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    • Operations Research

    Operations Research Courses Online

    Study operations research for solving complex organizational problems. Learn about optimization, simulation, and decision analysis techniques.

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    Explore the Operations Research Course Catalog

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      IBM Systems Analyst

      Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Business Analysis, Systems Development Life Cycle, Business Process Modeling, Process Optimization, Requirements Management, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Systems Analysis, Risk Analysis, Requirements Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Information Technology, Dashboard, Business Systems Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Computer Hardware, Cloud Computing, Network Troubleshooting

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.4K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      Coursera Project Network

      Stock Valuation with Dividend Discount Model

      Skills you'll gain: Equities, Business Valuation, Market Data, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Financial Data

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      184 reviews

      Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • U

      Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

      Contabilidad para no contadores

      Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Accounting Records, Cash Flows, Financial Accounting, Accounting, Financial Reporting, Standard Accounting Practices, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Analysis

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9.5K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of California, Davis

      The Strategy of Content Marketing

      Skills you'll gain: Content Marketing, Content Performance Analysis, Content Strategy, Marketing Strategies, Content Creation, Strategic Marketing, Social Media Strategy, Marketing, Multimedia, Copywriting, Branding, Target Audience, Persona Development, Business Ethics

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.2K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      UI / UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Information Architecture, Wireframing, Persona (User Experience), Mockups, User Experience Design, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, UI/UX Strategy, User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Graphic and Visual Design, User Research, Web Language, HTML and CSS, User Flows, Design Elements And Principles, Human Computer Interaction, Typography

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      Università Bocconi

      Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies

      Skills you'll gain: Retail Store Operations, Brand Management, Digital Media Strategy, Global Marketing, Financial Reporting, Communication Strategies, Market Opportunities, Marketing Management, Business Modeling, Business Strategy, Customer experience strategy (CX), E-Commerce, Consumer Behaviour, Storytelling, Market Trend, Product Development

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.1K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      Intuit

      Bookkeeping Basics

      Skills you'll gain: Bookkeeping, QuickBooks (Accounting Software), Financial Statements, Ledgers (Accounting), Accounting, Accounting Records, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, General Ledger, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Cash Flows

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • W

      Wesleyan University

      Social Psychology

      Skills you'll gain: Social Sciences, Psychology, Persuasive Communication, Behavior Management, Conflict Management, Interpersonal Communications, Cultural Diversity, Research, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Experimentation

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

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      C

      Coursera Instructor Network

      GenAI for Legal Research

      Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Research, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Legal Risk, Litigation Support, Legal Writing, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Predictive Modeling, Ethical Standards And Conduct

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      D

      DeepLearning.AI

      Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders, Reinforcement Learning

      Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Machine Learning Methods, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Applied Machine Learning, Data Ethics, Machine Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Supervised Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Statistical Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Anomaly Detection, Dimensionality Reduction, Algorithms, Collaborative Software

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.7K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      Macquarie University

      Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I

      Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization, Consolidation, Business Reporting, Data Management, Data Cleansing, Automation

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      17K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IESE Business School

      Think like a CFO

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Corporate Finance, Income Statement, Accounting, Financial Market, Financial Accounting, Capital Budgeting, Operational Analysis, Accrual Accounting, Financial Modeling, Working Capital, Balance Sheet, Financial Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Reporting, Financial Management, Equities, Capital Markets

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.2K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Operations Research learners also search

    Operations Management
    Operations Analytics
    Business
    Management
    Business Management
    Business Development
    Project Management
    Business Projects
    1…131415…341

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular operations research courses

    • IBM Systems Analyst: IBM
    • Stock Valuation with Dividend Discount Model: Coursera Project Network
    • Contabilidad para no contadores : Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • The Strategy of Content Marketing: University of California, Davis
    • UI / UX Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies: Università Bocconi
    • Bookkeeping Basics: Intuit
    • Social Psychology: Wesleyan University
    • GenAI for Legal Research: Coursera Instructor Network
    • Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders, Reinforcement Learning: DeepLearning.AI

    Skills you can learn in Business Strategy

    Modeling (25)
    Market (economics) (21)
    Plan (19)
    Planning (16)
    Strategic Management (16)
    Business Model (13)
    Operations Management (13)
    Analytics (12)
    Evaluation (12)
    Project Management (11)
    Supply Chain (10)
    Decision-making (9)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Operations Research

    Operations research is the use of statistical analysis and mathematical optimization techniques to help organizations solve problems and improve decision-making. The ability to harness vast amounts of data on day-to-day operations has created opportunities to rigorously optimize processes for cost, quality control, inventory management, and other goals, making operations research an important part of many businesses.

    The tools of operations research are similar to those of other fields relying heavily on quantitative analysis and statistics. Operational data is input into programs such as Microsoft Excel and Solver, R, and Python, where mathematical optimization techniques such as linear programming (LP) are applied to find the best solution for business problems. Monte Carlo simulations and other probabilistic analyses may also be used to discover areas of sensitivity and risk.

    These data-driven insights are typically applied according to process management and process improvement frameworks such as Six Sigma and Lean, which strive to reduce variation and eliminate waste in operations.‎

    Operations research is a core competency of careers in operations management, supply chain management, and logistics. This skill is particularly highly valued by businesses in manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and other industries where companies must compete to deliver goods and services with complex supply chains in cost-sensitive markets.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, operations research analysts earned a median annual salary of $84,810 in 2019. These jobs are also expected to grow much faster than jobs in the rest of the economy, due to the explosive growth in the availability of operations data along with the increasing importance of adopting these data-driven approaches to remain competitive in many industries. Operations research analysts typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in technical and quantitative fields such as engineering, computer science, analytics, or mathematics, as few schools offer degrees in operations research specifically.‎

    Certainly. Coursera offers courses and Specializations on operations research and related topics such as supply chain and operations management, operational analytics, and statistical research. Offered by excellent schools such as the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Melbourne, and Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, these courses give you the opportunity to learn remotely on a flexible schedule and a lower tuition than on-campus students. Whether you’re a student or mid-career professional looking to add new skills to your repertoire, Coursera gives you the opportunity to optimize your operations research education to fit your specific needs.‎

    The skills and experience that you might need to already have before starting to learn operations research may include knowledge of mathematical and engineering methods, understanding of the fundamentals of business, and some background in linear programming, a math technique to solve systems of linear constraints. All of these can help you fully grasp the basics of operations research. Furthermore, having a background that includes computer algorithms and optimization techniques can help you to better analyze optimization problems in computer science, civil engineering, economics, and management. This multifaceted field is also linked with machine learning, as some operations researchers are sampling machine learning methods to test various metrics in a particular optimization process.‎

    The kind of people who are best suited for operations research work are often quantitative thinkers who are detailed and analytical. These people use mathematics formulas to help companies study labor needs, cost scenarios, product distribution, and other factors. In doing this work, they need to be curious, methodical, rational, and logical. Because operations researchers understand how algorithms, math, and statistics may impact workflows, budgets, employee staffing, and profitability, they also tend to be the kind of people who are investigative in nature, using their intellect and curiosity in the work.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Operations Research, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    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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