Teaching Business Statistics with Microsoft Excel

This article discusses the use of Excel in the introductory course in statistics in the business school. An attempt is made to identify how business school programs differ, and how the use of Excel to work cases or examples can contribute to a business statistics course that is in keeping with the school’s and the instructor’s learning objectives. ________________________________________ There are possibly more different ways to teach statistics to business students that any other subject in the business school curriculum. The business statistics course can range from a highly quantitative presentation of distribution theory, to a course that might be described as “strategic analysis with data”. The observed variations in pedagogy and content reflect differences among schools and faculty, but also reflect a varying response to changing technology. This article discusses some issues that are important in designing the introductory business statistics course, and presents some ideas for using spreadsheets that may be appropriate in teaching statistics in the business school. Designing the Business Statistics Course No business school course exists in isolation: the