Wisconsin School of Business: Excel Proficiency
The Excel Proficiency certificate is awarded to recipients who successfully complete the 'Wisconsin School of Business Excel Proficiency' course. This course allows Students to establish their skill with basic Excel functions, and build their confidence about how to approach new challenges and master advanced topics.
The course comprises four parts, each containing 10 lessons and associated quizzes on particular spreadsheet skills. Students complete actual Excel worksheet formulations of realistic problems and tasks, and successfully complete the course by obtaining an overall score of at least 80% on the required quizzes in each of the four parts. Score evaluation and certificate awarding are administered by a Wisconsin School of Business instructor who is experienced in Excel. Students who earn the WSB Excel Proficiency Course credential have successfully demonstrated competency with the following skills: - Excel fundamentals of moving and selecting, filling a series, paste special options, manipulating worksheets, copying formulas, relative and absolute addresses, and importing and parsing data. - Common functions such as SUM, COUNT, AVERAGE, IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF, VLOOKUP, MATCH, NPV and SUMPRODUCT; - Data summarization and analysis tools, such as Pivot Tables, Goal Seek and SOLVER; - Skills for displaying information, including creating and modifying tables and charts, and conditional formatting; - Professional skills, such as using form controls and creating macros.
Wisconsin School of Business: Business Badger Badge - Personal Leadership Styles
Leadership incorporates a set of skills and behaviors that can be learned and expressed regardless of a positional role. In order to influence others, one must first examine their own beliefs, values, emotions, and cultural context they bring to a group. Building off of the introduction to leadership theories from the Personal and Professional Foundations of Business (PPFB) course, content related to this badge will help students further explore their own strengths and interpersonal styles, while enhancing their ability to recognize and adapt to different styles of others. Achievement of this badge indicates that students should be able to: (1) Articulate a high level of self-awareness regarding leadership abilities and strengths. (2) Demonstrate interpersonal skills in order to coach and develop others. (3) Articulate a personal leadership style statement about their own strengths related to leadership skills.
This badge is earned through participation in a combination of workshops, experiences, and reflection opportunities designed to provide a deeper level of understanding and practice regarding personal leadership styles. Requirements to earn the Personal Leadership Styles Badge: - 3 workshops from our self-awareness category. - 3 workshops from our interpersonal communication category. - Attending a leadership conference - Attending a leadership coaching session with a Leadership & Engagement Staff Member. - Submit a written or video reflection responding to specific questions related to this badge. Attendance is taken at every workshop and event hosted by the Accenture Leadership Center (ALC), and progress toward badge completion is tracked in Suitable. In-person and written reflections are completed with guidance and oversight from professional staff in the Leadership & Engagement Office. The badge is earned when the student has demonstrated the skills connected to this badge through reflection components.
Wisconsin School of Business: Business Badger Badge - Group Dynamics
Being a good team member and the ability to manage teams of people are some of the top skills needed in today’s collaborative work environments. Content for this badge will provide a deeper understanding of group dynamics and focus on competencies related to collaboration and supporting the learning and development of others. Students who earn this badge have demonstrated the ability to work well within a team structure, negotiate and manage conflict within a group, and have tools available to develop and motivate others. Achievement of this badge indicates that students have demonstrated the ability to: (1) Articulate and engage in cooperative participation within groups Understand that conflict can serve to expose new solutions to complex problems and will be able to address and manage conflict appropriately (2) Develop the capacity and engagement of others through feedback, coaching, and other forms of motivation
This badge has identified a pathway that combines workshops, experiences, and reflection opportunities designed to provide a deeper level of understanding and practice regarding group and team dynamics. Requirements to earn badge: - 3 workshops from our fostering bridge-building and collaboration category. - 3 workshops from our supporting learning and development of others category. - Compete in a Case Competition sponsored by the WSB – and submit a 1-pg paper discussing the stages of Tuckman’s model of Group Dynamics observed within case competition group. - In-person reflection conversation with a Student Life Staff Member. - 2-page reflection paper articulating strengths and areas of growth within the fostering bridge-building and collaboration and supporting learning and development of others competencies as defined by the UW-Madison Leadership Framework. - Submission of a statement that articulates an understanding of group dynamics, the type of team member they are, and methods to motivate others. Attendance is taken at every workshop and event hosted by the Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) and ALC staff record progress for students in the appropriate badge categories in Canvas. In person and written reflections are completed with guidance and oversight from professional staff in the Student Life Office. Badge is earned when the student has demonstrated the skills connected to this badge through reflection components.
Wisconsin School of Business: Financial Modeling
The Financial Modeling Credential is awarded to recipients who successfully complete the 'Wisconsin School of Business Financial Modeling in Excel’ course. This course allows Students to master the process of constructing an error-free and user-friendly integrated three-statement company model with a debt waterfall and cash sweep.
The course takes a scaffolded approach, laying the foundation, and then layering on complexity with each subsequent module and model until course-participants are competently and systematically building a gold-standard, integrated three-statement model, as evidenced by their final assessment performance. Score evaluation and certificate awarding are administered by a qualified Wisconsin School of Business instructor who is experienced in Financial Modeling. All nine modules are practice-based, such that students actively model in downloadable Excel templates along with instructional videos. Each module is followed by an assessment quiz to test understanding, and most modules contain additional practice modeling assignments. There is also a case study in which students build a model from scratch using only a company’s 10-K and a blank Excel workbook. Students who earn a perfect score on the final assessment receive the credential, and have demonstrated competency with the following skills: - Utilize Excel shortcuts for speed and efficiency - Understand and utilize best practices to build a financial model that is error-free, well-structured and user-friendly - Construct a three-statement integrated financial model with a cash sweep and waterfall debt schedule - Incorporate intentional circular references, and manage them with a “circuit breaker” switch - Apply error-checking and correction techniques to a completed model to ensure accuracy
Those aspiring to be responsible leaders of diverse, socially responsible, and sustainable organizations or teams have participated in Wisconsin School of Business activities to support learning of effective strategies for managing diversity in organizations, frameworks for incorporating sustainability and risk management into business decision-making, and business practices to lead ethical organizations.
Pending After completing the requirements for this badge, students will be able to ... They will also demonstrate the ability to ... Students will ... - outcome 1 - outcome 2 - outcome 3 In order to earn this badge, students will need to... Evaluated by a qualified UW-Madison instructor.
DRAFT: Wisconsin School of Business: Entrepreneurship
DRAFT: Wisconsin School of Business: Entrepreneurship badge image
Entrepreneur badge earners have demonstrated mastery of essential skills in accelerated innovation, entrepreneurial management, and venture creation. They have applied analytical and strategic frameworks to evaluate and capture entrepreneurial opportunities, alongside demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing new strategies for development and operational considerations. Critical thinking and ethical decision-making have been evaluated through applied learning environments that simulate real-world challenges in the entrepreneurship spectrum. Badge earners have successfully completed rigorous assessments, including evidence-based performance evaluations conducted by the University of Wisconsin- Madison instructors with industry expertise.
Entrepreneurship badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by an instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Articulate the startup model and business accelerator model of innovation and how it is financed, using investment logic. - Understand how to manage, recognize, evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities and effectively communicate what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. - Design a comprehensive plan for a new venture, addressing key legal and operational considerations. - Explain the importance of entrepreneurial organizations in society. - Develop and validate a business model that aligns a venture’s value proposition, resources, and financial goals.
Wisconsin School of Business: International Business
In this badge, students will develop a global business mindset by embarking on an immersive global trip and learning about international management, finance, and marketing strategies. This badge was designed for an aspiring global leader; someone who values an international perspective of business.
Wisconsin School of Business: Leading & Innovating–Healthcare
This badge is designed for those who want to be leaders and innovators within health care delivery systems. This might be clinicians taking on management roles and non-clinicians in management roles within health systems (e.g., hospitals).
Wisconsin School of Business: Supply Chain Management Exploration
The skills demonstrated by those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Supply Chain Management Exploration badge are used by supply chain managers in every stage of an organization's supply chain, from purchasing raw materials to production, ensuring products are delivered at the right time and stored properly to prevent loss or damage. This badge indicates the earner has demonstrated foundational skills to manage supply chains and be able to help coordinate the different supply chain functions in a way that integrates with the organization’s overall goals. These skills were developed through course completion, in addition to assessed applied learning events and reflection activities.
Individuals who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Supply Chain Management Exploration Badge have demonstrated the following proficiencies as verified through rigorous assessment by a qualified University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor: 1. Identification and application of the business purpose and primary functions of supply chain management and cross-functional linkages across an organization 2. Analysis of supply chain management theories and concepts in an applied context 3. Demonstration of leadership and communication skills through interaction with supply chain professionals across industries
Wisconsin School of Business: Valuations & Acquisitions
In this badge, one will learn skills to evaluate corporate finances and navigate obtaining financing through equity and debt issuance. Course work covers valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and financial statement analysis. This badge was designed for the aspiring CFO; someone who wants to lead the organization’s strategies for obtaining financing and making acquisitions. This badge will likely appeal to those who are clearly in careers in finance specifically, rather than a broader set of middle-level managers. There is an “external-facing” element to this badge focused on how an organization’s finances are communicated to and valued by the market and outside investors.
Wisconsin School of Business: Business Badger Badge - Inclusive Leadership
Business and pre-business undergraduate students who have earned this badge have gained an understanding of social justice concepts and the role that diversity and identity play in the enhancement of teams and businesses and have learned to acknowledge various backgrounds/identities and help create inclusive and welcoming environments.
This badge is earned through participation in a combination of workshops, experiences, and reflection opportunities designed to provide a deeper level of understanding and practice regarding inclusive leadership. Requirements to earn the Inclusive Leadership Badge: - Attend three workshops from our context & culture category. - Attend three workshops from our inclusive engagement category. - Attend a DEI-related event sponsored by the WSB Undergraduate Leadership & Engagement Office OR Identify a self-directed DEI-related project to complete independently (the Leadership & Engagement team must approve the project). - Leadership Coaching session with a Leadership & Engagement Staff Member. - Submit a written or video reflection responding to specific questions related to this badge. Attendance is taken at every workshop and event hosted by the Accenture Leadership Center (ALC), and progress towards badge completion is tracked in Suitable. In-person and written reflections are completed with guidance and oversight from professional staff in the Leadership & Engagement Office. The badge is earned when the student has demonstrated the skills connected to this badge through reflection components.
Wisconsin School of Business: Business Badger Badge - Leading for Change
Business and pre-business undergraduate students who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Business Badger Badge / Leading for Change are equipped with the knowledge and skills to analyze situations on a personal and organizational level to identify opportunities for positive change and develop strategies for implementation. Badge earners are exposed to content and activities emphasizing the identification and engagement of stakeholders in the change process.
This badge is earned through participation in a combination of workshops, experiences, and reflection opportunities designed to provide a deeper level of understanding and practice regarding leading for change. Requirements to earn the Leading for Change Badge: - Attend three workshops from our ideas into action category. - Attend three workshops from our connection & community category. - Attend the Change Forum and submit a Change Action Plan - Participate in a Leadership Coaching session with a Leadership & Engagement Staff Member. - Submit a written or video reflection responding to specific questions related to this badge. Attendance is taken at every workshop and event hosted by the Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) and progress towards badge completion is tracked in Suitable. In-person and written reflections are completed with guidance and oversight from professional staff in the Leadership & Engagement Office. Badge is earned when the student has demonstrated the skills connected to this badge through reflection components.
Wisconsin School of Business: Leadership at Lambeau
Those who have earned this badge have participated in a three-day immersive leadership retreat at Lambeau Field where they have identified their leadership style from the DiSC assessment, articulated strengths and areas of growth based on that leadership style, and demonstrated the leadership skills that high functioning organizations need to succeed. Leadership topics include: Leading with Integrity, Personal Effectiveness, Managing Up, and Difficult Conversations. Through their engagement with small group discussions for all topics within the curriculum, badge earners are empowered to teach and learn from each other, which helps build awareness and confidence with leadership skills they already possess. Competencies were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified UW-Madison instructor.
In order to earn this badge, participants must engage in all small group discussions that are co-facilitated by a WSB Undergraduate Program staff member, and an Industry Professional in Business and demonstrate through their engagement that they have mastered the learning outcomes to earn this badge. The common curriculum comes from the Leadership Training Camp and is adapted from the same curriculum that professional staff members from the Green Bay Packers engage with during the “Leadership 2.0” professional development series. All topics covered in these small group discussions are: - Defining Leadership - Knowing Yourself - Leading with Integrity - Personal Effectiveness - Managing Up - Difficult Conversations - Group Problem Solving - Developing your Team - Creating a Vision and Inspiring Others - Enjoying the Ride Participants also heard from a panel of Packers executives who shared their personal leadership philosophies and gave tangible advice for those interested in the sports business industry. Learning Outcomes: - Gain self-awareness about your strengths in various transferable leadership skills - Learn problem-solving and conflict-management skills for working in groups/teams - Develop the skills to build your own team, articulate a vision, and inspire others
Wisconsin School of Business - Business Analytics
Those who have earned the Business Analytics badge have developed skills and demonstrated competency through rigorous assessment for making data-driven decisions, including database management, data visualization and communication and distinguishing correlation from causation while enrolled in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Professional Master's of Business Administration curriculum. Competencies were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified UW-Madison instructor.
Business Analytics badge earners have demonstrated competency in the abilities below through various accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business: - Extract data from both structured or unstructured databases. - Transform and combine data with other relevant information and load data into targeted systems such as data warehouses, data marts or analytical applications. - Use Python to execute simple web scraping, mine data from social networks, and use libraries for advanced data analysis beyond simple descriptive analytics. - Implement Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and create multi-dimension data cubes. - Execute social mining techniques and create valuable information from text-mining for decision-making. - Discuss the current landscape in data warehousing, big data, and other emerging topics. - Describe key principles of effective data visualization. - Identify appropriate data visualizations and tools for different types of variables and analyses - Explore datasets visually to identify the information in data, recognize patterns, and generate business insights. - Construct effective static and interactive data visualizations for presentation of analytics results, monitoring, and decision support. - Articulate why descriptive data analysis based on correlations, such as multivariate regression techniques, may give misleading impressions of causal relationships. - Identify statements that use correlational evidence to infer causal relationships. - Understand the value of randomization for establishing causal effects through experiments. - Demonstrate skills to implement a randomized experiment and compare outcomes. - Identify and implement appropriate quasi-experimental techniques for analyzing existing data from a causal perspective.
Wisconsin School of Business - Business Sustainability
Those who have earned the Business Sustainability badge have developed skills related to The Role of Business in Society, Diversity in Organizations, Challenges and Solutions in Business Sustainability. Abilities for developing effective strategies for managing diversity in organizations, frameworks for incorporating sustainability and risk management into business decision making, and business practices leading to ethical organizations were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified instructor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Professional Master's of Business Administration program.
Business Sustainability badge earners have demonstrated competency in the skills below through various accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business: - Develop a deeper understanding of ethical dilemmas at work and your personal ethical beliefs. - Use a systematic ethics decision-making framework to arrive at moral conclusions. - Explain why firms should be ethical. - Describe best practices for enhancing an organization’s ethical performance. - Benchmark and assess your organization’s ethical performance. - Define key terminology associated with diversity in organizations - Explain the major theories used in diversity research to understand diversity in organizations - Apply these theories to replicate diversity successes, diagnose diversity challenges, and make informed decisions to manage diversity well - Connect historical context to current impact for various demographics - Reflect upon the topics discussed in the class and determine applications for future work settings - Explain the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of the sustainability challenges of business activity and identify potential trade-offs and interrelationships among these dimensions at a level appropriate to the course. - Analyze the causes of and solutions for the sustainability challenges resulting from business activity. - Apply sustainability principles and/or frameworks to addressing the challenge of incorporating sustainability into corporate decision-making. - Use knowledge and skills in business sustainability for developing professional values and pathways.
Wisconsin School of Business - Customer Insight
Those who have earned the Customer Insight badge have developed skills related to Consumer Behavior, Marketing Research, Marketing in a Digital Age. Abilities demonstrated include: skills in the fundamentals of modern marketing (including methods for understanding the consumer), conducting marketing research, and marketing in digital environments. These competencies were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified instructor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Professional Master's of Business Administration program.
Customer Insight badge earners have demonstrated competency in the skills below through various accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business: - Develop frameworks as a way to think about and analyze consumer behavior/ marketing strategy relationships. - Examine consumers as active agents, participating in diverse environments (e.g. cultural, subcultural, physical, social, etc.) that shape consumer behavior in the marketplace. - Integrate own consumption approaches/experiences to reflect on how these environments shape behavior. - Apply use of appropriate research tools for analyzing consumer experiences and make strategic recommendations based on data. - Describe different stages of the marketing research process, including research terminology and methodology - Articulate the managerial importance of marketing research - Design marketing research studies for problems of interest - Develop analytical skills and apply suitable methods for effective marketing research - Apply insights from marketing research to make effective business recommendations - Develop an Internet marketing strategy - Select appropriate Internet marketing tools to achieve marketing & sales goals. - Explain the strategy behind and tactical implementation of the following: website design and management, social media, search engine optimization, paid search advertising, E-commerce, email marketing, mobile apps
Wisconsin School of Business - Financial Insight
Those who have earned the Financial Insight badge have developed skills related to Managerial Accounting, Corporation Finance Theory and Practice, and Risk Management. Abilities demonstrated include: skills to manage an organization’s internal finances and budgeting. These competencies were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified instructor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Professional Master's of Business Administration program.
Financial Insight badge earners have demonstrated competency in the skills below through various accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business: - Understand how managerial accounting principles and tools are critical to the successful design and implementation of an organizational strategy. - Explain how behavioral issues can affect the design of performance measurement systems and the achievement of the organization’s objectives. - Integrate strategic financial and nonfinancial performance metrics into an integrated performance measurement framework such as the Balanced Scorecard’s four performance measurement perspectives: financial, customer, internal processes, and learning and growth. - Appropriately apply cost-related concepts to planning, performance evaluation, and decision-making (e.g., product mix, outsourcing, pricing, incentive schemes, and budgeting). - Calculate costs based on various cost system design choices and understand the implications of choices in designing cost management systems for products, services, customers, and other business segments. - Evaluate and articulate the opportunities and challenges when balancing environmental and social objectives with financial performance. - Recognize ethical issues in business, particularly as applied to the design of performance measurement and incentive schemes within the scope of management accounting. - Recognize how to successfully apply management accounting tools and concepts to various business disciplines and the increasingly complex business environment. - Explain why, when, and how companies raise debt and equity and decide on the mix of both sources of finance. - Recognize the effect of agency costs—adverse selection and moral hazard—on the firm's capital structure. - Explain how firms choose to structure hybrid securities to reduce market frictions. - Differentiate how firms manage risks both internally as well as with derivative contracts. - Summarize the different ways firms return money to investors and the logic behind different payout policies. - Effectively serve as a “risk owner” for an organization. - Apply broadly applicable risk identification, assessment, and mitigation techniques to risks within an area of responsibility. - Understand the roles and interactions of key risk functions and governance bodies. - Employ strategies to develop a strong risk management culture. - Clearly communicate key risk information in practical terms relevant to senior leaders.
Wisconsin School of Business - Strategic Innovation
Those who have earned the Strategic Innovation badge have developed skills related to Strategic Management of Innovation, Product Management, and Data Technology for Business Analytics. Abilities demonstrated include: managing innovation and change as well as tools/frameworks for encouraging innovation such as design thinking and agile methodologies. These competencies were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified instructor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Professional Master's of Business Administration program.
Strategic Innovation badge earners have demonstrated competency in the skills below through various accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business: - Evaluate whether a technological solution is a business opportunity. - Explain the process of commercializing technology and the challenges associated with each phase of that process. - Articulate the skills and resources required for successfully managing technologies and innovative processes. - Produce an analysis of the commercial potential of a technological solution. - Identify the different roles of Product Managers in fast paced digital and technology businesses - Develop product roadmaps that bring an idea to market - Learn to understand customer needs and act as the voice of the customer throughout the roadmap - Learn to manage cross-functional global product teams - Apply design thinking to tackle business problems - Understand agility and be able to pivot according to changing customer needs - Explain the relevance of design ideas to management practice – how to do more with less, to align and lead teams through a lean, efficient and vetted process for creative innovation. - Describe the role and potential of digital technologies in delivering novel experiences. - Describe how synthetic thinking complements analytic thinking. - Practice considering the human experience of products, services, and systems. - Explain how design can operate at all levels in an organization and is not limited to obvious domains, such as product development or communications department. - Apply creative ideas and methods of design that develop management skills and techniques, i.e., make small bets fast, evaluate failure intelligently and harness breakthroughs to propel company growth or social good. - Develop skills and perspectives on in-market experiments that save time and resources while revealing smarter outcomes. - Innovative Thought and Leadership.
Wisconsin School of Business - Global Business
Those who have earned the Global Business badge have developed skills related to Multinational Business Finance, Global Business Management and Risk, and Global Learning Experience. Abilities demonstrated include: developing a global business mindset by embarking on an immersive global trip and learning about international management and finance strategies. These competencies were measured and validated through assessments by a qualified instructor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Professional Master's of Business Administration program.
Global Business badge earners have demonstrated competency in the skills below through various accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business: - Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed as a senior financial officer of an international firm. - Understand how the international economic and financial environment and the exchange rates affect financial decisions by firms. - Apply the methods used to measure, manage and analyze the effects posed by exchange rate uncertainty to the income statement and balance sheet of a firm. - Articulate the choices and challenges faced by managers when sourcing funds in the global capital markets, and in making complex foreign investment decisions. - Illustrate the CAGE (Culture, Administrative, Global, Economic issues) analysis for global business - Summarize the reasons for global strategies and the complexities and challenges involved in developing and implementing them - Explain why host countries choose to host foreign business and the costs and benefits associated with doing business with international companies - Critically assess potential strategies, benefits and the unique risks of doing business internationally - Contrast the management of a global workforce vs a domestic workforce; including staffing and management of international employees - Outline the changing nature of global business with regards to managing ethical concerns, questions of corruption, and varying standards of conduct between the organization and host nation - Outline the legal, political, economic, technological, social and regulatory risks of host countries - Profile and evaluate a company doing business in the host countries - Apply insights from NGOs, Domestic, Western, multinational corporations doing business in the geographic region to the companies doing business in the host countries - Analyze a retail product segment in country 2 and compare that segment to the United States
The skills demonstrated by those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Excel Proficiency Badge are used in an endless number of roles in every type of organization to manipulate, analyze, and manage data. Earning the WSB Excel Proficiency Badge signifies the earner has mastered a variety of fundamental functions in Microsoft Excel to efficiently use the application. These skills were developed through course completion and assessed learning activities.
Bearers of the Wisconsin School of Business Excel Proficiency Badge have demonstrated mastery of the following Excel skills as verified through a rigorous assessment by a qualified University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor: 1) Excel fundamentals of moving and selecting, filling a series, paste special options, manipulating worksheets, copying formulas, relative and absolute addresses, and importing and parsing data. 2) Common functions such as SUM, COUNT, AVERAGE, IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF, VLOOKUP, MATCH, NPV and SUMPRODUCT; 3) Data summarization and analysis tools, such as Pivot Tables, and Data Tables; 4) Skills for displaying information, including creating and modifying tables and charts, and conditional formatting; 5) Professional skills, such as adding documentation, and creating macros.
Wisconsin School of Business: Marketing Analytics & Insights
The skills demonstrated by those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Marketing Analytics and Insights Badge are used by Market Research Analysts, Product Managers, Brand Managers, Social Media Managers, Digital Marketing Managers, Consumer Insights Analysts, Consultants, Innovation Managers, New Product Development Managers, Risk Managers and others in business to analyze industry data and digital metrics used to determine effective product design and pricing, resource allocations and marketing actions. The bearer of this badge has practiced analysis of digital metrics to estimate marketing spend in areas such as paid search and display advertising, as well as building marketing mix models to assess the return on a campaign while developing basic proficiency in tools such as R and Excel. Badge earners have also applied conjoint analysis to design new products and pricing and basic machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve common marketing problems. These skills were developed through course completion, in addition to assessed applied learning events and activities.
Individuals who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Marketing Analytics and Insights Badge have demonstrated the following proficiencies as verified through rigorous assessment by a qualified University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor: 1. Identification and application of a diverse range of analytical methods to solve marketing questions. 2. Translation of business problems into marketing research questions and selection of appropriate analytical techniques for practical application. 3. Articulation of a business problem and interpretation of findings through formal presentation using appropriate business language.
Wisconsin School of Business: Sales & Business Development
The skills demonstrated by those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Sales and Business Development Badge are used by Sales Managers, Account Executives, Project Managers, Brand Managers, Product Managers, Market Researchers, Analysts, Consultants, Finance Managers, Investment Bankers, Operations Managers, Sourcing Managers, Real Estate Managers, Financial Planners, Human Resource Managers, Insurance Brokers, Founders and others in business to apply the steps involved in the sales process, integrate knowledge of marketing, technology, and analytics, facilitate effective sales force management, design and manage marketing channels, and make informed decisions about setting prices across various business contexts. The bearer of this badge has practiced prospecting and meeting with potential customers, identifying the needs of customers, and developing sales proposals for customers. These skills were developed through course completion, in addition to assessed applied learning events, interaction with business professionals, and certification in analytics software.
Individuals who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Sales and Business Development Badge have demonstrated the following proficiencies as verified through rigorous assessment by a qualified University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor: 1. Articulate and apply the steps involved in the sales process. 2. Demonstrate basic proficiency in fundamental sales-related skills such as empathy, storytelling, persuasion, and responding to negative feedback. 3. Integrate knowledge of marketing, technology, and analytics to facilitate sales. 4. Recognize and apply principles of effective sales force management. 5. Effectively design and manage marketing channels through understanding how to ensure products and services reach the target audience in the most efficient and impactful manner. 6. Make informed decisions about setting prices across various business contexts.
Wisconsin School of Business: Socially Responsible Leadership
Businesses can act in socially responsible ways that benefit society, such as a focus on stakeholder welfare through supporting the local community, working towards environmental sustainability, engaging in ethical labor practices, and more. Innovative business leaders leverage socially responsible personal values to raise the effectiveness of their organization. Those who possess the Socially Responsible Leadership Badge are prepared to assess the impact of complex decisions from a lens of social responsibility and have participated in experiential learning that connects decision-making competency with the value of integrity in alignment with the University of Wisconsin Madison Leadership Framework.
This badge is earned through participation in a combination of workshops, experiences, and reflection opportunities designed to provide a deeper level of understanding and practice regarding socially responsible leadership. Requirements to earn the Socially Responsible Leadership Badge: - Attend three workshops from our decision-making category. - Attend three workshops from our integrity category. - Complete a Company Values Inventory - Participate in a Leadership Coaching session with a Leadership & Engagement Staff Member. - Submit a written or video reflection responding to specific questions related to this badge. Attendance is taken at every workshop and event hosted by the Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) and progress towards badge completion is tracked in Suitable. In-person and written reflections are completed with guidance and oversight from professional staff in the Leadership & Engagement Office. Badge is earned when the student has demonstrated the skills connected to this badge through reflection components.
The University of Wisconsin - Business Badger Badge Programs
Follow this link to learn more about UW Madison Business Badger Programs: https://business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/leadership/badges/
Wisconsin School of Business: Strategic Growth
Those who have earned the Strategic Growth badge have developed skills related to growth strategies, growth marketing strategies, and digital strategies used by managers and directors of successful organizations. The badge earner has demonstrated skills in expanding an organization's goals and overcoming business challenges. Earning the Strategic Management Badge requires mastery of essential senior management and department director tools and skills in preparation for advancement in management careers.
Strategic Growth badge earners have applied management frameworks to evaluate and capture a growth opportunity in an organization alongside demonstrated mastery of strategies to identify, evaluate, capture, design, and implement new business opportunities. Critical thinking skills have been evaluated within an applied learning environment for compressive resources and constraints within specific functional areas in the organization. Badge earners have performed successfully on rigorous written exams assessing competency for making data-driven decisions, including growth, marketing, and digital strategies, evaluated by a University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor. Strategic Growth Badge earners have demonstrated the abilities to: - Evaluate and capture growth opportunities within an organization using appropriate frameworks. - Identify and evaluate new business opportunities. - Design and implement strategies to capture new business opportunities within organizational resource constraints.
Wisconsin School of Business - Consulting
Those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Consulting badge have developed problem-solving, strategy implementation, and change management skills used by professional consultants, managers, and directors of successful organizations. The badge earner has demonstrated skills in identifying and solving crucial internal challenges, developing a narrow scope of work, choosing the required data for analysis, crafting recommendations, presenting results, and implementing change. Earning the Consutling Badge requires demonstrated proficiency in applied practices of internal consulting and problem-solving while working on a consulting team tackling organizational problems in preparation for advancement in consulting or management careers.
Those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Consulting Badge have been rigorously assessed by a University of Wisconsin - Madison instructor for successful demonstration of applied consulting skills, including identifying problems and implementing solutions using executive-level skills. Badge holders have demonstrated the abilities to: - Demonstrate internal consulting skills in leading crucial problem-solving teams in an organization, choosing the right recommendations at the right time, presenting results, and implementing required change. - Identify internal challenges through work scope development, data analysis, solution identification, reporting, and implementation. - Display leadership and c-suite skills necessary for effective change management in consulting roles.
DRAFT: Wisconsin School of Business Teaching Assistant
Teaching is both a rewarding and stressful job. Graduate student teaching assistants (TA) are tasked with a wide range of instructional responsibilities—from leading discussions and planning activities to delivering lectures and managing course platforms (e.g., Instructure’s Canvas). To support a successful student learning experience, a TA requires a broad yet targeted training experience, offering practical ideas and resources tailored to a specific teaching role. Whether a TA is responsible for individual tasks or managing an entire course, earning the Wisconsin School of Business Teaching Assistant badge signifies demonstrated competency in enhancing instructional effectiveness through essential teaching skills and strategies.
Those who have earned the Wisconsin School of Business Teaching Assistant badge have successfully demonstrated the ability to: - Apply the backward design process to create course curriculum and/or lesson plans. - Deliver student-centered learning experiences. - Design (or facilitate) effective assessments (including discussions). - Utilize Canvas tools to provide student feedback (i.e., grading). The skills and abilities required for an individual to earn the WSB Teaching Assistant Badge have been evaluated through assessments by an expert instructor at UW-Madison.
DRAFT: Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence
Developing familiarity with using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance productivity and quality of work is desired by most employers. Those who have earned the Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence Badge have embarked on an enlightening journey into the world of AI by completing a comprehensive program that demystifies artificial intelligence, explaining what it is and how it works, provides an introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs), and AI tools. Badge earners have gained a fundamental understanding of AI prompts and explored the various applications of AI in everyday life, including how these tools can enhance the speed and depth of work products.
Individuals who have earned the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence badge have demonstrated the following proficiencies as verified through rigorous assessment by a University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor: 1. Basic understanding of a large language model (LLM)and how one works 2. General interaction with commonplace AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, et al) 3. Crafting an effective basic prompt using the PGTC framework 4. General use of AI tools to benefit productivity, quality, and depth of work 5. Basic critical analysis to evaluate the validity of AI-generated material.
Wisconsin School of Business: Real Estate
The Wisconsin School of Business Real Estate badge verifies that the earner has developed expertise in real estate strategies, market analysis, and ethical investment evaluation. Badge earners have demonstrated the ability to analyze complex markets, design growth-focused strategies, and assess investments with a strong emphasis on ethical and social responsibility. These skills enable professionals to identify opportunities, drive organizational growth, and make informed decisions in roles such as portfolio management, investment analysis, and property acquisition. Earning the Real Estate Badge validates the critical tools and knowledge required to navigate the dynamic real estate sector and contribute meaningfully to sustainable, responsible business practices.
Real estate management entails the supervision of properties, including financial, operational, and administrative aspects, with the goal of maximizing profitability and maintaining long-term performance.
Ethical Decision Making is a process that involves evaluating alternatives while adhering to ethical principles, such as integrity, transparency, fairness, and accountability.
Market analysis is the process of researching a particular market to identify trends, opportunities, and competitors for informed strategic planning.
Growth strategy refers to a company's deliberate efforts to boost its market share, revenue, and profitability through various approaches such as product expansion, market penetration, and innovation.
Real Estate badge earners have demonstrated mastery of essential skills in real estate strategy development, market navigation, and ethical evaluation of investment decisions. Earners have applied analytical and strategic frameworks to evaluate and capture real estate opportunities, alongside demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing strategies to drive organizational growth. Critical thinking and ethical decision-making have been evaluated through applied learning environments that simulate real-world challenges in the real estate sector. Badge earners have successfully completed rigorous assessments, including evidence-based performance evaluations conducted by University of Wisconsin-Madison instructors with industry expertise. Real Estate badge earners have demonstrated the abilities to: - Analyze and formulate real estate strategies to support organizational growth. - Navigate and assess real estate markets to identify and leverage growth opportunities. - Evaluate and mitigate ethical and social risks associated with real estate investments to ensure responsible decision-making.
Wisconsin School of Business Real Estate Program Website
DRAFT: Artificial Intelligence for Educators I
Developing familiarity with using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance teaching efficiency and effectiveness is increasingly valuable for educators. Those who have earned the Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: AI Tools for Educators badge have completed a comprehensive program and demonstrated the ability to apply AI tools strategically in their teaching practice. Badge earners have identified key areas where AI can improve workflow efficiency, developed AI-generated lesson plans and assessments, and created customized student activities. They have also demonstrated proficiency in using AI to provide individualized, meaningful feedback and developed a practical strategy for integrating AI into their teaching in a responsible and effective manner.
Recipients of the Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: AI Tools for Educators badge have demonstrated proficiency in the following areas, as verified through practical exercises and assessments by a University of Wisconsin-Madison instructor: Identifying AI Applications in Teaching – Recognized key areas where AI can save time and improve efficiency in the educator’s workflow. Lesson and Activity Design Using AI – Used AI tools to generate lesson plans, teaching assets, and student assessments. AI-Generated Student Engagement Materials – Created customized student activities, quizzes, and interactive learning experiences. Efficient, Personalized Feedback with AI – Applied AI to provide individualized, timely, and meaningful feedback to students. Integration of AI into Teaching Practices – Developed and presented a practical plan for responsible and effective AI adoption in their teaching.
Wisconsin School of Business New Venture Creation
Developing the ability to create and grow a new venture is a critical skill for entrepreneurs and business innovators. New Venture Creation skills apply to a variety of roles, including founders or co-founders of startup businesses, early-stage employees in existing startups, product managers, business development professionals, innovation management positions, new venture development, small business consulting, and venture capital roles. Those who have earned the New Venture Creation badge from the Wisconsin School of Business have demonstrated proficiency in identifying and evaluating business opportunities, applying customer and market discovery methodologies, developing viable business models, and applying strategic and ethical decision-making to launch and scale new ventures. Through hands-on experience, badge earners have also demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. These competencies are essential for success in dynamic and uncertain business environments.
Recipients of the New Venture Creation badge have demonstrated verified competencies in the following areas, as assessed through rigorous evaluations and applied entrepreneurial experiences: - Entrepreneurial Fundamentals – Demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of business model development, market analysis, opportunity evaluation, and venture creation strategies, applying these concepts to assess and refine new business opportunities. - Leadership & Collaboration – Exercised entrepreneurial leadership, valued diverse perspectives, and worked collaboratively to accomplish organizational objectives within a startup or new venture context. - Strategic & Ethical Decision-Making – Applied critical, ethical, and strategic thinking to analyze opportunities, mitigate risks, and develop creative solutions in venture development. - Customer & Market Discovery – Used research-based methodologies to assess market needs, validate business ideas, and refine venture strategies based on customer insights and industry trends. - Applied Venture Experience – Successfully engaged in new venture creation through coursework, startup competitions, or real-world entrepreneurial projects, demonstrating the ability to navigate uncertainty.
Strategic Innovation badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Analyzed the commercial potential of a technological solution. - Developed product roadmaps to bring ideas to market; managed cross-functional teams; and applied design thinking to business problems, demonstrating agility in response to changing customer needs. - Applied innovative design methods to management challenges: made small bets fast, evaluated failure intelligently, and harnessed breakthroughs to propel business growth or social good. - Explained the relevance of design to management practice, including how to do more with less and lead teams through a lean, efficient, and iterative innovation process. - Articulated how design can operate across all levels of an organization—not just in product development or the communications department.
Customer Insight badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Developed frameworks to analyze the relationship between consumer behavior and marketing strategy. - Created internet marketing strategies and selected appropriate digital tools to achieve marketing and sales goals. - Applied research tools to analyze consumer experiences and made strategic, data-informed recommendations. - Described the stages of the marketing research process, including relevant terminology and methodologies. - Explained both the strategy and tactical implementation of website design and management, social media, search engine optimization, paid search advertising, e-commerce, email marketing, and mobile apps.
Business Analytics badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Constructed effective static and interactive data visualizations to present analytics results, support monitoring, and inform decision-making. - Executed social mining techniques and extracted valuable insights from text data to support strategic decisions. - Transformed and integrated data from multiple sources and loaded it into target systems such as data warehouses, data marts, or analytical applications. - Identified and applied appropriate quasi-experimental techniques to analyze existing data from a causal perspective. - Implemented Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and created multidimensional data cubes for advanced analysis.
Financial Insight badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Calculated costs using various cost system design choices and evaluated the implications for products, services, customers, and other business segments. - Integrated strategic financial and nonfinancial metrics into a performance measurement framework, including the Balanced Scorecard’s four perspectives: financial, customer, internal processes, and learning and growth. - Applied cost-related concepts to planning, performance evaluation, and decision-making (e.g., product mix, outsourcing, pricing, incentive schemes, and budgeting). - Identified ethical considerations in performance measurement and incentive system design within the scope of management accounting. - Applied risk identification, assessment, and mitigation techniques to risks within an area of responsibility.
Business Sustainability badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Explained major theories from diversity research and applied them to replicate diversity successes, diagnose challenges, and support inclusive organizational decision-making. - Described the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability challenges in business, and identified relevant trade-offs and interrelationships. - Analyzed the causes of and proposed solutions for sustainability issues arising from business activity. - Applied sustainability principles and frameworks to support corporate decision-making and strategic integration. - Described best practices for enhancing organizational ethical performance and used a systematic ethics decision-making framework to reach sound moral conclusions.
Global Business badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Applied methods to measure, manage, and analyze the effects of exchange rate uncertainty on a firm's income statement and balance sheet.​ - Critically assessed potential strategies, benefits, and unique risks associated with international business operations.​ - Integrated insights from NGOs, domestic and multinational corporations operating in specific geographic regions to analyze business practices in host countries, including a comparative analysis of a retail product segment between the host country and the United States.​ - Contrasted the management of global versus domestic workforces, focusing on staffing and management of international employees.​ - Outlined the legal, political, economic, technological, social, and regulatory risks of host countries and evaluated companies conducting business within those countries.
Excel Proficiency badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - Applied Excel fundamentals including moving and selecting cells, filling series, using Paste Special options, manipulating worksheets, copying formulas, and working with relative and absolute references. - Imported, parsed, and organized data efficiently within worksheets. - Used common functions such as SUM, COUNT, AVERAGE, IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF, VLOOKUP, MATCH, NPV, and SUMPRODUCT to perform data analysis and calculations. - Summarized and analyzed data using tools such as PivotTables and Data Tables. - Created and modified tables and charts, and applied conditional formatting to effectively display information. - Incorporated professional practices such as adding documentation and developing basic macros to enhance usability and efficiency.
The AI-Enabled Teaching Badge is awarded to recipients who have demonstrated advanced proficiency as educators, guiding responsible student AI use, designing AI-enhanced assignments and projects, and protecting academic integrity while improving learning outcomes. They have drafted publish-ready classroom policies, AI-leveraged assessment designs, created low-lift integrity checks, and have written an implementation roadmap aligned to institutional guidance. Competencies are evaluated by a University of Wisconsin - Madison instructor.
Badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following required skills: - Explain the ethical implications of AI in education, including academic integrity concerns. - Develop classroom policies that guide students in responsible use of AI. - Create AI-based student projects and assessments that encourage creativity and critical thinking. - Design strategies to prevent AI misuse, such as plagiarism, in assessments. - Integrate AI into their curriculum through a long-term implementation plan.
Wisconsin School of Business Affordable Housing
Those who have earned the Affordable Housing badge have developed applied skills in real estate development, finance, and community engagement with a focus on affordable housing. Earners are able to model complex housing transactions, evaluate policy and financing tools such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and navigate stakeholder interests in development projects. Competencies were validated through professional assignments, modeling exercises, written analyses, and presentations assessed by instructors in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Wisconsin School of Business.
Affordable Housing badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by an instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - **Financial Modeling:** Built and customized affordable housing financial models, including development budgets, construction cash flows, rent charts, and operating pro formas, to evaluate project feasibility and financing strategies. - **Policy & Economic Significance:** Explained the significance of affordable housing in the U.S. economy and its role in addressing housing insecurity, community change, and equity. - **Stakeholder Analysis:** Identified the interests and functions of key stakeholders—including community members, government agencies, and financing partners—and articulated strategies for aligning diverse interests in project support. - **Strategic Communication:** Developed and presented professional briefs, memos, and community-facing presentations that persuasively framed project fundamentals and policy compliance to different audiences. - **Critical Evaluation:** Assessed affordable housing policy tools, including LIHTC and HUD programs, to diagnose challenges and propose solutions for financing and preserving affordable housing.
Wisconsin School of Business Sustainable Real Estate
Those who have earned the Sustainable Real Estate badge have demonstrated applied knowledge and skills at the intersection of sustainability, real estate development, and policy. Earners understand the environmental and economic forces shaping the built environment, and can analyze, communicate, and apply sustainable development practices to real-world contexts. Competencies were validated through graded coursework, case analysis, policy evaluations, and reflective engagement with campus sustainability initiatives, assessed by instructors in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Wisconsin School of Business.
Sustainable Real Estate badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by an instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - **Sustainable Development Principles:** Articulated the significance of sustainable real estate practices, including green building, renewable energy integration, healthy housing, urban design, and climate finance within housing and urban development. - **Economic & Policy Analysis:** Applied economic frameworks to evaluate environmental policy, market externalities, and the trade-offs between economic growth, equity, and environmental quality - **Fair Housing Studies:** Analyzed how government regulation, market forces, and discrimination shape housing access, affordability, and equality, and evaluated fair housing tools to address systemic issues - **Case-Based Application:** Interpreted and applied sustainable real estate principles using case studies, simulations, and readings to recommend viable strategies for balancing profitability with sustainability. - **Professional Reflection:** Collected and synthesized insights from sustainability-focused events and industry speakers, producing written reflections that connected practical innovations to sustainable real estate practices.
DRAFT: Wisconsin School of Business Artificial Intelligence
Those who have earned the Artificial Intelligence (AI) badge have developed applied skills in the strategic, organizational, and managerial applications of AI across modern enterprises. Earners are able to explain foundational AI principles, apply AI tools in professional contexts, and critically evaluate the impact of AI on business functions, strategy, and the future of work. They can assess implications of AI adoption on organizational culture and governance, articulate the role of leaders in AI-driven transformations, and anticipate future innovations such as generative AI, quantum computing, and algorithmic management. Competencies were validated through applied assignments, professional discussions, modeling exercises, written analyses, and final projects assessed by instructors in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Wisconsin School of Business.
AI badge earners have demonstrated competency in the following skills through accepted forms of assessment by a qualified instructor from UW–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business: - AI Literacy & Application: Explained the principles of AI and machine learning; applied AI tools in personal and professional settings to solve problems, meet user needs, and identify opportunities in business. - Business Disruptions & Strategy: Discussed the use of AI in customer engagement, operations, and support services, and evaluated the resulting disruptions using strategy and economic frameworks. - Organizational Change: Assessed the implications of AI on organizational design, culture, and change management; evaluated challenges and opportunities associated with enterprise AI adoption. - Leadership & Governance: Articulated approaches to AI governance, including implementation, risk management, and ethics; developed insights into the role of leaders in AI-driven organizational transformations. - Future of Work & Innovation: Demonstrated understanding of reimagined management practices, algorithmic management, and emerging innovations such as generative AI and artificial general intelligence.
Wisconsin School of Business: Financial Modeling badge image
Recipients of the Financial Modeling Credential have demonstrated proficiency in constructing integrated, error-free, and user-friendly financial models using Excel. They have mastered the process of building a comprehensive three-statement company model that includes a debt waterfall and cash sweep, applying best practices in financial modeling and analysis. This credential reflects advanced capability in translating financial data into strategic insights and decision-ready outputs.
The Financial Modeling Credential reflects a scaffolded learning journey in which participants progressively build expertise in constructing integrated financial models. Beginning with foundational concepts, learners advance through increasingly complex modeling techniques, culminating in the ability to systematically develop a gold-standard, three-statement model with a debt waterfall and cash sweep. Proficiency is demonstrated through a final assessment that validates accuracy, usability, and strategic application. Score evaluation and certificate awarding are administered by a Wisconsin School of Business instructor who is experienced in Financial Modeling. The Financial Modeling Credential reflects hands-on proficiency developed through a structured, practice-based learning experience. Participants actively constructed financial models using downloadable Excel templates alongside instructional videos. Each module included assessment quizzes to reinforce understanding, with most offering additional modeling assignments for deeper practice. As a culminating challenge, credential earners completed a case study in which they built a comprehensive model from scratch using only a company’s 10-K and a blank Excel workbook—demonstrating accuracy, fluency, and strategic insight. Students who earn a perfect score on the final assessment receive the credential and have demonstrated competency with the following skills: - Utilize Excel shortcuts for speed and efficiency - Understand and utilize best practices to build a financial model that is error-free, well-structured and user-friendly - Construct a three-statement integrated financial model with a cash sweep and waterfall debt schedule - Incorporate intentional circular references, and manage them with a “circuit breaker” switch - Apply error-checking and correction techniques to a completed model to ensure accuracy