Design and Validation of an Educational Program Focused on Developing Business Intelligence Competencies for Financial Analysts

This master's thesis deals with the design, implementation, and evaluation of an educational program aimed at developing the competencies of financial analysts for independent work with self-service business intelligence tools, more specifically with Microsoft Power BI. The thesis is based on the finding that merely providing access to an analytical tool does not turn business users into independent users, as this requires the targeted development of their data and technical skills that takes into account the specifics of adult education. The main objective of the thesis is to design, implement, and evaluate a pilot educational program that develops these competencies. Achieving this objective involves defining the key competency areas on the basis of a literature review and interviews with financial professionals, designing a competency framework and a modular program combining workshops with a self-paced form of study, and piloting it in cooperation with the Controller Institut. The design includes a rule-based algorithm of personalized recommendations that directs each participant to further learning resources based on their results. The thesis also addresses the evaluation of the shift in participants' perceived competencies and the formulation of benefits and recommendations for the design of similar programs.