Course Introduction
Organizations increasingly depend on accurate, timely, and accessible information to make informed decisions, monitor performance, and achieve strategic objectives. However, large volumes of business data often remain scattered across spreadsheets, databases, cloud applications, and enterprise systems, making it difficult to obtain a unified view of organizational performance. This course introduces participants to Microsoft Power BI as a practical business intelligence platform for connecting data sources, transforming information, developing analytical reports, and creating interactive dashboards. It provides a structured foundation for using data visualization and reporting techniques to convert raw information into meaningful business insights.
Microsoft Power BI enables organizations to consolidate information from multiple sources and present it through interactive visual reports that support different levels of management and operational decision-making. Participants will explore the Power BI environment, including Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, and Power BI Mobile, and understand how these components support the development, publication, sharing, and consumption of business intelligence. The course examines the essential stages of a Power BI project, from identifying reporting requirements and connecting to data sources to preparing datasets, building visualizations, and publishing interactive reports for business users.
Data preparation is a critical foundation of effective business intelligence. Participants will learn how to use Power Query to import, clean, transform, and combine information from spreadsheets, databases, text files, and other supported sources. The programme covers data profiling, handling missing values, correcting inconsistencies, changing data types, merging queries, and creating reusable transformation processes. Participants will also explore data modelling concepts, including relationships, tables, cardinality, star schemas, and the importance of developing well-structured datasets that support accurate calculations and efficient report performance.
The course provides practical exposure to Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), the formula language used in Power BI for creating calculated columns, measures, and analytical expressions. Participants will develop an understanding of basic DAX functions, aggregation, filter context, calculated measures, and time intelligence concepts. They will apply these capabilities to calculate key performance indicators, analyze trends, compare actual and target results, and produce management information that supports business planning and operational monitoring. Emphasis will be placed on developing accurate calculations and selecting appropriate visualizations to communicate information clearly and effectively.
Interactive dashboard development is another central component of the programme. Participants will learn to create charts, tables, cards, maps, slicers, filters, drill-through reports, and other interactive visual elements that allow users to explore business information. The course also examines dashboard layout, visual storytelling, accessibility, report navigation, and design principles that improve the usability of analytical products. Contemporary capabilities such as automated insights, AI-assisted visualizations, natural-language querying, and integration with Microsoft Fabric will be introduced where relevant, alongside considerations for data security, workspace permissions, governance, and responsible information sharing.
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to develop complete Power BI reporting solutions, from connecting and preparing data to modelling information, writing basic DAX calculations, designing interactive reports, and publishing dashboards. They will gain practical capabilities for transforming business data into accessible insights that improve performance monitoring, reporting efficiency, and evidence-based decision-making. These skills will support organizations in strengthening analytical capacity, reducing manual reporting effort, improving information visibility, and establishing a more consistent data-driven approach to business management.
Duration
5 days
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for professionals who need to analyze data, develop reports, create dashboards, and communicate business performance information, including:
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Business intelligence analysts and developers
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Data analysts and reporting specialists
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Business analysts and management analysts
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Finance managers and financial analysts
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Monitoring and evaluation officers
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Performance management professionals
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Operations managers and department heads
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Project managers and programme coordinators
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Marketing and sales analysts
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Human resource analysts and managers
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Accountants and management accountants
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Information technology and database professionals
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Strategic planning and business development managers
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Management consultants and research professionals
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Executives and decision-makers responsible for performance reporting
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Explain Microsoft Power BI architecture, key components, capabilities, and applications in business intelligence, data analysis, and organizational performance reporting.
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Navigate Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, and Power BI Mobile to develop, publish, access, and manage interactive business intelligence reports.
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Connect Power BI to multiple data sources, including Excel workbooks, databases, text files, cloud services, and other supported information platforms.
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Apply Power Query techniques to clean, transform, merge, append, and prepare datasets for accurate and consistent analytical reporting.
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Design effective data models using tables, relationships, cardinality, and appropriate schema structures to support reliable calculations and report performance.
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Create calculated columns, measures, and basic analytical expressions using DAX functions to calculate business metrics and performance indicators.
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Develop interactive reports using appropriate charts, tables, cards, slicers, filters, maps, and other visualizations to communicate business insights.
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Apply drill-down, drill-through, cross-filtering, bookmarks, and report navigation techniques to enable users to explore information interactively.
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Publish and share Power BI reports through workspaces while applying appropriate permissions, data security, refresh schedules, and governance controls.
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Develop a practical Power BI dashboard solution that integrates business data, communicates key performance indicators, and supports evidence-based organizational decisions.
Comprehensive Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Microsoft Power BI and Business Intelligence
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Understanding business intelligence concepts, data visualization principles, and the role of Power BI in organizational reporting and decision-making.
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Exploring the Microsoft Power BI ecosystem, including Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, Power BI Mobile, and related Microsoft data platforms.
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Navigating the Power BI Desktop interface, ribbon, report view, data view, model view, and essential development features.
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Understanding the stages of a Power BI project, from identifying business requirements and connecting to data to developing and distributing reports.
Module 2: Connecting to Data Sources and Importing Information
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Connecting Power BI to Excel workbooks, CSV files, text files, SQL databases, and other commonly used business data sources.
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Exploring cloud-based data sources, including SharePoint, OneDrive, and supported online services for enterprise information integration.
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Understanding data import and DirectQuery connectivity modes, including their operational differences and appropriate business applications.
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Applying data source settings, authentication methods, connection management, and basic troubleshooting for reliable data access.
Module 3: Data Cleaning and Transformation Using Power Query
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Understanding the Power Query Editor interface and its role in preparing reliable datasets for business intelligence and reporting.
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Cleaning data by removing duplicates, correcting errors, replacing missing values, and standardizing inconsistent information.
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Applying data transformation techniques, including filtering, sorting, splitting columns, changing data types, and creating conditional columns.
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Combining datasets through merge and append operations while developing reusable transformation steps and basic query management practices.
Module 4: Data Modelling and Relationships in Power BI
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Understanding data modelling concepts, tables, fields, primary keys, foreign keys, and the importance of structured analytical datasets.
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Creating and managing relationships between tables using one-to-many, many-to-many, and other appropriate relationship configurations.
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Exploring star schema design, dimension tables, fact tables, and data model structures that support efficient analytical reporting.
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Managing relationship direction, cardinality, calculated columns, and model organization to improve calculation accuracy and report usability.
Module 5: Introduction to DAX and Business Calculations
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Understanding Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), its syntax, calculation capabilities, and application in Power BI data analysis.
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Creating calculated columns and measures using basic DAX functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, DISTINCTCOUNT, and related expressions.
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Applying logical and conditional functions such as IF, SWITCH, AND, and OR to develop business rules and analytical indicators.
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Understanding filter context, row context, and basic time intelligence concepts for evaluating trends, comparisons, and performance results.
Module 6: Data Visualization and Interactive Report Development
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Selecting appropriate visualizations, including bar charts, line charts, pie charts, tables, matrices, cards, maps, and KPI visuals.
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Applying formatting, themes, labels, conditional formatting, titles, and layout principles to create clear and professional business reports.
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Using slicers, filters, cross-highlighting, drill-down, and drill-through to support interactive exploration of business information.
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Developing report navigation, bookmarks, tooltips, and visual storytelling techniques that make dashboards intuitive and informative.
Module 7: Key Performance Indicators and Management Dashboard Design
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Identifying business reporting requirements and translating organizational objectives into relevant key performance indicators and analytical measures.
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Developing dashboards for financial performance, sales analysis, customer service, operational efficiency, and organizational performance monitoring.
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Designing executive dashboards that communicate targets, actual performance, trends, exceptions, and progress towards strategic objectives.
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Applying dashboard usability, visual hierarchy, consistency, accessibility, and data storytelling principles to improve management interpretation.
Module 8: Publishing, Sharing, and Managing Power BI Reports
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Understanding the Power BI Service environment and publishing reports and semantic models from Power BI Desktop.
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Creating and managing workspaces, organizing reports, and sharing dashboards with authorized users and business stakeholders.
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Configuring scheduled refresh, understanding gateway requirements, and managing data source credentials for reliable reporting updates.
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Applying row-level security, workspace roles, permissions, and governance practices to protect organizational information and control access.
Module 9: Advanced Power BI Features and Emerging Capabilities
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Exploring advanced visualization options, custom visuals, decomposition trees, key influencers, and other analytical features available in Power BI.
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Introducing AI-assisted analytics, natural-language querying, automated insights, and forecasting capabilities for enhanced business intelligence.
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Understanding Power BI integration with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Teams, Power Automate, and Microsoft Fabric for connected analytical workflows.
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Examining report performance optimization, semantic model management, data security, and responsible adoption of emerging AI-enabled capabilities.
Module 10: Practical Power BI Dashboard Development Project
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Defining a practical reporting requirement and selecting relevant business datasets for an end-to-end Power BI development exercise.
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Importing, cleaning, transforming, and modelling data from multiple sources to establish a reliable analytical foundation.
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Developing DAX measures, visual reports, interactive filters, and management dashboards that communicate meaningful business performance insights.
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Publishing and presenting the completed dashboard while evaluating accuracy, usability, performance, security, and opportunities for further improvement.
Training Approach
This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.
Tailor-Made Course
This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808
Training Venue
The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.
Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant
Certification
Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.
Airport Pickup and Accommodation
Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808
Terms of Payment:
Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.
