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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
      J

      Johns Hopkins University

      Cancer Biology

      Skills you'll gain: Oncology, Medical Imaging, Patient Education And Counseling, Molecular Biology, Clinical Trials, Preventative Care, Treatment Planning, Patient Evaluation, Primary Care, Pathology, Urology, Patient Treatment, Health Care, Internal Medicine, General Medical Tests and Procedures, Laboratory Testing, Precision Medicine, Anatomy, Biology, Medical Terminology

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      Arizona State University

      Teach English Now! Foundational Principles

      Skills you'll gain: Learning Strategies, Enthusiasm, Motivational Skills, Learning Styles, Language Learning, Education Software and Technology, Stress Management, Communication Strategies, Self-Awareness, Cultural Diversity, General Networking

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      16K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IESE Business School

      Foundations of Management

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Marketing Strategies, Income Statement, Strategic Marketing, Marketing, Accounting, Organizational Leadership, Brand Management, Brand Marketing, Financial Accounting, People Management, Operational Analysis, Team Management, Working Capital, Balance Sheet, Team Building, Financial Analysis, Business Analysis, Organizational Effectiveness

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.3K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      Data Science Methodology

      Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Peer Review, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Cleansing, Business Analysis, Data Mining, Predictive Modeling, Data Quality, Data Storytelling, Analytical Skills, User Feedback, Decision Tree Learning, Stakeholder Engagement

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      21K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California, Irvine

      Leverage Data Science for a More Agile Supply Chain

      Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Customer Demand Planning, Inventory Management System, Inventory Control, Supply Chain Management, Capacity Planning, Materials Management, Process Optimization, Forecasting, Operations Management, Resource Allocation, Service Level, Capacity Management, Performance Measurement, Microsoft Excel, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Methods, Cost Reduction, Simulation and Simulation Software

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      429 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • D

      Duke University

      Data Science Math Skills

      Skills you'll gain: Probability, Bayesian Statistics, General Mathematics, Calculus, Graphing, Statistics, Data Science, Data Analysis, Plot (Graphics), Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic, Derivatives

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      13K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      D

      Duke University

      Data Analysis with R

      Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Inference, Exploratory Data Analysis, Regression Analysis, Statistical Reporting, Probability Distribution, Statistical Methods, Data Analysis Software, R Programming, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Software, Statistical Modeling, Probability & Statistics, Probability, Statistics, Correlation Analysis, Data Literacy

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.5K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • D

      Duke University

      Medical Neuroscience

      Skills you'll gain: Neurology, Anatomy, Medical Science and Research, Psychology, Pathology, Molecular Biology, Biology, Pharmacology

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.9K reviews

      Advanced · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Virginia

      Design Thinking for Innovation

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Creative Problem-Solving, Ideation, Innovation, Creativity, Strategic Thinking, Market Opportunities, Human Centered Design, Storytelling, User Research, Business Modeling, Collaboration

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Virginia

      Agile Development

      Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Agile Product Development, Continuous Delivery, Agile Software Development, User Story, Agile Methodology, Product Testing, Agile Project Management, Team Performance Management, Team Management, Design Thinking, Team Building, Team Leadership, Product Improvement, DevOps, Customer Analysis, Analytics, Business Analytics, Sprint Retrospectives, Product Management

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.8K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Geneva

      Investment Management

      Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Wealth Management, Risk Management, Investment Management, Financial Market, Business Risk Management, Capital Markets, Risk Analysis, Asset Management, Performance Measurement, Investments, Market Dynamics, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Financial Planning, Equities, Finance, Performance Analysis, Financial Policy, FinTech, Business Ethics

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Toronto

      Introduction to Psychology

      Skills you'll gain: Psychology, Mental Health Diseases and Disorders, Human Learning, Human Development, Psychotherapy, Behavior Management, Social Sciences, Scientific Methods, Creativity, Experimentation, Cultural Diversity, Research, Ethical Standards And Conduct

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.3K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Operations Research learners also search

    Operations Management
    Operations Analytics
    Business
    Management
    Business Management
    Business Development
    Project Management
    Business Projects
    1…141516…341

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

    • Cancer Biology: Johns Hopkins University
    • Teach English Now! Foundational Principles: Arizona State University
    • Foundations of Management: IESE Business School
    • Data Science Methodology: IBM
    • Leverage Data Science for a More Agile Supply Chain: University of California, Irvine
    • Data Science Math Skills: Duke University
    • Data Analysis with R: Duke University
    • Medical Neuroscience: Duke University
    • Design Thinking for Innovation: University of Virginia
    • Agile Development: University of Virginia

    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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