What will I actually learn in this problem-solving course?

You'll learn how to work through a workplace problem from initial diagnosis to implementation and assessment. It starts with identifying the real issue and its root cause, then builds into generating options, choosing a decision-making approach, and measuring results. You'll see that process applied in business case examples, including team decisions around a hybrid work environment.

Do I need a business background before starting this course?

A basic understanding of business operations and team collaboration is helpful. The course is beginner-level, but it assumes you'll recognize common workplace ideas like budgets, resources, timelines, and team decision-making. You don't need advanced management experience, though someone completely new to business settings may need a little more context as they go.

Is this course beginner-friendly for problem-solving and decision-making?

Yes, if you want a first clear framework for solving business problems and making decisions with others. It explains the process step by step and reinforces it with readings, examples, discussions, and quizzes rather than assuming formal management training. It fits business professionals, managers, and team leaders especially well, while more experienced strategists may find it introductory.

How long does it take to complete this course?

Plan on about 8 hours in total. That makes it realistic to finish over a weekend or a few shorter study sessions. The course includes readings, brief lessons, discussions, case examples, and quizzes.

Are there hands-on exercises, projects, or labs in this course?

There aren't labs or a capstone project, but there is guided practice throughout. You'll work through workplace case studies, discussion prompts, and quizzes that ask you to identify root causes, compare solution options, and think through team decisions. That makes the course feel applied without requiring a large open-ended assignment.

What skills, topics, or methods are covered in this course?

The course focuses on the full decision-making cycle: defining problems clearly, generating workable options, making decisions, and assessing whether a solution worked. Along the way, you'll use root cause analysis, reflect on mindset and bias, and learn how different decision styles affect teams and organizations. Overall, it stays centered on business situations where constraints, collaboration, and follow-through all matter.

What can I actually do after finishing this course?

After finishing, you should be able to approach common workplace issues with a clearer process instead of relying on instinct alone. You can define the problem, separate symptoms from causes, choose a fitting decision-making style, and set simple metrics to judge the result. For example, you could work through a team issue, compare a few options, and explain how you'd know whether the final choice is succeeding.

Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?

It's more focused on understanding a practical framework than on doing open-ended project work. Most of the learning comes through readings and lessons, with case examples, discussions, and quizzes to reinforce each step. That suits learners who want usable methods in a guided format.

Why would I choose this course over other problem-solving courses?

Choose this course if you want to learn problem-solving as a complete business process, not just a brainstorming technique. Instead of stopping at idea generation, it follows the full path from identifying the problem to assessing the outcome, using workplace cases and team-based decisions throughout. It's a strong fit if you want a short, beginner-level course that connects everyday decisions with team and organizational impact.

Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

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

Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

Name: Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Rating: 4.5894057188035315 (7589 reviews)

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Diane Spiegel

293,545 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

7,589 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

8 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

7,589 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

8 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Reflect on how mindset and personal bias influence your ability to solve problems and make decisions.
Explain how organizational decisions impact personal development, team dynamics, and company performance.
Analyze the affordances and limitations associated with problem-solving and decision-making.
Articulate how team decisions can benefit your professional growth and organizational strategy.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

91% of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is available as part of

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

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. You will also learn to utilize frameworks like Root Cause Analysis and Decision Matrix tools.

This course is for business professionals, managers, and team leaders seeking to enhance their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Identify key terms, styles, and approaches to effective problem-solving and decision-making. 2. Explain how organizational decisions impact personal development, team dynamics, and company performance. 3. Reflect on how mindset and personal bias influence your ability to solve problems and make decisions. 4. Articulate how team decisions can benefit your professional growth and organizational strategy. To be successful in this course, you should have a basic understanding of business operations and team collaboration.

Module details

Problem-solving is an essential skill in today's fast-paced workplace, requiring a systematic approach with effective decision-making. This course will guide you through identifying problems, generating solutions, and implementing them. In this foundational module, you'll learn to identify problems using a root cause approach and address common business problem parameters. We'll use a case scenario to illustrate each step. By the end, you'll be able to accurately define complex problems. Tip: Focus on understanding the core problem before jumping to solutions.

What's included

1 video8 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 6 minutes

Accurately Identify the Problem6 minutes

8 readingsTotal 60 minutes

Welcome to Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making5 minutes
Problem Solving in Today’s Workplace5 minutes
Introduction: Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Process10 minutes
The Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Process5 minutes
Course Example: Hybrid Work Environment5 minutes
Parameters10 minutes
Identify the Problem15 minutes
Review: Identify the Problem5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 1 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Benefits and Drawbacks of Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Process30 minutes

In the previous module, you learned to identify the root cause of a problem. Now, you'll discover how mindset and personal bias can limit creative problem-solving in the workplace. This module will explore various problem-solving styles and creativity enhancement approaches to help you generate unique solutions, even with constraints. By the end, you'll be able to apply creative techniques to complex challenges. Tip: Engage actively with the brainstorming exercises to maximize your learning!

What's included

1 video6 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 4 minutes

Generate Multiple Solutions with Various Team Perspectives4 minutes

6 readingsTotal 80 minutes

Introduction5 minutes
Mindset & Personal Bias10 minutes
Problem Solving Styles20 minutes
Generate Solutions30 minutes
Generate Solutions: Hybrid Work Environment Example10 minutes
Review: Generate Solutions5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 2 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Mindset & Personal Bias30 minutes

After generating creative solutions in the last module, it's time to make the best decision. In this module, you will explore various decision-making styles and learn how to choose the most effective approach for different problems, considering their unique affordances and limitations. We'll also share practical tips for making better decisions and highlight common pitfalls to avoid. By the end, you'll be able to confidently select optimal solutions. Tip: Reflect on past decisions to apply new strategies effectively.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 4 minutes

Make the Decision4 minutes

5 readingsTotal 55 minutes

Introduction5 minutes
Decisions Making Styles10 minutes
Choose a Solution20 minutes
Make the Decision: Hybrid Work Environment Example10 minutes
Review: Make the Decision10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

The Impact of Decisions30 minutes

Having made your decision in the previous module, it's now time to implement and assess your chosen solution. This module will guide you through reviewing situational variables that might impact implementation and defining clear performance metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure the solution's impact on your organization. You'll learn to track both quantitative and qualitative data to ensure success. By the end, you'll be able to effectively launch and evaluate solutions. Tip: Pay close attention to defining measurable outcomes for your projects.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 3 minutes

Measure Success Through Data3 minutes

5 readingsTotal 55 minutes

Introduction5 minutes
Implement the Solution30 minutes
Assess the Solution10 minutes
Review: Implement and Assess the Solution5 minutes
Final Message5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 4 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Implement & Assess the Solution30 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(1,555 ratings)

Diane Spiegel

University of California, Irvine

7 Courses417,387 learners

Offered by

University of California, Irvine

Learner reviews

5 stars
70.63%
4 stars
20.96%
3 stars
6.07%
2 stars
1.44%
1 star
0.88%

Showing 3 of 7589

Reviewed on Oct 8, 2020

An excellent course that come out with a lo of great info and useful for me as self improvement in improving my personnel development. Thank you to Mr Rob Stone for this great course.

Reviewed on Jul 22, 2024

This course provides a very effective method to approach problem solving and make the best possible decisions. I think it is very useful to grow as a better professional.

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2024

The course provided a roadmap that can be used to solve problems of varying levels of complexity. I will apply the framework my solving problems both personally and professionally.

View more reviews