When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

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.

Leadership Problem-Solving with AI: Think Like a Leader

4 days left! Save on skills that make you shine with 40% off 3 months of Coursera Plus. Save now

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Leadership Problem-Solving with AI: Think Like a Leader

Instructor: Andrew Stephen

2,456 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

15 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

15 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Use frameworks like SWOT, 5 Whys, and the Fishbone Diagram to analyse and solve leadership challenges.
Apply AI tools critically and responsibly to support structured thinking, insight generation, and strategic communication.
Develop and justify strategic recommendations with clarity, confidence, and audience awareness.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 4 modules in this course

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

Module details

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.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment1 plugin

1 videoTotal 2 minutes

Course introduction 2 minutes

4 readingsTotal 28 minutes

Your learning journey 15 minutes
A note on interactive resources2 minutes
Important note about course communication1 minute
Are you ready?10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Practice quiz: understanding the challenge10 minutes

1 pluginTotal 40 minutes

Solvex: your leadership challenge40 minutes

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.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment6 plugins

4 videosTotal 10 minutes

Discover and diagnose: information-gathering and SWOT 2 minutes
What systems thinking can teach us about information gathering3 minutes
AI as your thinking partner: how to lead the conversation3 minutes
What SWOT is and why it’s useful 2 minutes

5 readingsTotal 35 minutes

Understanding the landscape5 minutes
Start with discovery, not assumptions5 minutes
From prompting to planning: your discovery sprint at Solvex10 minutes
Using AI responsibly to enhance your SWOT10 minutes
Key insights and reflections 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Module 2 quiz15 minutes

6 pluginsTotal 145 minutes

Why classifying information matters20 minutes
Evaluating information and sources 25 minutes
Planning under pressure: gathering the right information, fast30 minutes
Discovery plan at Solvex15 minutes
Complete a SWOT analysis for Solvex35 minutes
Sample SWOT analysis for Solvex20 minutes

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.

What's included

4 videos4 readings1 assignment5 plugins

4 videosTotal 7 minutes

Analyse and prioritise2 minutes
Understanding analysis and the 5 Whys1 minute
You can’t do everything: the cost of not prioritising2 minutes
Importance-Urgency Matrix2 minutes

4 readingsTotal 120 minutes

Analyse the key issues 30 minutes
Prioritising by consequences: what happens if we don’t fix this?30 minutes
AI for personal productivity and strategic prioritisation30 minutes
Key insights and reflections 30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Module 3 quiz 15 minutes

5 pluginsTotal 105 minutes

From buzzwords to better thinking: building the foundation for structured analysis 20 minutes
 Explore the 5 Whys20 minutes
Digging deeper with the Fishbone Diagram20 minutes
Using AI to support analysis 25 minutes
Evaluating and improving AI outputs 20 minutes

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.