Judgmental Business Forecasting in Excel (Coursera)

Offered by Macquarie University,
Judgmental Business Forecasting in Excel (Coursera)

In this course, we extend your business forecasting expertise from the first two courses of our Business Forecasting Specialisation on Time Series Models and Regression Models. We will explore the role of judgmental forecasting, when more quantitative forecasting methods have limitations, and we need to generate further business insights.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

We will be exploring some structured methodologies to create judgmental business forecasts using Business Indicators, Subjective Assessment Methods, and Exploratory Methods. For each of these methods, we will look at how we can use Excel to help us in achieving these judgmental forecasts and how Excel can help us visualising our forecast findings. Being judgmental forecasting methods, we will also look at the role of biases in Business Forecasting,

Course 3 of 3 in the Excel Skills for Business Forecasting Specialization

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Welcome and Critical Information
In this course, we extend your business forecasting expertise from the first two courses of our Business Forecasting Specialisation on Time Series Models and Regression Models. We will explore the role of judgmental forecasting, when more quantitative forecasting methods have limitations, and we need to generate further business insights. We will be exploring some structured methodologies to create judgmental business forecasts using Business Indicators, Subjective Assessment Methods, and Exploratory Methods. For each of these methods, we will look at how we can use Excel to help us in achieving these judgmental forecasts and how Excel can help us visualising our forecast findings. Being judgmental forecasting methods, we will also look at the role of biases in Business Forecasting,
Business Indicators
In this topic, we will explore the role that Business Indicators can play in creating business forecasts, in particular to make judgments on the cyclical component, via predicting turns in the business cycle. We will then look at how Excel can help us execute these insights into business forecasts.

WEEK 2
Subjective Assessment Methods
In this topic, we will be exploring 3 different Subjective Assessment Methods for judgmental forecasting. These are structured methodologies to follow when creating judgmental forecasts. We will be looking at the Sales Force Composite Method, the Jury of Executive Opinion, and Subjective Probability Assessments. We will then look at how Excel can assist in executing these methodologies.

WEEK 3
Exploratory Methods
In this topic, we will be exploring 2 different Exploratory Methods for judgmental forecasting. These are structured methodologies to follow when creating judgmental forecasts. We will be looking at the Delphi Method and Scenario Analysis. We will then look at how Excel can assist in executing these methodologies.

WEEK 4
Biases & Bringing All of Business Forecasting Together
In this topic, we will reflect on the biases that can occur when conducting business forecasts. Then, we will be bringing all the topics together in a case study based assessment, where you will need to apply the principles of judgment to decide the forecasting method used, and utilise judgmental forecasting.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I (Coursera) Coursera
Macquarie University

Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I (Coursera)

In this second course of our Excel specialization Excel Skills for Business you will build on the strong foundations of the Essentials course. Intermediate Skills I will expand your Excel knowledge to new horizons. You are going to discover a whole range of skills and techniques that will become a standard component of your everyday use of Excel.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Data Visualization with Advanced Excel (Coursera) Coursera
PwC

Data Visualization with Advanced Excel (Coursera)

In this course, you will get hands-on instruction of advanced Excel 2013 functions. You’ll learn to use PowerPivot to build databases and data models. We’ll show you how to perform different types of scenario and simulation analysis and you’ll have an opportunity to practice these skills by leveraging some of Excel's built in tools including, solver, data tables, scenario manager and goal seek.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
Data for Business Analysts Using Microsoft Excel (Coursera) Coursera
Microsoft

Data for Business Analysts Using Microsoft Excel (Coursera)

In this course, you’ll learn how to make use of Excel in business scenarios for data analysis. You’ll also learn how to utilize formulas and functions for data analysis.  Specifically, this course will help you gain knowledge and skills for preparing data for analysis using Microsoft Excel and take you one step closer to becoming a Business Analyst. 

Jun 8th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Optimization for Decision Making (Coursera) Coursera
University of Minnesota

Optimization for Decision Making (Coursera)

In this data-driven world, companies are often interested in knowing what is the "best" course of action, given the data. For example, manufacturers need to decide how many units of a product to produce given the estimated demand and raw material availability? Should they make all the products in-house or buy some from a third-party to meet the demand? Prescriptive Analytics is the branch of analytics that can provide answers to these questions. It is used for prescribing data-based decisions.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass (Coursera) Coursera
Illinois Tech

A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass (Coursera)

The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass is an advanced course designed to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to maximize the potential of Microsoft Excel in a business environment. This course goes beyond the basics and explores advanced functions, and features that will enable students to perform complex calculations, retrieve and manipulate data from multiple sources, and gain valuable insights from data. The course combines theoretical concepts with practical exercises and examples to reinforce learning.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
Data Visualization and Dashboards with Excel and Cognos (Coursera) Coursera
IBM

Data Visualization and Dashboards with Excel and Cognos (Coursera)

This course covers some of the first steps in the development of data visualizations using spreadsheets and dashboards. Begin the process of telling a story with your data by creating the many types of charts that are available in spreadsheets like Excel. Explore the different tools of a spreadsheet, such as the important pivot function and the ability to create dashboards and learn how each one has its own unique property to transform your data.

Jun 1st 2026
4 Weeks
Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel (Coursera) Coursera
Microsoft

Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel (Coursera)

This course is intended for learners with some experience using Microsoft Windows, who are seeking to build presentation skills with Microsoft Excel. To be successful in this course you should have an understanding of the basics of using a Windows-based computer. Experience with printing and using a web browser are an asset, but not required.

Jun 8th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Excel Skills for Business: Essentials (Coursera) Coursera
Macquarie University

Excel Skills for Business: Essentials (Coursera)

In this first course of the specialization Excel Skills for Business you will learn the Essentials of Microsoft Excel. Within six weeks, you will learn to expertly navigate the Excel user interface, perform basic calculations with formulas and functions, professionally format spreadsheets, and create visualizations of data through charts and graphs.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Excel Basics for Data Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
IBM

Excel Basics for Data Analysis (Coursera)

This course is designed to provide you with basic working knowledge for using Excel spreadsheets for Data Analysis. It covers some of the first steps for working with spreadsheets and their usage in the process of analyzing data. It includes plenty of videos, demos, and examples for you to learn, followed by step-by-step instructions for you to apply and practice on a live spreadsheet.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Problem Solving with Excel (Coursera) Coursera
PwC

Problem Solving with Excel (Coursera)

This course explores Excel as a tool for solving business problems. In this course you will learn the basic functions of excel through guided demonstration. Each week you will build on your excel skills and be provided an opportunity to practice what you’ve learned. Finally, you will have a chance to put your knowledge to work in a final project. This course was created by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with an address at 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10017.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau (Coursera)

One of the skills that characterizes great business data analysts is the ability to communicate practical implications of quantitative analyses to any kind of audience member. Even the most sophisticated statistical analyses are not useful to a business if they do not lead to actionable advice, or if the answers to those business questions are not conveyed in a way that non-technical people can understand. In this course you will learn how to become a master at communicating business-relevant implications of data analyses.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced (Coursera)

A leader in a data driven world requires the knowledge of both data-related (statistical) methods and of appropriate models to use that data. This Business Analytics class focuses on the latter: it introduces students to analytical frameworks used for decision making though Excel modeling. These include Linear and Integer Optimization, Decision Analysis, and Risk modeling. For each methodology students are first exposed to the basic mechanics, and then apply the methodology to real-world business problems using Excel.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks