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George Siedel

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Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model

University of Michigan

About this Course

30,250 recent views

Successful decision making is based on three key pillars:  strategy, law and ethics.  After taking this course you will be able to use a practical framework based on these three elements to make successful business, personal and leadership decisions.  
This course opens with an example of a leadership decision:  President Barack Obama’s strategic decision to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.  The course then shows how the three elements can be used to prevent a tragedy when making a personal decision.  

The rest of the course focuses on making successful business decisions.  In essence, to achieve business and career success, you must create value (strategy) and manage risk (law) in a responsible manner (ethics). 

Because the Law Pillar plays a central role in the three pillar model, the course includes practical legal briefings (with many examples) on the key elements of business success.  Specifically, the course shows you how to: 

•	attract the best employees, 
•	develop successful products, 
•	create new business models, 
•	protect intellectual property, 
•	create contracts that achieve business goals, and 
•	use dispute resolution processes that improve business relationships. 

Using a global perspective, the course also provides an introduction to international business culture for learners from the United States, and an introduction to the U.S. business culture for learners from outside the U.S.

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.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Product Liability
Law
Intellectual Property
Business Law

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.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.82/5 (54 Ratings)

George Siedel

Williamson Family Professor of Business Administration and Thurnau Professor of Business Law

1,600,145 Learners

6 Courses

Offered by

University of Michigan

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(3,215 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome to Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model!

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 28 min), 6 readings

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Use the Three Pillar Model for Personal, Leadership and Business Decisions

In this module you will learn the basic structure of the Three Pillar model and the importance of thinking globally in today’s business world. You will also learn a practical decision making tool that you can begin to use immediately for personal and business decisions. Suggestion: The videos are viewed by learners from around the world. English is not the primary language for many of these learners. As a result, when shooting the videos I have attempted to speak in a slow and deliberate manner. If English is your native language, I recommend that you increase the speed to at least 1.25x.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 79 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

8 videos

Use the Three Pillars for Personal and Leadership Decisions7mUse the Three Pillars for Business Decisions8mRecognize the Gap Between the Strategy Pillar and the Law Pillar14mClose the Gap: Become a Legally Savvy Leader5mCourse Organization and a Practical Decision-Making Tool8mDevelop a Global Mindset13mUnderstand Litigation from a Global Perspective13mBeware of the Impact of “Discovery” on Your Daily Work8m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Use Employment Law to Attract and Retain the Best Business Talent

Your ability to attract and retain the best employees is essential to business success. This requires an understanding of employment law. The videos in this module cover two of the most important and controversial areas of employment law: the ability of a business to fire employees and sex discrimination. After watching the videos, you will be able to manage employment risks in these areas, while also attracting the best talent to your business.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 73 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

8 videos

Employee Legal Rights: The Big Picture5mUnderstand Wrongful Discharge Law: US vs Other Countries6mBeware of Exceptions to the Employment at Will Rule9mManage Your Wrongful Discharge Risks8mManage Your Defamation Risks11mUnderstand Anti-Discrimination Laws and Sexual Harassment10mManage Sex Discrimination Risks: A Case Study10mValue Creation: Attract and Retain the Best Talent11m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Meet Your Customers’ Needs: Transform Product Liability into Product Innovation

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 106 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Understand the Intentional Tort “Baggage” that Can Destroy a Business9mUnderstand Your Risks from Negligence and Strict Liability7mRecognize the Business Liability Risks That Arise From Actions of Employees8mManage Your Risks Caused by Employee Torts: A Cell Phone Example7mThe “Two Hats” You Wear When Dealing with Product Liability7mExercise Care When Giving Warranties5mOverride the Implied Warranties That Accompany Your Products11mUnderstand the Dramatic Impact of Strict Liability on Your Business10mBalance Risk and Benefits When You Design Products5mCreate a Corporate Veil to Manage Your Product Liability Risks12mUse a Product Safety Team to Minimize Your Product Liability8mUse Your Product Liability Process to Create Value Through New Product Development11m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week5

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Create Business Opportunities Through Government Regulation

Government regulation plays an important role in determining the success of businesses around the world. In this module you will learn how to manage government regulatory risk by shaping the law and through compliance. You will also learn how to create business opportunities by anticipating regulation (the Regulatory Frontier Strategy) and by developing business models based on gaps in regulation (the Regulatory Gap Strategy).

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 47 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Understand These Fundamentals of Government Regulation8mBeware of the Government’s Administrative Process6mUse These Strategies and Tactics to Influence Development of the Law13mFocus on Compliance and the Fifth “P” of Marketing to Manage Regulatory Risk4mValue Creation: Use the Regulatory Frontier Strategy and the Regulatory Gap Strategy to Develop New Products and New Business Models13m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week6

Week 6

4 hours to complete

Use Your Intellectual Property to Create Shareholder Value

Whether you are an entrepreneur starting your own business or a manager in a major international corporation, intellectual property is one of your key business assets. In this module, guest lecturer Susan Kornfield, a leading intellectual property lawyer, will explain how to create, protect and use your intellectual property in the US and internationally. The module is divided into the four key areas of intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents. Although these areas can be technical and complex, she brings them to life with many fascinating examples. Each of the four sections concludes with a summary of a lawyer’s perspective on intellectual property (which tends to focus on risk management) and a business perspective (which focuses on value creation).

4 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 188 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Understand the Value of Intellectual Property in Your Business6mUnderstand How Trademarks Affect Your Business Success15mBuild Your Brand with These Types of Marks15mAvoid These Trademark Problems17mDecide When to Use Copyright Protection14mUse Lessons from “The Social Network” and Other Examples15mKnow When Your “Fair Use” of Copyrighted Works is Allowed15mUse This Checklist of “Reasonable” Efforts to Protect Your Trade Secrets19mUnderstand How Trade Secret Rights Arise15mUse These Key Lessons to Create and Protect Your Trade Secrets13mUse the Power of Patents to Protect Your Discoveries and Inventions15mUnderstand the Seven Step Process Before Deciding to Obtain a Patent22m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week7

Week 7

2 hours to complete

Develop Contracts that Create Value for Both Sides

Successful contracts are the key to value creation for businesses. This module provides a contracting checklist of the key elements anyone in business should understand when negotiating contracts. These elements are necessary to minimize risk by creating a “perfect” contract. However, because a legally perfect contract can also be harmful to business success, the module also covers how to focus your contracts on business objectives and how to visualize contract terms to increase your understanding.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 73 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Introduction to the Contract Module1mUnderstand International, Business, and Personal Perspectives on Contracting5mKnow the Sources of Contract Law10mEnter into an Agreement13mInclude Consideration and Determine Legality8mAvoid Traps from Contract Writing Requirements16mFocus Your Contracts on Business Objectives for Value Creation17m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week8

Week 8

3 hours to complete

Use Dispute Resolution Processes for Value Creation

This module focuses on the processes that you will use to resolve disputes and build relationships that are key to business success. Short videos demonstrate arbitration and mediation processes. The module includes discussion of practical management tools you can use immediately to manage risks relating to business disputes: a corporate pledge, screens, contract clauses, and online resources. The module also shows you how to dispute resolution for value creation, including using the power of apology and a life goals analysis.

3 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 104 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

9 videos

Understand Why Dispute Resolution Is Important to Business Success3mPrevent Business Disputes11mUnderstand ADR Concepts8mUse These ADR Management Tools8mResolve Your Disputes Through Arbitration20mResolve Your Disputes Through Arbitration (Conclusion)9mResolve Your Disputes Through Mediation23mResolve Your Disputes Through Mediation (Conclusion)8mClosing Thoughts: Create Value and Build Relationships through the Power of Apology and a Life Goals Analysis11m

2 readings

After completing this module, you will be able to:10mSuggested Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Show What You Know30m

Week9

Week 9

1 hour to complete

Create and Lead an Ethical Business

This module focuses on the Ethics Pillar of decision making by addressing three questions that are important to your career success: (1) What decision-making process should you use when facing an ethical dilemma? (2) What guidelines should you consider when analyzing the dilemma? (3) How can your best serve as an ethical leader in you organization? In answering these questions, the module shows how you can use the Law Pillar and the Strategy Pillar to embed ethical standards into your business and create an ethical organization.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week10

Week 10

2 hours to complete

Final Examination

2 hours to complete

3 readings

Reviews

4.8

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TOP REVIEWS FROM MAKING SUCCESSFUL DECISIONS THROUGH THE STRATEGY, LAW & ETHICS MODEL

by KApr 21, 2020

It is so great to have participated in this course . Its opened my eyes to lots of business decisions.. I will recommend it to my friends.

by DAJul 24, 2020

amazing professor and so many real-life examples. one would love the course

by AJAug 3, 2016

Mind blowing. Though i was somewhat aware of these aspects of Strategy, Law & Ethics, but were pleasantly enlightened by the course material that had organised my thoughts more clearly. Thanks a ton.

by SAug 31, 2022

It is an excellent course with a lot of knowledge and experience .

I am happy that I took this course

View all reviews

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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. 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.

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Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model

Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model

About this Course

Skills you will gain