer a greater level of versatility in terms of potential career advancement opportunities. More specifically, graduates with an MBA in BI may be better prepared for such leadership roles as:
- Chief data officer
- Business intelligence manager
- Operations director
Real-World Application
Finally, MBA programs in Business Intelligence may include special offerings for business professionals that can better prepare them for their future work. This may consist of special business opportunities, capstone projects, and case studies that empower students to apply the concepts they’ve learned about in the classroom to real-world scenarios and projects.
Start Your Business Intelligence MBA at Baker
No matter if you’re a current or aspiring business leader, having an MBA in Business Intelligence can help you blend your technical and managerial expertise in preparation for advanced BI positions and other decision-making roles in the field.
Still assessing which business intelligence degree program is right for you? The MBA in Business Intelligence program at Baker College focuses on helping students build advanced managerial and leadership skills while discovering ways to leverage technology that can streamline operations and make business goals more achievable. Meanwhile, because this 30-credit hour program is offered online with flexible scheduling, it can be completed in an average of just one to two years.Learn about Baker’s master’s degree in business intelligence by requesting more information today. Ready to make the next big move in your career? You can also start your online application for admission here.