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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

      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

    • G

      Georgia Institute of Technology

      Introduction to User Experience Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, Prototyping, User Centered Design, Usability, Requirements Analysis, UI/UX Research, Interaction Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Usability Testing, User Research

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8.9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Google IT Automation with Python

      Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Cloud Services, Debugging, Puppet (Configuration Management Tool), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Bash (Scripting Language), Configuration Management, Professional Networking, CI/CD, Cloud Computing, Technical Communication, Docker (Software), Unit Testing, Containerization, Web Services, Interviewing Skills, Python Programming, Programming Principles

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      48K reviews

      Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Digital Marketing

      Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Online Advertising, Marketing Analytics, Keyword Research, Email Marketing, Digital Media Strategy, Digital Advertising, Google Analytics, Analytics, Marketing Communications, Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Web Analytics, Marketing Strategies, Integrated Marketing Communications, Performance Analysis, Trend Analysis, Consumer Behaviour

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      23K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      IBM Data Management

      Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Data Governance, Data Security, Data Migration, Database Design, Data Literacy, Descriptive Statistics, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Mining, Cloud Storage, Data Visualization Software, Data Store, IBM DB2, Data Management, Relational Databases, MySQL, Excel Formulas

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      17K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Business Analytics

      Skills you'll gain: People Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Business Intelligence, Human Resource Strategy, Financial Data, Marketing Analytics, Analytics, Talent Management, Financial Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Peer Review, Business Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Customer Insights, Workforce Planning, Demand Planning, Customer Analysis

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      18K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate

      Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, User Story, Ideation, Usability, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, User Research, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Competitive Analysis, User Flows, Persona Development

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      16K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Y

      Yale University

      A Law Student's Toolkit

      Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Case Law, Civil Procedures, Policy Analysis, Learning Strategies, Economics

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.5K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Amsterdam

      Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences

      Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Scientific Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Research, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Correlation Analysis, Research Design, Research Reports, Science and Research, Interviewing Skills, Data Analysis, Probability, Data Collection, Statistical Inference, Social Sciences, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.7K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      J

      Johns Hopkins University

      Data Science: Foundations using R

      Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Plot (Graphics), Statistical Programming, Ggplot2, Big Data, Git (Version Control System), Data Integration, Knitr, Data Analysis, Data Sharing, Statistical Reporting

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      48K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Cape Town

      Research for Impact

      Skills you'll gain: Strategic Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Influencing, Research, Strategic Partnership, Program Evaluation, Community Development, Policy Analysis, Change Management, Systems Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Capacity Planning

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      175 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      IBM IT Scrum Master

      Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Agile Software Development, User Story, Sprint Retrospectives, Agile Methodology, DevOps, Software Design, Kanban Principles, Scrum (Software Development), Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Hardware, Agile Project Management, Sprint Planning, Cloud Computing, Backlogs, Cloud-Native Computing, Software Development Methodologies, Network Troubleshooting

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9.4K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    Operations Research learners also search

    Operations Management
    Operations Analytics
    Business
    Management
    Business Management
    Business Development
    Project Management
    Business Projects
    1…678…341

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

    • Generative AI for Digital Marketing: IBM
    • Introduction to User Experience Design : Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Google IT Automation with Python: Google
    • Digital Marketing: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • IBM Data Management: IBM
    • Business Analytics: University of Pennsylvania
    • Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate: Google
    • A Law Student's Toolkit: Yale University
    • Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences: University of Amsterdam
    • Data Science: Foundations using R: Johns Hopkins University

    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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