Did you know nearly 70% of enterprise data goes unused? That’s a staggering amount of untapped potential – insights and opportunities that could drive innovation, improve decision-making, and shape tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
So, how do you unlock this hidden value?
Discover new strategies and expert tips with our new on-demand webinar series, Breakthroughs 2025. Our recent 3-day webinar series brought together leading experts and professionals to explore cutting-edge tools, technologies, and methodologies in both qualitative and quantitative research. Now available on demand, this series offers invaluable insights to help you harness the full potential of your data, refine your decision-making processes, and drive impactful results in the year ahead.
Watch the recordings now or continue reading to learn the highlights from this event.
Jump to:
- Navigating Ethical Challenges in Qualitative Research: Leveraging AI Responsibly
- Coding Techniques in NVivo (Introductory Course)
- Thematic Analysis with NVivo 15 + Lumivero AI Assistant
- Cultivating Success: Risk Management in Agile Projects Unveiled
- Use Cases of @RISK in Multiple Industries
- Business Insights through Data Using Excel
Qualitative Track
In this insightful session, expert Dr. Susanne Friese, Founder at Qeludra, explored the evolving intersection of AI technology and qualitative research ethics. Drawing on her extensive experience, she emphasized the need for researcher responsibility and transparency when integrating AI tools into qualitative analysis. The discussion covered key concerns such as the risks of over-reliance on automation, the necessity of robust data protection, and the importance of researcher reflexivity in maintaining ethical standards.
Dr. Friese reinforced the idea that AI should enhance—not replace—human expertise, advocating for a “human-in-the-loop” approach where researchers remain actively engaged in guiding and interpreting AI-generated insights. Looking ahead, she anticipates a significant shift in qualitative research methods, moving beyond traditional coding toward more interactive, AI-assisted conversational analysis—a dynamic process where researchers and AI work together to interpret data while upholding methodological integrity.
Topics covered:
- Ethical challenges of AI in qualitative research (bias, data privacy, transparency)
- Importance of “human-in-the-loop" for analysis integrity
- How to write ethical, transparent AI prompts, and cite AI use in research
- Comparison between automated coding vs. interactive analysis
- Future trends: AI-assisted, conversational qualitative analysis replacing manual coding
Coding Techniques in NVivo (Introductory Course)
In this beginner-friendly session, Dr. Marret Bischewski, Senior Software Specialist at Alfasoft, provided an in-depth introduction to coding in NVivo for qualitative research. She guided participants through key concepts, distinguishing between deductive and inductive approaches, and demonstrated various manual, automated, and structural coding techniques to effectively analyze qualitative data.
The workshop covered coding across multiple data types including text, PDFs, images, and media files, while also demonstrating how to organize codes hierarchically for better structure. Participants also learned how to review and refine their coding, generate codebooks, and utilize NVivo’s AI-powered tools for deeper insights.
One of the most impactful aspects of the session was the emphasis on NVivo’s structured yet flexible approach to qualitative coding, making it easier for researchers to analyze and manage their data efficiently. A particularly exciting demonstration showcased NVivo’s autocoding capabilities, which allow for the automatic coding of structured interviews and media files—helping researchers streamline their workflow and extract insights more quickly.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to coding techniques in NVivo (deductive vs. inductive)
- Coding text, PDFs, images, and media files
- Auto-coding structured interviews and speaker identification
- Organizing codes with hierarchies, mind maps, and classifications
- Reviewing coded data, refining codes, and generating codebooks
Thematic Analysis with NVivo 15 + Lumivero AI Assistant
In this hands-on session, Dr. Ben Meehan, CEO at QDATRAINING Ltd, provided a step-by-step walkthrough of how to apply Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) using NVivo 15, drawing on the foundational work of Braun and Clarke. He emphasized the importance of audit trails, methodological rigor, and practical tools to enhance coding, theming, and qualitative analysis.
The workshop demonstrated how NVivo supports each stage of the RTA process, from data familiarization to final analysis and reporting. Key features such as AI Assist, memos, annotations, and framework matrices were showcased, illustrating how they save time, improve transparency, and enable researchers to focus on analysis rather than administrative tasks.
One of the central ideas from the session was the value of maintaining a well-documented audit trail, which—when combined with NVivo’s built-in tools—enhances transparency, rigor, and the credibility of qualitative research findings. One of the standout features demonstrated was NVivo’s AI Assist, which provides automated summaries and suggested descriptive codes, significantly reducing manual workload while ensuring ethical and methodologically sound data handling.
Topics covered:
- Applying Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) in NVivo
- The six phases of thematic analysis and related NVivo tools
- The role of memos, annotations, and AI Assist in data familiarization
- Building audit trails to enhance research transparency
- Visualizing and analyzing data using framework matrices, project maps, and coding stripes
“AI Assist in NVivo doesn’t replace your thinking—it accelerates the descriptive work so you can focus on interpretation and meaning.” — Dr. Ben Meehan
Quantitative track
Cultivating Success: Risk Management in Agile Projects Unveiled
Focusing on best practices for risk management in Agile project environments, this session, featuring PMI-authorized instructor and consultant Mohamed Khalifa, explored how risk identification and mitigation strategies fit into Agile workflows. Khalifa provided an in-depth look at Agile principles and methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban, and demonstrated how risk management strategies should be seamlessly integrated into Agile processes.
A key focus of the discussion was the proactive and iterative nature of Agile risk management, emphasizing that it should be embedded within daily project planning rather than treated as a separate activity. Using real-world examples from banking projects, Khalifa illustrated how Agile teams can effectively manage uncertainty while maintaining adaptability. He also addressed audience questions on software tools and backlog prioritization.
A major takeaway from the session was the shift from traditional risk registers to dynamic backlog adjustments, ensuring that risk responses are prioritized alongside feature development. One of the most valuable insights was the importance of continuous risk management, where teams actively assess and address risks as part of their daily workflows, rather than through periodic reviews.
Topics covered:
- Agile fundamentals and risk management principles – Understanding agile as a mindset, not just a methodology.
- Identifying and addressing risks in agile workflows – Using daily standups, sprint planning, and retrospective meetings.
- Agile risk response strategies – Prioritizing risks within the product backlog and leveraging mitigation techniques.
- Transforming risks into opportunities – Case studies from banking and software industries.
- Tools and techniques for agile risk management – Risk burn-down charts, user story mapping, and backlog integration.
Use Cases of @RISK in Multiple Industries
In this practical session, Jose Orellana, Solutions Consultant at Lumivero, demonstrated how @RISK can be applied across various industries to enhance risk analysis and decision-making. The workshop showcased the power of Monte Carlo simulation, illustrating its role in project costing, physics-based modeling, and oil and gas scenarios. Orellana demonstrated that by integrating probability distributions into Excel models, @RISK enables businesses to better anticipate uncertainty and make data-driven decisions.
This workshop provided hands-on experience with key techniques including sensitivity analysis, tornado charts, and probabilistic goal-seeking—all designed to optimize outcomes. The session also introduced advanced features like VBA automation and Six Sigma process analysis, highlighting how @RISK extends beyond basic spreadsheet modeling to support complex decision frameworks.
A key takeaway from the session was how @RISK transforms static Excel models into dynamic, probability-driven tools, helping businesses quantify risk and refine strategies with greater confidence. Orellana showed that by using Monte Carlo simulation to simplify complex decision-making, you can create a structured approach to modeling uncertainty and enable more informed business and engineering choices.
Topics covered:
- Monte Carlo simulation basics and applications
- Project costing and risk registers in financial planning
- Physics-based modeling for projectile motion and safety analysis
- Oil & gas calculations for permeability and water saturation
- Advanced @RISK functionalities: sensitivity analysis, VBA integration, and Six Sigma
Business Insights through Data Using Excel
Drawing from his book, “Business Analytics: Applied Modelling and Prediction,” Dr. James Abdey from the London School of Economics led this insightful session on practical approaches to business analytics and data-driven decision-making using Excel. This webinar explored key statistical methods, data visualization techniques, and tools for transforming raw data into actionable insights.
The discussion emphasized the importance of statistical literacy, the challenges of teaching analytics, and real-world applications using Excel and XLSTAT. Dr. Abdey stressed the need to clearly define business objectives and highlighted the value of collecting and analyzing survey data for informed decision-making.
One of the most compelling insights was Dr. Abdey’s analogy comparing data analysis to oil refinement—just as crude oil must be processed to become useful, raw data needs to be refined through analytics to extract meaningful business insights. A core message from the session was that technical proficiency alone isn’t enough—effective business analytics also requires strong communication skills to interpret and convey insights that drive strategic decisions.
Topics covered:
- The importance of business analytics and statistical methods
- Visualization techniques for uncovering hidden patterns in data
- The role of Excel and XLSTAT in simplifying complex analytics
- The significance of defining research objectives before data analysis
- The real-world applications of statistical techniques, including Monte Carlo simulations and regression analysis
Your breakthrough awaits
Breakthroughs 2025 is your gateway to mastering the tools and strategies that drive data-powered breakthroughs. From refining your qualitative storytelling with thematic analysis to leveraging quantitative insights for elevated decision-making, these on-demand sessions are packed with actionable takeaways designed to elevate your research and results.
*According to Seagate Technology