Training » Course

Power BI for the Business Analyst

This two-day course empowers business analysts to design, develop, and publish robust Power BI Desktop models. It focuses on import data model design theory and development, and foundational DAX theory and practice.

Attendees learn to:

  • Work productively with Power BI Desktop to create import data models
  • Use Power Query, DAX, and manually entered data to create model tables
  • Configure model relationships
  • Enhance model designs with date tables, hierarchies, calculations, and reporting properties
  • Publish models, configure dataset properties and data refresh
  • Apply DAX to create common and useful model calculations

Duration

2 days

Products

This course is based on the current offering of Microsoft Power BI, with a focus on business analyst experiences with Power BI Desktop for the Power BI service, or Power BI Report Server.

This course does not cover the basics of the Power BI service, or Power BI report development. These topics are covered in the one-day Power BI for the Business User course, which is considered prerequisite training.

Prerequisites

Ideally, attendees have:

  • A general knowledge of data storage technologies and formats, including relational databases
  • Proficiency with Excel
  • Power BI report development skills

Attendees are required to have their own computer that must meet minimum requirements:

  • A Windows 7 computer, or later, network-enabled for Internet access
  • The latest version of Power BI Desktop, 32- or 64-bit
  • A PDF viewer (like Adobe Acrobat Reader, or a web browser)

Delivery Format

A classroom delivery includes:

  • Instructor presentation and demonstrations
  • Course book
  • Labs and activities

Course Outline

  • Introducing Power BI Desktop
  • Development Modes

Lab 01A – Creating the Power BI Desktop File

  • “Getting Data”
  • Introducing Power Query
  • Configuring Queries
  • Managing Queries
  • Recommended Practices

Lab 02A – Developing Queries (Part 1)
Lab 02B – Developing Queries (Part 2)
Lab 02C – Managing Queries

  • Describing Relationships
  • Configuring Relationships
  • Recommended Practices

Lab 03A – Configuring Model Relationships

  • Configuring the Model
  • Configuring Tables
  • Configuring Columns
  • Creating Hierarchies
  • Creating Simple Calculations
  • Configuring Measures
  • Advanced Model Design Features
  • Recommended Practices

Lab 04A – Enhancing the Model Design

Lab 04B – Adding Advanced Model Features

  • Publishing Models
  • Configuring Dataset Properties
  • Configuring Data Refresh
  • Change Management
  • Introducing DAX
  • Describing Calculation Types
  • Introducing Formula Basics
  • Describing Data Types
  • Introducing Common Functions
  • Defining Variables
  • Implementing Error Handling

The class with progress through up to 23 intructor-led activities which have been designed to introduce and practice key theory. The pace of the activities will be set to one that is appropriate for the entire class, and so it may not be possible to complete all activities.

  • Describing Context
  • Manipulating Context
  • Inspecting Context
  • Recommended Practices
  • Introducing Iterator Functions
  • Common Scenarios
  • Recommended Practices
  • Introducing Time Intelligence Functions
  • Common Scenarios
  • Recommended Practices
  • On-time Performance (OTP)
  • Net Promoter Score (NPS)
  • General Ledger Transaction Analysis

Time permitting, the case studies provide an opportunity to apply the DAX theory to real-world scenarios.

Certification

This course has not been designed to prepare attendees for Microsoft certification. However, the course content can serve as a useful resource for introducing theory, products, capabilities and recommended design practices that are assessed by Microsoft certification exams.

Cartoon depiction of a business analyst integrating different data formats

I like the activities and repetitiveness which helped me quickly come to grips with some challenging theory (DAX!). Great training! Absolutely loved it. Thank you!!

Ashleigh

Very technical. I could keep pace and found it engaging, but this course isn’t for those who won’t use Power BI Desktop. Looking forward to applying it to my own datasets!

Ben

It was very useful to learn about context, and with clarity on Power BI’s potential, limitations and functionality. I found this course quite intensive and enjoyed the pace. Invigorating!

Scott

Covered a number of items and techniques that will be directly applicable to my work.

Danielle