Information and Operations Management
USC Marshall School of Business
IOM 401
Business Information Systems – Spreadsheet Applications
Professor Francis Pereira
BRI 401J
fpereira@marshall.usc.edu
213.821-1615
Who should take the course?
In today’s business world, junior executives and middle managers are expected to be able to analyze
corporate sales, revenue and other competitive data to recommend strategic courses of action to their
senior managers. Spreadsheet programs, specifically Microsoft “Excel” provide a very effective tool to
accomplish this goal. Many companies see this skill-set as a major differentiator for employment. This
course is a hands-on course and thus is also a “must have” course for internships and jobs.
Course objectives
Master the use and design of spreadsheets ”Microsoft Excel" for business information
analysis in the areas of Finance, Information Systems, Marketing and Operations.
Understand how to use application software to analyze business cases and improve the
effectiveness and efficiency of decision making processes.
Key concepts
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Utilizing data analyses functions
Mastering graphical presentation of data
Generating pivot tables
Understanding array functions
Developing business scenarios
Using goal seek and data tables
Learning statistical, lookup and financial functions
Using advanced filtering techniques
Exporting and importing data between programs
Understanding and developing “macros” for repetitive
functions
Course description
This course is designed to provide students with an applied understanding of how
“spreadsheet applications” are used to analyze business information. This course
provides an opportunity for students to master the use and design of ”Microsoft Excel”
for business information analysis in the areas of Finance, Information Systems,
Marketing and Operations. This course will also enhance students ’understanding of the
core business disciplines by providing them with the skills and experience to develop,
test and analyze business cases, to increase the effectiveness in the corporate decision
making processes.