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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: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Crash Course on Python

      Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking, Algorithms, Problem Management, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging, Development Environment

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      39K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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

      IBM

      Generative AI for Digital Marketing

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Digital Advertising, Email Marketing, OpenAI, Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, AI Personalization, Marketing Analytics, Advertising Campaigns, Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Content Creation, Keyword Research, Search Engine Optimization, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Copywriting, Image Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.7K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • J

      Johns Hopkins University

      Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

      Skills you'll gain: Clinical Trials, Clinical Research, Qualitative Research, Data Synthesis, Scientific Methods, Research Methodologies, Data Collection, Biostatistics, Analysis, Quantitative Research, Risk Analysis, Statistical Methods, Epidemiology, Statistical Analysis

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

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      I

      IBM

      IBM AI Product Manager

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, New Product Development, Product Management, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Development, Innovation, Product Roadmaps, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Product Planning, Commercialization, Product Strategy, Project Management Life Cycle, Data Ethics, OpenAI, Stakeholder Engagement, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Stakeholder Management

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      26K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Operations Management: Organization and Analysis

      Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Organizational Strategy, Manufacturing Operations, Operational Analysis, Business Operations, Supply Chain, Inventory Management System, Process Analysis, Decision Making, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Strategy, Process Design, Cost Benefit Analysis, Demand Planning, Capacity Management, Service Level

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.2K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      IBM DevOps and Software Engineering

      Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, Istio, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Continuous Integration, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Linux Commands, Agile Software Development, Unit Testing, Cloud Computing Architecture, Application Deployment, Test Driven Development (TDD), Gherkin (Scripting Language), Jenkins, Kubernetes, Bash (Scripting Language), DevOps, Git (Version Control System), Jupyter, Grafana

      Build toward a degree

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      60K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      American Psychological Association

      Statistics in Psychological Research

      Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Plot (Graphics), Graphing, Statistical Visualization, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Inference, Quantitative Research, Statistics, Sample Size Determination, Data Analysis, Scatter Plots, Psychology, Research Design, Experimentation, Scientific Methods

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      47 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Q

      Queen Mary University of London

      Market Research

      Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Proposal Development, Market Research, Research Reports, Data Collection, Research Design, Research Methodologies, Data Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Survey Creation, Statistical Analysis, Surveys, Correlation Analysis, Quantitative Research, Research, Science and Research, Market Analysis, Focus Group, Regression Analysis, Content Performance Analysis

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      458 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Amsterdam

      Qualitative Research Methods

      Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Interviewing Skills, Social Sciences, Research, Research Methodologies, Scientific Methods, Data Collection, Research Design, Report Writing, Ethical Standards And Conduct

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.3K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      Università Bocconi

      Private Equity and Venture Capital

      Skills you'll gain: Private Equity, Business Valuation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Investments, Financial Management, Legal Risk, Tax Laws, Entrepreneurship, Due Diligence, Cash Flows

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8.8K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      N

      Novartis

      Clinical Trials: Good Clinical Practice

      Skills you'll gain: Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Healthcare Ethics, Patient Education And Counseling, Record Keeping, Medical Science and Research, Regulatory Compliance, Document Management, Medical Privacy, Patient Safety, Risk Management

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      506 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      Cisco Learning and Certifications

      Security Operations Center (SOC)

      Skills you'll gain: Threat Modeling, Threat Detection, Cyber Operations, Cybersecurity, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Incident Response, Security Management, Computer Security Incident Management, Cyber Attacks, Event Monitoring, Network Monitoring, Automation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      272 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Operations Research learners also search

    Operations Management
    Operations Analytics
    Business
    Management
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    Business Development
    Project Management
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    1…567…340

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

    • Crash Course on Python: Google
    • Generative AI for Digital Marketing: IBM
    • Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Johns Hopkins University
    • IBM AI Product Manager: IBM
    • Operations Management: Organization and Analysis: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • IBM DevOps and Software Engineering: IBM
    • Statistics in Psychological Research: American Psychological Association
    • Market Research: Queen Mary University of London
    • Qualitative Research Methods: University of Amsterdam
    • Private Equity and Venture Capital: Università Bocconi

    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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