Design human-machine systems for data-driven decision making and problem-solving

In a world increasingly impacted by technology and access to information, Business Analytics was recognized as a strategic area to respond to the scarcity of understanding of organizational and management problems and, at the same time, understand how to use technology and data to solve those same problems.

The world is increasingly dependent on algorithms and data to inform and support decision-making. Organizations, private and public, for-profit and not-for-profit, are keen to introduce data-driven systems and methods to support management functions but lack the knowledge and the people to integrate the new technologies and adjust their systems and culture to leverage them.

These organizations need translators – people who understand organizations and the managerial problems they face, how to use technology and leverage data to solve them, and how to set up internal and external systems that enable the required ecosystem.

The program curriculum is innovative and corresponds to the needs reported by all types of organizations, at a national or international level, and involves a specialized and research-active teaching staff, most of them belonging to the school’s Research Unit, which was ranked Excellent in Research by Portugal’s Science and Technology Foundation.

Goals

The Master’s in Business Analytics aims at the development of solid technical, organizational, leadership, critical thinking and communication competencies for future managers and leaders of organizations (public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit) in a context increasingly dependent on algorithms and hybrid (human-machine) systems for decision making. It is therefore focused on the education of translators, i.e., people who understand organizations and the managerial problems they face and know how to use technology and leverage data to solve them.

Who is it for?

With a collaboration with the Department of Computer Science of NOVA School of Science and Technology, the program brings together the technical and personal competencies of management with technology. 

This multidisciplinarity is key to attract applicant profiles with a first cycle educational background in Sciences, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, but also Economics, Finance or Management.