4.5
stars
5,649 ratings

Diane Spiegel

215,547 already enrolled

Offered By

University of California, Irvine

About this Course

92,521 recent views

Problem-solving and effective decision-making are essential skills in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing workplace. Both require a systematic yet creative approach to address today’s business concerns. This course will teach an overarching process of how to identify problems to generate potential solutions and how to apply decision-making styles in order to implement and assess those solutions. Through this process, you will gain confidence in assessing problems accurately, selecting the appropriate decision-making approaches for the situation at hand, making team decisions, and measuring the success of the solution’s implementation. Using case studies and situations encountered by class members, you will explore proven, successful problem-solving and decision-making models and methods that can be readily transferred to workplace projects.
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:
Identify key terms, styles, and approaches to effective problem-solving and decision-making
Explain both the affordances and limitations associated with problem-solving and decision-making
Reflect on how mindset and personal bias influence your ability to solve problems and make decisions
Explain and discuss how organizational decisions or non-decisions impact personal development, team dynamics, and company-wide performance
Articulate how both good and bad team decisions can benefit your professional growth

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Beginner Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

What you will learn

Explain both the affordances and limitations associated with problem-solving and decision-making
Reflect on how mindset and personal bias influence your ability to solve problems and make decisions
Explain and discuss how organizational decisions or non-decisions impact personal development, team dynamics, and company-wide performance
Articulate how both good and bad team decisions can benefit your professional growth

Skills you will gain

Decision Theory
analysis
Decision-Making
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Beginner Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.55/5 (970 Ratings)

Diane Spiegel

Executive Coach

293,862 Learners

7 Courses

Offered by

University of California, Irvine

Since 1965, the University of California, Irvine has combined the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. UCI’s unyielding commitment to rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and leadership and character development makes the campus a driving force for innovation and discovery that serves our local, national and global communities in many ways.

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

Learn more about Coursera for Business

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating96%(14,556 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Identify the Problem

Problem-solving is an essential skill in today's fast-paced and ever-changing workplace. It requires a systematic approach that incorporates effective decision-making. Throughout this course, we will learn an overarching process of identifying problems to generate potential solutions, then apply decision-making styles in order to implement and assess those solutions. In this module, we will learn to identify problems by using a root cause approach as a foundational tool. Additionally, we will address problem parameters that often occur in business situations. Throughout this course, we will utilize a case scenario that will provide specific examples to illustrate the steps in the problem-solving and decision-making process.

2 hours to complete

1 video (Total 6 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Generate Solutions

2 hours to complete

1 video (Total 4 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Make the Decision

2 hours to complete

1 video (Total 4 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Implement and Assess the Solution

In the previous module, we learned how to make the decision given the best information at hand. Once the decision is made, it’s time to implement and assess the chosen solution. As we get ready to implement, we are well-served to review situational variables as elements in the environment may have shifted during the decision-making process. We will also need to define the solution’s performance metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in order to later measure or assess the solution’s impact on the organization. Anecdotal data is equally valuable as it can share the emotional impact on employees.

2 hours to complete

1 video (Total 3 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.5

925 reviews

5 stars
66.15%
4 stars
23.50%
3 stars
7.46%
2 stars
1.78%
1 star
1.07%

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. 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 subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Build employee skills, drive business results

Discover Coursera for Business

Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain