In today’s fast-paced and complex workplaces, successful leaders need more than instincts: they need structure, clarity, and the ability to think critically under pressure. In this course, you’ll step into the role of a leader at a fictional company, Solvex, and learn how to diagnose problems, prioritise effectively, and develop evidence-informed recommendations using structured tools and responsible AI support.
You’ll practise using frameworks like SWOT, 5 Whys, the Fishbone Diagram, and the Importance-Urgency Matrix to uncover root causes and map strategic responses. Along the way, you’ll learn how to integrate AI tools to accelerate your thinking, not replace it, while reflecting on the risks, limitations, and best practices of AI-assisted leadership work.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
· Diagnose complex workplace challenges using structured analysis
· Generate, evaluate, and justify strategic solutions
· Use AI tools critically and ethically as a leadership support partner
In this module, you’ll step into your new leadership role at Solvex, a fictional company facing complexity, unclear expectations, and high strategic stakes. You’ll explore a workplace scenario that mirrors real leadership challenges and begin building a structured, AI-supported approach to problem solving. By the end, you’ll understand your role, your challenge, and how to set yourself up for success in the journey ahead.
Das ist alles enthalten
1 Video4 Lektüren1 Aufgabe1 Plug-in
Infos zu Modulinhalt anzeigen
1 Video•Insgesamt 2 Minuten
Course introduction •2 Minuten
4 Lektüren•Insgesamt 28 Minuten
Your learning journey •15 Minuten
A note on interactive resources•2 Minuten
Important note about course communication•1 Minute
Are you ready?•10 Minuten
1 Aufgabe•Insgesamt 10 Minuten
Practice quiz: understanding the challenge•10 Minuten
1 Plug-in•Insgesamt 40 Minuten
Solvex: your leadership challenge•40 Minuten
Module 2: Diagnosing the situation
Modul 2•3 Stunden abzuschließen
Moduldetails
Strong leadership begins with clarity, not just about what’s happening, but why. In this module, you’ll learn how to gather, interpret, and evaluate information in complex environments. You’ll explore how to surface useful insights from a range of sources, use systems thinking to understand deeper patterns, and apply structured tools like SWOT analysis to make sense of ambiguity. Along the way, you’ll learn how to use AI tools as strategic thinking partners without compromising data security or critical judgement.
Das ist alles enthalten
4 Videos5 Lektüren1 Aufgabe6 Plug-ins
Infos zu Modulinhalt anzeigen
4 Videos•Insgesamt 10 Minuten
Discover and diagnose: information-gathering and SWOT •2 Minuten
What systems thinking can teach us about information gathering•3 Minuten
AI as your thinking partner: how to lead the conversation•3 Minuten
What SWOT is and why it’s useful •2 Minuten
5 Lektüren•Insgesamt 35 Minuten
Understanding the landscape•5 Minuten
Start with discovery, not assumptions•5 Minuten
From prompting to planning: your discovery sprint at Solvex•10 Minuten
Using AI responsibly to enhance your SWOT•10 Minuten
Key insights and reflections •5 Minuten
1 Aufgabe•Insgesamt 15 Minuten
Module 2 quiz•15 Minuten
6 Plug-ins•Insgesamt 145 Minuten
Why classifying information matters•20 Minuten
Evaluating information and sources •25 Minuten
Planning under pressure: gathering the right information, fast•30 Minuten
Discovery plan at Solvex•15 Minuten
Complete a SWOT analysis for Solvex•35 Minuten
Sample SWOT analysis for Solvex•20 Minuten
Module 3: Analyse and prioritise
Modul 3•4 Stunden abzuschließen
Moduldetails
In complex organisations, problems often have hidden causes and even when those causes are clear, deciding what to tackle first isn’t always straightforward. This module helps you move from vague problem descriptions to structured thinking and decisive leadership. You’ll learn how to use root cause analysis tools like the 5 Whys and the Fishbone Diagram to diagnose what's really going on. Then, you'll explore how to prioritise effectively using the Importance-Urgency Matrix. Finally, you’ll see how AI tools can support your thinking, help surface blind spots, and enhance your productivity, if you guide them with clarity and purpose. This module is about sharpening your analysis, thinking strategically, and choosing what matters most.
Das ist alles enthalten
4 Videos4 Lektüren1 Aufgabe5 Plug-ins
Infos zu Modulinhalt anzeigen
4 Videos•Insgesamt 7 Minuten
Analyse and prioritise•2 Minuten
Understanding analysis and the 5 Whys•1 Minute
You can’t do everything: the cost of not prioritising•2 Minuten
Importance-Urgency Matrix•2 Minuten
4 Lektüren•Insgesamt 120 Minuten
Analyse the key issues •30 Minuten
Prioritising by consequences: what happens if we don’t fix this?•30 Minuten
AI for personal productivity and strategic prioritisation•30 Minuten
Key insights and reflections •30 Minuten
1 Aufgabe•Insgesamt 15 Minuten
Module 3 quiz •15 Minuten
5 Plug-ins•Insgesamt 105 Minuten
From buzzwords to better thinking: building the foundation for structured analysis
•20 Minuten
Explore the 5 Whys•20 Minuten
Digging deeper with the Fishbone Diagram•20 Minuten
Using AI to support analysis •25 Minuten
Evaluating and improving AI outputs •20 Minuten
Module 4: Problem-solving with AI
Modul 4•6 Stunden abzuschließen
Moduldetails
In this module, you will move from analysis to action. You’ve diagnosed the root causes of a business challenge, now it’s time to generate, evaluate, and justify solutions. You’ll learn how to use AI tools not just for ideation, but as strategic partners that sharpen your thinking and help you craft high-impact recommendations. Through real-world practice, reflection, and interactive activities, you’ll develop the confidence to not only propose solutions but to back them up with evidence, logic, and leadership clarity.
Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford is a vibrant and innovative business school, embedded within a 900-year-old world leading university. We create programmes and ideas that have global impact and reach. We educate leaders, change makers and innovators across every industry and sector. Our ground-breaking research and exceptional teaching transforms individuals, who transform businesses, which transforms the world. We create ïmpact from within.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Finanzielle Unterstützung verfügbar, weitere Informationen
¹ Einige Aufgaben in diesem Kurs werden mit AI bewertet. Für diese Aufgaben werden Ihre Daten in Übereinstimmung mit Datenschutzhinweis von Courseraverwendet.