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    • Decision Making

    Decision Making Courses Online

    Explore decision-making techniques for personal and professional growth. Learn to make informed and strategic decisions using data and analysis.

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    Explore the Decision Making Course Catalog

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      Università Bocconi

      Food & Beverage Management

      Skills you'll gain: Food and Beverage, Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Product Quality (QA/QC), Global Marketing, Market Dynamics, Business Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, Value Propositions, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Brand Management, Growth Strategies

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.9K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      Universidad Austral

      Estadística aplicada a los negocios

      Skills you'll gain: Regression Analysis, Statistical Inference, Descriptive Statistics, Risk Analysis, Business Risk Management, Business Analytics, Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Probability, Statistical Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Probability Distribution, Statistical Modeling

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      755 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • I

      IE Business School

      Marketing Mix Implementation

      Skills you'll gain: Product Lifecycle Management, Marketing Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Marketing, Brand Strategy, Marketing Budgets, Strategic Decision-Making, Brand Management, Customer experience strategy (CX), Price Negotiation, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Channel, Strategic Marketing, Product Strategy, Revenue Management, Merchandising, Conflict Management, Market Opportunities

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Pennsylvania

      The Business of Health Care

      Skills you'll gain: People Management, Financial Reporting, Health Disparities, Financial Statements, Health Care Administration, Health Systems, Income Statement, Employee Performance Management, Financial Analysis, Leadership and Management, Decision Making, Organizational Change, Organizational Structure, Lean Methodologies, Risk Analysis, Cash Flows, Health Care, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Operational Efficiency, Health Policy

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • E

      ESSEC Business School

      L'avenir de la décision : connaître et agir en complexité

      Skills you'll gain: Socioeconomics, Organizational Effectiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Organizational Change, Organizational Strategy, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Systems Thinking, Strategic Decision-Making, Education and Training, Global Marketing, Decision Making, Forecasting, Digital Transformation, Innovation, Technology Strategies

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      382 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      P

      Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

      English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level

      Skills you'll gain: Telephone Skills, Literacy, English Language, Greeting Customers, Vocabulary, Verbal Communication Skills, Business Correspondence, Business Communication, Grammar, Scheduling

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.7K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Operations Analytics

      Skills you'll gain: Business Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Analytics, Demand Planning, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Operational Analysis, Business Operations, Risk Analysis, Forecasting, Operations Management, Simulation and Simulation Software, Process Optimization, Decision Making, Decision Tree Learning, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Excel, Probability Distribution

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.1K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • W

      Wesleyan University

      Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact

      Skills you'll gain: Decision Making, Professional Development, Self-Awareness, Personal Development, Creative Thinking, Human Centered Design, Strategic Thinking, Psychology, Relationship Building, Social Sciences, Cultural Diversity, Dealing With Ambiguity, Adaptability, Communication

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      378 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      M

      Microsoft

      Microsoft Business Analyst

      Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Excel Formulas, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, User Story, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Data Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visio, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Quality Management, Pivot Tables And Charts, Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Scrum (Software Development), Business Analysis, Project Management

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      949 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      Università Bocconi

      International Leadership and Organizational Behavior

      Skills you'll gain: Conflict Management, Team Motivation, Intercultural Competence, Professional Networking, Organizational Leadership, Cultural Diversity, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Communication, Leadership, Relationship Building, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Decision Making

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.5K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of California, Irvine

      Human Resources Analytics

      Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Training and Development, Performance Metric, Compensation Management, Human Resources Management and Planning, Human Resources, Human Resource Strategy, Workforce Planning, Business Metrics, Business Analytics, Employee Engagement, Recruitment, Talent Acquisition, Employee Retention

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • M

      McMaster University

      Finance for Everyone: Decisions

      Skills you'll gain: Finance, Financial Market, Peer Review, Project Design, Business Mathematics, Market Dynamics, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Economics, Return On Investment, Cash Flows, Decision Making

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      865 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular decision making courses

    • Food & Beverage Management: Università Bocconi
    • Estadística aplicada a los negocios: Universidad Austral
    • Marketing Mix Implementation: IE Business School
    • The Business of Health Care: University of Pennsylvania
    • L'avenir de la décision : connaître et agir en complexité: ESSEC Business School
    • English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
    • Operations Analytics: University of Pennsylvania
    • Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact: Wesleyan University
    • Microsoft Business Analyst: Microsoft
    • International Leadership and Organizational Behavior: Università Bocconi

    Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

    Analytics (37)
    Presentation (33)
    Modeling (29)
    Business Analytics (27)
    Language (26)
    Microsoft Excel (26)
    Writing (26)
    Speech (18)
    Plan (17)
    Business Communication (16)
    Decision-making (16)
    Leadership (15)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Decision Making

    Decision-making skills are the ability to evaluate several courses of action and choose which to take. This is an important life skill as well as a business leadership skill, since effective problem-solving requires deciding on a solution. However, making smart business decisions isn’t just about being decisive in an abstract sense.

    Effective decision-making is a skill that requires a combination of critical thinking and data analysis. In a business context, a familiarity with tools of financial analysis is especially important for decision-making, although the financial bottom line isn’t always the only factor to be considered in a careful cost-benefit analysis. For example, a growing number of companies consider corporate social responsibility principles and a “triple bottom line” approach that also looks at social and environmental costs and benefits.

    Beyond cost-benefit analyses, there are approaches informed by psychology that are used to make decisions as well as describe decision-making in the real world. Decision theory uses tools similar to game theory to analyze how decisions are affected by uncertainty, different timing between decisions and impacts, social and competitive situations, and other factors. And behavioral economics helps to understand how cognitive bias can influence decision-making, as in the case of the sunk cost fallacy which results in economically irrational decisions based on previous investments.‎

    Decision-making skills are essential for leadership positions in every field, whether chief executive officers (CEOs) of corporations, executive directors of non-profit advocacy groups, or government roles such as mayors and governors. These leaders are responsible for setting organizational goals and policies and, ultimately, making decisions on how to achieve them.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top executives earn a median pay of $104,690 per year, including a median pay of $184,460 for CEOs. This high level of compensation is a testament to the importance of savvy decision-making skills, which are in high demand in organizations of all kinds.‎

    Absolutely. Coursera lets you learn about decision-making and related topics like problem-solving, psychology, and leadership from top-ranked schools like the University of California, Irvine, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania. And although you’ll be learning remotely, you’ll get the same course materials as on-campus students as well as opportunities to discuss these important topics in leadership with expert faculty as well as your fellow students.‎

    Everyone can benefit from learning about decision making, both in their personal and professional lives, so you may not need any previous experience or skills to study the concept. However, any type of work experience may help prepare you for your studies. Once you've worked in a field, you'll better understand why decision-making skills are important and how you can use them to advance your career or even get a new job in your field.‎

    A person who is a leader and good communicator is best suited to work in roles that involve strong decision-making skills. As a matter of fact, learning how to be a good decision maker can lead to supervisory and management positions in your field. You should also be an active listener and someone who can easily convey to other people what your thoughts and ideas are. People who are strong decision makers tend to be good analyzers, troubleshooters, problem solvers, and critical thinkers. This helps them gather the evidence they need to make a choice. Other skills needed for roles that require good decision-making skills are time management, logic, reasoning, and intuition. You'll also need to have good interpersonal skills, as well as be a good collaborator who doesn't shy away from teamwork.‎

    Decision-making studies or skills look good on any resume, so if you're looking for a new career or starting a career, learning about it may be right for you. It can also be helpful if you're looking to be promoted into a managerial position at work. Decision-making skills are very important for people in roles of leadership. If you currently work in a managerial position or any position in any field and find that you're having trouble making sound decisions at work, learning how to do so can improve your work performance. Learning it can also help you make better decisions in your personal life.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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