• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Decision Making

    Decision Making Courses Online

    Explore decision-making techniques for personal and professional growth. Learn to make informed and strategic decisions using data and analysis.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.
    Earn career credentials while taking courses that count towards your Master’s degree.
    Earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online for a fraction of the cost of in-person learning.
    Complete graduate-level learning without committing to a full degree program.
    Earn a university-issued career credential in a flexible, interactive format.
    Graduate level learning within reach.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Decision Making Course Catalog

    • U

      University of Colorado System

      Electric Utilities Fundamentals and Future

      Skills you'll gain: Electrical Power, Energy and Utilities, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Equipment, Customer experience strategy (CX), Regulatory Compliance, Capacity Management, Emerging Technologies, Technology Strategies, Environmental Issue

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      714 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      N

      Novartis

      Drug Hunting: The Science of Making New Medicines

      Skills you'll gain: Drug Interaction, Clinical Trials, Pharmacology, Pharmaceuticals, Patient Safety, Clinical Research, Competitive Intelligence, Pharmacotherapy, Laboratory Research, Laboratory Testing, Biochemistry, Medical Science and Research, Safety Assurance, Chemistry, Medication Administration, Risk Analysis, Biology, Verification And Validation, Regulatory Compliance, Molecular Biology

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      179 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Amsterdam

      Inferential Statistics

      Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Methods, Sampling (Statistics), Probability & Statistics, Regression Analysis, Statistical Inference, Statistical Analysis, Quantitative Research, Probability Distribution, R Programming

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      599 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      Universidad de Palermo

      Habilidades de Gestión del Talento

      Skills you'll gain: Negotiation, Game Theory, Social Skills, Decision Making, Conflict Management, Relationship Building, Strategic Decision-Making, Interpersonal Communications, Verbal Communication Skills, Leadership, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Team Leadership, Team Management, Organizational Leadership, Leadership Development, Leadership and Management, Business Leadership, Persuasive Communication, Behavioral Economics

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      693 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Manchester

      Managing Responsibly: Practicing Sustainability, Responsibility and Ethics

      Skills you'll gain: Corporate Sustainability, Business Ethics, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Intercultural Competence, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Team Management, Team Oriented, Decision Making, Cultural Diversity, Systems Thinking, Organizational Change, Governance, Stakeholder Management

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      664 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      Michigan State University

      Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter

      Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Unity Engine, Video Game Development, Peer Review, Cross Platform Development, Software Design, User Interface (UI), C# (Programming Language), UI Components, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Animations, Scripting, Creativity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      500 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Western Australia

      Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050

      Skills you'll gain: Land Management, Water Resources, Community Development, Environment and Resource Management, Natural Resource Management, Sustainability Reporting, Environmental Resource Management, Food and Beverage, Cleanliness, Environmental Science, Environment

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      724 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Machine Learning: Theory and Hands-on Practice with Python

      Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Supervised Learning, Deep Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Dimensionality Reduction, Applied Machine Learning, Decision Tree Learning, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Matplotlib, Random Forest Algorithm, Predictive Modeling, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Keras (Neural Network Library), Data Science, Artificial Neural Networks, Python Programming, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Machine Learning, Tensorflow, Mathematical Modeling

      Build toward a degree

      3.5
      Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      113 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • P

      Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

      Planificación y gestión estratégica para Pymes

      Skills you'll gain: Sales Management, Customer Relationship Management, Financial Analysis, Business Modeling, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Financial Statements, Strategic Decision-Making, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Competitive Analysis, Value Propositions

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      962 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      F

      Fundação Instituto de Administração

      Data & Finance for the future

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Financial Analysis, Business Analytics, Regression Analysis, Business Valuation, Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Inference, Financial Accounting, Cash Flows, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Competitive Analysis, International Finance, Business Economics, Economics, Market Dynamics, Business Planning

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      451 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Y

      Yonsei University

      Valuation and Financial Analysis For Startups

      Skills you'll gain: Capital Budgeting, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Valuation, Financial Analysis, Cash Flow Forecasting, Strategic Decision-Making, Cost Benefit Analysis, Financial Modeling, Income Statement, Return On Investment, Entrepreneurial Finance, Cash Flows, Balance Sheet, Microsoft Excel, Financial Management, Investment Management, Financial Forecasting, Forecasting, Finance

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      498 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      UBITS

      Introducción a la inteligencia emocional

      Skills you'll gain: Emotional Intelligence, Personal Development, Self-Awareness, Persistence, Self-Discipline, Social Skills, Self-Motivation, Adaptability, Resilience, Interpersonal Communications, Cultural Diversity, Communication, Decision Making

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      980 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Decision Making learners also search

    Social
    Psychology
    Sociology
    Social Sciences
    Social Psychology
    Learning
    Human Psychology
    Social Skills
    1…363738…196

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular decision making courses

    • Electric Utilities Fundamentals and Future: University of Colorado System
    • Drug Hunting: The Science of Making New Medicines: Novartis
    • Inferential Statistics: University of Amsterdam
    • Habilidades de Gestión del Talento: Universidad de Palermo
    • Managing Responsibly: Practicing Sustainability, Responsibility and Ethics: University of Manchester
    • Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter: Michigan State University
    • Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050: University of Western Australia
    • Machine Learning: Theory and Hands-on Practice with Python: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Planificación y gestión estratégica para Pymes: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
    • Data & Finance for the future: Fundação Instituto de Administração

    Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

    Analytics (37)
    Presentation (33)
    Modeling (29)
    Business Analytics (27)
    Language (26)
    Microsoft Excel (26)
    Writing (26)
    Speech (18)
    Plan (17)
    Business Communication (16)
    Decision-making (16)
    Leadership (15)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Decision Making

    Decision-making skills are the ability to evaluate several courses of action and choose which to take. This is an important life skill as well as a business leadership skill, since effective problem-solving requires deciding on a solution. However, making smart business decisions isn’t just about being decisive in an abstract sense.

    Effective decision-making is a skill that requires a combination of critical thinking and data analysis. In a business context, a familiarity with tools of financial analysis is especially important for decision-making, although the financial bottom line isn’t always the only factor to be considered in a careful cost-benefit analysis. For example, a growing number of companies consider corporate social responsibility principles and a “triple bottom line” approach that also looks at social and environmental costs and benefits.

    Beyond cost-benefit analyses, there are approaches informed by psychology that are used to make decisions as well as describe decision-making in the real world. Decision theory uses tools similar to game theory to analyze how decisions are affected by uncertainty, different timing between decisions and impacts, social and competitive situations, and other factors. And behavioral economics helps to understand how cognitive bias can influence decision-making, as in the case of the sunk cost fallacy which results in economically irrational decisions based on previous investments.‎

    Decision-making skills are essential for leadership positions in every field, whether chief executive officers (CEOs) of corporations, executive directors of non-profit advocacy groups, or government roles such as mayors and governors. These leaders are responsible for setting organizational goals and policies and, ultimately, making decisions on how to achieve them.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top executives earn a median pay of $104,690 per year, including a median pay of $184,460 for CEOs. This high level of compensation is a testament to the importance of savvy decision-making skills, which are in high demand in organizations of all kinds.‎

    Absolutely. Coursera lets you learn about decision-making and related topics like problem-solving, psychology, and leadership from top-ranked schools like the University of California, Irvine, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania. And although you’ll be learning remotely, you’ll get the same course materials as on-campus students as well as opportunities to discuss these important topics in leadership with expert faculty as well as your fellow students.‎

    Everyone can benefit from learning about decision making, both in their personal and professional lives, so you may not need any previous experience or skills to study the concept. However, any type of work experience may help prepare you for your studies. Once you've worked in a field, you'll better understand why decision-making skills are important and how you can use them to advance your career or even get a new job in your field.‎

    A person who is a leader and good communicator is best suited to work in roles that involve strong decision-making skills. As a matter of fact, learning how to be a good decision maker can lead to supervisory and management positions in your field. You should also be an active listener and someone who can easily convey to other people what your thoughts and ideas are. People who are strong decision makers tend to be good analyzers, troubleshooters, problem solvers, and critical thinkers. This helps them gather the evidence they need to make a choice. Other skills needed for roles that require good decision-making skills are time management, logic, reasoning, and intuition. You'll also need to have good interpersonal skills, as well as be a good collaborator who doesn't shy away from teamwork.‎

    Decision-making studies or skills look good on any resume, so if you're looking for a new career or starting a career, learning about it may be right for you. It can also be helpful if you're looking to be promoted into a managerial position at work. Decision-making skills are very important for people in roles of leadership. If you currently work in a managerial position or any position in any field and find that you're having trouble making sound decisions at work, learning how to do so can improve your work performance. Learning it can also help you make better decisions in your personal life.‎

    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.

    Other topics to explore

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Technical Skills

    • ChatGPT
    • Coding
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • DevOps
    • Ethical Hacking
    • Generative AI
    • Java Programming
    • Python
    • Web Development

    Analytical Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Big Data
    • Business Analysis
    • Data Analytics
    • Data Science
    • Financial Modeling
    • Machine Learning
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • SQL

    Business Skills

    • Accounting
    • Digital Marketing
    • E-commerce
    • Finance
    • Google
    • Graphic Design
    • IBM
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Social Media Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Essential IT Certifications
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How to Get a PMP Certification
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
    • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
    • Career Development Resources
    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Share your Coursera Learning Story

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok