Which of the following describes descriptive analytics?

Descriptive analytics focuses on summarizing and interpreting historical data to understand what has happened in the past. By capturing and analyzing current situations and problems, it provides insights that help organizations recognize patterns and trends that have already occurred. This type of analytics typically involves reporting techniques such as dashboards, scorecards, and standard reports that present data in a clear and understandable format, allowing stakeholders to grasp the present state of affairs within a specific context.

The emphasis on describing current situations and problems highlights the primary role of descriptive analytics: it does not make predictions about future outcomes, optimize decisions, or evaluate effectiveness over time. Instead, it serves as a foundational layer that informs further analysis and decision-making processes by providing a clear picture of the current state based on established data.