Overview
This milestone is directly related to the course project. As a member of the accounting department for a medium-sized company, you have been selected to participate on a task force that will analyze software products through accounting processes. The company is considering one of two software providers, Microsoft Excel Power Query/Power BI and Tableau, so it is asking employees from various departments to test these software options. You have been tasked with doing an in-depth independent analysis of each software to determine which of the two options will be most beneficial for the company given the various accounting tasks that will need to be performed. Using what you have learned from Milestone One and completed lab assignments in Modules Three and Four, you will create a report to outline the differences between Microsoft Excel Power Query/Power BI and Tableau. You will include a summary of your findings and recommendations for the company to consider relating to which software option you believe would be most beneficial to the company.
Directions
You performed data analytics tasks in Modules Three and Four using Microsoft Excel Power Query/Power BI and Tableau. Use your Evaluation Checklist as a resource to help you develop responses to the items below. Note: Milestone Two is a draft of the last five steps found in the course project. Results from this assignment can assist you in completing steps in the course project due in Module Seven.
- Identify types of problems and anomalies discovered by the data analysis. Include the following in your response:
- Two or three problems or anomalies for each of the technologies and how they helped you understand problems in the data sets
- Explain quantitative methods used for data analytics. Include the following in your response:
- Three or four examples to support your explanation for each of the technologies: Power BI and Tableau
- Apply methods used to resolve specific problems. Include the following in your response:
- Two or three methods used for each of the technologies: Power BI and Tableau
- Problems solved by the methods for each of the technologies: Power BI and Tableau
- Summarize how the recommended tool helped you draw conclusions about the data. Include the following in your summary:
- What did you learn about the data used for each of the technologies?
- How did you determine which technology tool would be more beneficial?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of each technology?
- Recommend a software tool based on the data analysis processes performed. Include the following in your response:
- Examples of each of the technologies to support your recommendations
What to Submit
- Create a paper in Microsoft Word using double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. This assignment should be 2-3 pages in length (not including title and reference pages), should include visuals, and should include references cited according to APA style. Consult the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.
- Submit your completed Evaluation Checklist. (This document will also be used for the course project).