Overview
Each of the labs assigned in this module provides you with the experience you need to compare two data analytics tools: Microsoft Excel Power Query/Power BI compared with Tableau. Both platforms have a variety of related software tools. You will access these tools using the SNHU Virtual Desktop Interface, the VDI. Based on your evaluation of the tools, later in this course, you will make recommendations for adopting one of the two software tools. You will work through a series of steps to complete labs for each software, as outlined in the Module One Lab Guide found in the Supporting Materials section. Immediately following the lab exercises, you will evaluate the software tool you used by completing the Evaluation Checklist found in the What to Submit section. This assignment aims to take you through the process of data preparation that covers transforming data, cleaning data, and generating summary statistics.
Scenario
As a member of the accounting department for a medium-sized company, you have been selected to participate in a task force that will evaluate software tools that perform data analytics for accounting. The company is considering one of two software providers: Microsoft Power BI or Tableau. The company is asking employees from various departments to test these software options using a series of labs. Each task force member has been tasked with doing an in-depth independent evaluation of each tool to determine which of the two options, Tableau or Microsoft Power BI, will be most beneficial for the company given the various accounting tasks that need to be performed.
Directions
You will be using the Module One Lab Guide found in Supporting Materials to work through McGraw Hill Labs 2-3 Part 2 and 2-4 Part 2. Module One labs cover the use of data preparation tasks in Excel Power Query/Microsoft Power BI and in Tableau. The Module One Lab Guide was developed to provide you with step-by-step instructions and examples for completing each of the labs.
As you complete each lab, you will record your observations and experiences on the Evaluation Checklist found in the What to Submit section of this document. There are five categories to complete as follows:
Record your time spent on performing the steps in the lab from start to finish.
Record your experience of ease of use for each lab and for each tool on a 1–5 scale (1 being the hardest, 5 being the easiest).
Explain the advantages of using the software to complete the task.
Explain the disadvantages of using the software to complete the task.
Describe any challenges you encountered with the tool that were barriers to performing the task.
In addition to these criteria, you will be asked to take screenshots at various points in the process. They are clearly articulated in the Module One Lab Guide. All screenshots should be placed in the Evaluation Checklist document under the correct tab.
The Module One Lab Guide contains step-by-step instructions including where to locate data files and how to save them. Use the Lab Guide for instructions about entering the VDI and launching the software tools. Open the Evaluation Checklist so it will be easy to record your observations and experiences as each lab is completed. Be sure to save a copy of the Evaluation Checklist because you will build on this knowledge in future assignments. The Evaluation Checklist will also be submitted as part of Milestone One.
You must complete the Evaluation Checklist immediately after each lab to recall specific details and examples you’ll want to include about the software product. This document is the foundation for your course project due in Module Seven. Your instructor will be providing feedback on the Evaluation Checklist throughout the course. Save all files as there may be a need to refer to the data in future assignments. There may be labs to redo based on your instructor’s feedback, so be sure to save files to your OneDrive. Instructions for saving files to your OneDrive can be found in the Module One Lab Guide. Each lab is helping you to build a new data analytics accounting skill. Your findings will allow you to make a comparison between the two software tools, Tableau and Microsoft Power BI, for the project in this course. Your recommendations will be based on the experiences and observations you’ve documented after each lab in Modules One, Two and Four.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Complete the Evaluation Checklist for Excel Power Query Lab 2-3 Part 2.
Post Excel Power Query screenshots of your work for Lab 2-3 Part 2.
The Evaluation Checklist for Tableau Prep Lab 2-3 Part 2 has been done for you as an example.
Complete the Evaluation Checklist for Microsoft Power BI Lab 2-4.
Post Microsoft Power BI screenshots of your work for Lab 2-4.
Complete the Evaluation Checklist for Tableau Desktop Lab 2-4.
Post Tableau Desktop screenshots of your work for Lab 2-4.
What to Submit
Submit the Evaluation Checklist to the Module One Assignment link. The checklist should include your completed evaluations and the required screenshots for all Module One labs to show evidence of your work.
Supporting Materials
The following resources support your work on this assignment:
Module One Lab Guide
This document should be used as a companion to perform the labs.
Module One Lab Files
Lab 2-3 Lending Club Approve Stats.xlsx
Lab 2-4 Lending Club Transform Microsoft.xlsx
McGraw Hill Lab Videos
Lab 2-3 – Part 2 Microsoft Excel Power Query
Lab 2-3 – Part 2 Tableau Prep (optional)
Lab 2-4 – Microsoft Power BI
Lab 2-4 – Tableau
