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MAN-20147 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

MAN-20147 - Interpreting and Communicating Data
Coordinator: Dan Herbert Room: N/A
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733094

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In 2021 the Harvard Business Review noted that, 'Many companies have begun including data storytelling as a required skill in analyst job descriptions,'. In this module you will develop the skills required to to be an effective data communicator. Alongside learning about the theory of good communication you will use industry standard software, such as Tableau, to create compelling visualisations of data for a wide range of users. The module will emphasise the development of practical skills and you will create a portfolio of examples of your own work.

Aims
This module introduces students to the theory and practice of communicating quantitative information. The module aims to ensure students have the skills required to communicate complex data to different audiences. The module also aims to ensure that students can use the basic graphic communication tools in industry standard software such as Excel and Tableau to create compelling and informative visual representations of data.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Select appropriate charts. graphs and visualisations for data of different types: 1,2
Design charts, graphs and visualisations that ensure accessibility for all and are appropriate for different user groups: 1,2
Use industry standard tools to create simple graphs, charts and visualisations from complex data sets: 1,2
Use data to tell compelling stories for specific audiences and purposes.: 2

Study hours

8x1 hour lectures
8x2 hour practical workshops.
126 hours of self directed work will be split with around 100 hours used on practical tasks associated with the creation of the assessed portfolio and the visualisation task. The remaining time will be spent using LinkedIn Learning and Tableau resources to build software skills.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 50%
Visualisation workbook portfolio


2: Assignment weighted 50%
Individual data visualisation task - visualisation task and 500 word commentary


The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025