Data-Driven Organisation

Are you interested in gaining a competitive edge by using data as a basis for your strategic and operative decisions? Learn how to build a data-driven organisation in this CAS.

Data is the raw material of the digital transformation in the 21st century. It forms a key basis on which to build customer-oriented strategies, business models, products and services. A data-driven organisation makes targeted use of data, enabling it to take informed decisions regarding marketing activities, production, logistics, finance, etc. This allows businesses to gain a competitive edge in both strategic and operative terms. Enjoy the potential that a data-driven organisation has to offer and realign your mindset and procedures.

If you are interested in using data to drive the future of your organisation, this CAS is perfect for you:

You understand digital transformation and its impact on your business.
You are ready for data-driven transformation in the digital environment.
You recognise the potential data holds for your organisation.
You are a capable contact for data-driven organisational development.
You make informed (organisational) decisions based on data (big & small data).

Factsheet

Degree/Certificate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
Duration 18 study days
Schedule Monday and Tuesday, approx. once a month
Application deadline 6 weeks before start, later registration also possible if places are available
ECTS credits 12 ECTS-credits

Costs CHF 8,500
Teaching language German
Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
School Business School
Next session Please visit the German website for more information

Contact

Downloads

Please register on the German website.

To the German website

Content + structure

Portrait

Data-oriented, networked, integrated. In this part-time continuing education programme, we will familiarise you with the key concepts behind a data-driven organisation. We will identify different options for the digital and cultural transformation of an organisation, all the way up to the data-driven organisation. From data strategy and data culture to the concrete analysis and visualisation of data using case studies in diverse areas such as production, logistics, finance or marketing.
This CAS will take you on a journey from strategic to operational data usage. You will recognise the opportunities data offers and exploit its potential to gain a competitive edge. Because the future belongs to data.

Learning outcomes

The CAS Data-Driven Organisation is designed to support you with the digital transformation to a data-driven organisation. You will become acquainted with key concepts, models and tools of applied data science for your day-to-day operations. You will become proficient in the language of data scientists and be able to represent and advance your interests in interdisciplinary projects. The CAS will focus on strengthening the following abilities at strategic and operative level:

You will be aware of essential (IT) innovations & trends in digitalisation and data science and able to identify application scenarios and configuration options.
You will combine IT, data science and business and use data storytelling for visual communication.
You will use an informed data strategy as a basis for implementing and aligning your organisation as a data-driven organisation.
You will improve your decision-making and your operative and strategic data-driven value creation and recognise areas of activity that could improve your organisation.
You will be aware of application-oriented business concepts, models and tools in the field of data science and be able to apply these to specific areas (for example production, logistics, finance, marketing).

Content

In this part-time continuing education programme, you will expand your skills in the field of data-driven organisational development. You will understand the potential of data and use that potential to benefit your decision-making.

Digitisation, Digitalisation & Digital Transformation: The Need for Data-Driven Organisations

Day 1: Trends & Drivers of a Data-Driven Economy; Data-Driven Transformation
Day 2: Data-Driven Strategy Development and Execution & Data-Driven Culture

Leading a Data-Driven Organisation

Day 3: Agile Leadership, HR; Critical Thinking, Risk & Quality of Data; Ethics, Dark Side & Limitations of Data; Governance and Cybersecurity

Operating a Data-Driven Organisation

Day 4: Data Management & Data Generation; Data Brokerage, Purchase of Data
Day 5: Data and IT Infrastructure; Data Structure & Data Lakes; Data Hubs & Strategic Processes; Scraping; APIs

Setting the Stage: Foundations of Statistics

Day 6: Applied Basic Statistics for Beginners
Day 7: Basics of Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Case Study: Data Usage in Manufacturing and Logistics

Day 8: Data Analysis, Modelling & Predictive Analysis: Usage of Machine Learning & Data Science in Logistics and Production
Day 9: Data Analysis, Modelling & Predictive Analysis: Manual Steering of Production Machines vs Planning and Coordination Rules vs Machine Learning

The Role of Data in Supporting and Communicating Managerial Decisions

Day 10: KPI & Dashboards & Data Visualisation

Case Study: Data Science in Finance and Accounting

Day 11: Data Science for Accounting and Auditing & Data Analytics for Financial Statement Audits
Day 12: Process Mining, Six Sigma & Accounting Information and Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

The Role of Data in Supporting and Communicating Managerial Decisions

Day 13: KPI, Dashboards & Interpretation

Case Study: Data and Data Technologies for Marketing Applications and Consumer Insights

Day 14: Marketing Automation, Marketing Analytics & CRM

Building and Growing a Data-Driven Organisation

Day 15: Data-Driven Business Models, Service & Product Development, Data as Innovation & Innovation as Data
Day 16: Digital and Data-Driven Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship

Case Study: Data Strategy and Execution

Day 17: Strategy Development; Data-Driven Strategy, Structure & Culture
Day 18: Data Culture, Data Maturity & Data Literacy

The timetable will follow shortly.

Teaching and methodology

Adults learn differently. That is why the continuing education at the BFH Business school is committed to modern adult education. Our mission with «brain, heart and hand» is an important principle in the design of our offers. Questions in the lessons are based on the participants' professional and practical life experiences. Contact study and self-study phases are combined in a meaningful way, analogue learning environments are combined with digital tools. Microsoft Teams is available as a supplementary tool: you have access to documents, messages and information as well as a chat function within the class.

The stimulating learning atmosphere and range of methodologies and teaching approaches are designed to have a motivating effect. Presentations on the theoretical principles, concepts and methods used by our lecturers. You will assimilate what you have learned through practical examples and exercises. This creates a balance between theoretical and practical learning. Discussions in small groups, e-learning tools, virtual pinboards and online questionnaires support your development process.

Seminars, tutorials and technical discussions
Group work and short presentations, self-reflection
Working through case studies
E-learning
Keeping a reflective journal

The CAS is conducted in English.

Assessments

To earn the CAS qualification, you must attend the teaching sessions regularly (max. two absences permitted) and pass the assessments.

You will undertake the following competency assessment as part of a group:

writing a blog as a reflective learning report, with one blog post per learning unit completed.
The results of the learning blog will be presented in a 10-minute group presentation.

You must also choose between two further competency assessments:

Conceptual: You will produce a 3'000-word transfer report on a qualitative aspect of a data-driven organisation, for example ‘Data Strategy’, ‘Data Culture’, ‘Data Mindset’ etc. In the transfer report, you will demonstrate in your responses to specific questions that you have implemented or transferred what you have learned in practice. You will have the opportunity to present the transfer report as a group exercise too.

Practical: You will produce a practical, quantitative, data-based project in the area of the data-driven organisation and document it along with the specific outcome. You will submit the developed project along with an accompanying report.

Additional options at no extra cost

We offer short, free learning events for all students of our CAS programmes. With these offers we would like to support you in completing your CAS successfully.

Effective learning in continuing education at universities of applied sciences

You will learn about transfer-oriented learning models and techniques. You reflect on your own learning biography and are encouraged to try out new learning behaviour.

Workshop Transfer Report

You will be supported in writing your report and benefit from active peer counselling. You will present your unfinished report and receive feedback from the audience as well as from an expert.

Methodology Transfer Report

You will get to know and understand the exact tasks of a transfer report. We teach you the quality criteria to write a good report.

We highly recommend participation for your first CAS. You will receive further information and schedule before the start of the study.

Lecturers on your CAS

Our lecturers are recognised experts with in-depth practical and theoretical knowledge. They have at least a university degree plus many years of experience in higher education.

Head of CAS Programme

Admission and further study

Do you like numbers, data and facts? Are you technology-minded? And are you looking to use these strengths to further your career? Then this CAS is the perfect choice for you. We do not require you to have any prior knowledge of statistics or IT. Join us and immerse yourself in the world of data. We will make sure you stay afloat.

Target group

Typical participants:

(Junior) executives in middle or senior management
Business and organisation developers
Specialists from the fields of finance & controlling who are interested in advising on the design of data-based processes
Employees in process management (process owners, process managers, process analysts)
(IT) project managers
Business information professionals, data scientists and specialists from IT and technical departments who are interested in engaging more in organisational and business development.

Admission requirements

University degree

You will be admitted to the programme with a degree from a university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or an equivalent foreign university and at least two years of professional experience.

Higher vocational training

If you have a qualification from a higher vocational education institution (Diploma Höhere Fachschule HF, Federal Diploma, Federal Certificate of Proficiency) and several years of professional experience, you will also be admitted to the programme. However, you will be required to attend our Introduction to Academic Study before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances applicants may still be admitted. The head of the degree programme will make a decision based upon your application and extenuating circumstances. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you will in any case attend the course «Introduction to Academic Writing» (in German) before the first CAS.

Proficiency in English

Because of the content and specialist terminology, this CAS is conducted in English. Teaching on this CAS will be 50% classroom-based and 50% virtual.

Title + qualification

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) of Bern University of Applied Sciences in ‘Data-Driven Organisation’ (12 ECTS credits)

Combination with further study programmes

This CAS can be counted towards:

Organisation + registration

The programme includes 18 days of classroom teaching. Teaching will take place on Monday and Tuesday, approximately once a month. Max. 24 participants.

Registration CAS Data-Driven Organisation

Documents required for registration

You can register online via registration form. For registration we require following documents (in PDF format, max. 1 MB per document):

Diplomas
Curriculum Vitae
Passport-sized photo (in JPG format)

Please upload these documents even if you have already submitted them for another application.

Organisational aspects of the CAS

Registration deadline and timetable

Registration closes six weeks before the programme begins. If places are available, later registration will be permitted. An up-to-date timetable will appear approx. six months before the programme begins.

The timetable will follow shortly.

Costs

CHF 8,500

All required reading, course materials and assessments are included in the price.

Terms and conditions

The continuing education regulations of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the implementation regulations for the continuing education regulations apply. The right to make changes is reserved. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations shall prevail.

Continuing Education Regulations of Bern University of Applied Sciences (WBR) (PDF, 81 KB)

Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations WBR in the Business School (PDF, 81 KB)

Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations (PDF, 77 KB)

Framework Study Regulations at Bern University of Applied Sciences (PDF, 127 KB)

Regulations on Scientific Integrity at Bern University of Applied Sciences (WissIR) (PDF, 140 KB)

Legal foundations