Which type of analytics answers the question, "What happened?"

The correct choice is Descriptive Analytics, as it focuses on summarizing historical data to understand what has occurred over a certain period. This type of analytics presents past performance data through reports, dashboards, and visualizations, enabling organizations to identify trends, patterns, and insights based on previously collected information. By addressing the question, “What happened?” descriptive analytics provides a foundation for further analysis by establishing a clear overview of past events and outcomes.

This approach is essential in various decision-making processes, as it helps organizations assess their progress and performance metrics prior to engaging in predictive or prescriptive analytics, which look ahead to potential future outcomes or suggest specific actions, respectively. Understanding the historical context through descriptive analytics is crucial for making informed strategic choices.