Peter Drucker, a pioneer in the field of management, once said that people have a perverse tendency to behave like human beings. Of course, we are not machines, and certainly not programmable. But through the study of organizational behavior, we can gain insights into what makes people tick within a work context. Increasing your understanding of your own behavior and that of your colleagues, teams and leaders, is an important first step to bringing positive change to how you and your organization work.
Organizational Behavior: How to Manage People
Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.
Organizational Behavior: How to Manage People
This course is part of Foundations of Management Specialization
Instructor: Anneloes Raes
65,460 already enrolled
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7
(1,262 reviews)
14 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Assessments
4 assignments
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
This course is part of the Foundations of Management Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- 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
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
Welcome! Before you start today's videos, please have a look at the syllabus. In this first session, I’ll introduce you to one of the central topics of organizational behavior: motivation. We’ll explore why people act as they do so that we can better understand their motivations on the job. These insights will help you understand how managers can influence the people on their teams toward a common goal in the context of organizations. Objectives: To gain insight into human motivation from the different perspectives offered by the diverse prevailing theories in this area.
What's included
13 videos6 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts
Type the word “leadership” into Amazon’s search engine and you’ll find 150,000 related books. This is indeed a popular topic! But what is leadership really? Are leaders born or made? What traits and skills makes some people able to influence people to direct their energy towards a common objective? We will discuss all of these questions and explore some of the theories behind the study of leadership. Objective: To understand what leadership is, what makes a good leader, and how managers may develop the relevant skills to evolve in their roles.
What's included
10 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Teamwork is more than a business school buzz word; it’s a key element on the job today. Teams can be working side-by-side or spread across the world. What are the dynamics at play on different teams? What happens when conflict arises? Can teams evolve and overcome conflict to yield productive outcomes? This week we’ll address all of these questions to help you understand the complexity and importance of teamwork. Objective: To offer you some key insights so that you can take a step back from your own team at work and look back in with a fresh perspective.
What's included
10 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Culture exists on many more levels than one would immediately assume. Each organization can have a unique work culture, and this, in turn, can be greatly influenced by the country in which it operates. This week we will look at how our culture influences how we think and act on the job. Objective: To understand the crucial role culture plays in understanding people’s attitudes and actions in a work environment.
What's included
13 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.7 (283 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Leadership and Management
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Coursera Instructor Network
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 1262
4.7
1,262 reviews
- 5 stars
76.16%
- 4 stars
20.03%
- 3 stars
2.53%
- 2 stars
0.79%
- 1 star
0.47%
New to Leadership and Management? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.