Using Data as a Technical Professional Consultant

Overview/Description
 As a technical professional, you may have relied on reports from subordinates or your own observations and research for information. While the information garnered in these ways is still useful, in your role as an internal consultant, you may have to develop surveys or conduct interviews with individuals or groups in order to quickly collect the data pertinent to your current project. In addition, you will be analyzing the information, arriving at conclusions, and presenting your findings and recommendations to the internal client. This course provides content to help consultants understand interviews and surveys as useful data collection tools, to review useful data analysis methods, and to inform clients of the results in a productive way.

Target Audience
 Technical professionals seeking knowledge and skills to support a role as an internal consultant

Expected Duration
4.0 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Getting the Answers You Need

  • identify the benefits of knowing how to gather information using surveys and interviews.
  • match the four functional question types with examples of each.
  • identify examples of interview preparatory activities.
  • match each step in conducting an interview with its associated actions.
  • apply the steps for conducting a data-gathering interview in a given scenario.
  • sequence examples of the steps for preparing useful survey questionnaires.
  • apply steps for preparing useful surveys in a given scenario.

    • Analyzing the Information

  • recognize the value of understanding methods of data analysis.
  • identify examples of data analysis methods.
  • apply appropriate methods of data analysis in a given scenario.

    • Conducting Effective Feedback Meetings

  • identify the benefits of developing skills for running effective feedback meetings.
  • match examples of three steps for planning a feedback meeting.
  • select examples of the characteristics of an effective feedback meeting.
  • associate strategies for handling resistance and being receptive.
  • apply strategies for handling client feedback in a given scenario.

    • Course Number: CONS0133