Management Fundamentals

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/management-fundamentals-healthcare-administrators

Introduction

### Course Review: Management Fundamentals on Coursera In today's fast-paced business environment, the ability to effectively manage people is paramount to the success of any organization. Whether you are a seasoned manager looking to refine your skills or an aspiring leader eager to understand the dynamics of managing a team, the **Management Fundamentals** course offered on Coursera is a valuable foundation that provides practical and theoretical insights into the world of management. #### Course Overview Led by renowned management experts, Professors Mike Useem and Peter Cappelli from the prestigious Wharton School, this course delves into the intricacies of managing people — often considered the most unpredictable yet vital asset within any business. The course is structured into several modules, each tackling a core competency essential for modern management. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Motivation and Reward** The course begins with an exploration of motivation as a driving force behind employee performance. Participants will learn about incentive systems, behavior modification, and how to leverage psychological principles to enhance motivation. Additionally, this module emphasizes the significance of providing constructive feedback and crafting productive performance appraisals. By the end of this section, you will have actionable strategies to effectively motivate, hire, and evaluate your team. 2. **Task, Jobs, and Systems of Work** A foundational aspect of management is understanding the difference between tasks and jobs. This module provides historical context to job design and discusses the evolution influenced by engineering and psychology. The comparison between organizational approaches, such as those of GM and Toyota, illustrates how job design impacts employee performance and productivity. This knowledge equips you to optimize job structures within your organization, crafting roles that enhance output and satisfaction. 3. **Making Good and Timely Management Decisions** Decision-making is at the heart of management, and this module focuses on developing a mindset for effective choices. Through real-world case studies, learners will recognize the qualities that distinguish exceptional leaders in decision-making and the pitfalls that can lead to costly mistakes. By the conclusion, attendees will be empowered to apply these insights to make timely, informed decisions that elevate their team's performance. 4. **Designing and Changing the Organization’s Architecture** The course wraps up with an examination of organizational architecture and its influence on team dynamics and performance. Understanding the impact of inequity among employees is crucial, as it can hinder an organization's success. Real-world examples of leaders who successfully restructured their organizations provide a roadmap for anyone looking to implement significant changes within their own workplace. #### Why You Should Take This Course The **Management Fundamentals** course stands out not just for its comprehensive content but also for its practical applications. Learners will engage with thought-provoking materials that blend theoretical perspectives with real-world application, making the knowledge applicable in everyday management situations. Moreover, the course structure is flexible, accommodating various learning schedules and styles, which is ideal for busy professionals. The insights garnered from this course will not only enrich your understanding of management theories but will also empower you with practical skills. You'll walk away with a toolkit for motivating employees, designing efficient work systems, making astute decisions, and leading organizational change effectively. #### Final Recommendation In conclusion, I highly recommend the **Management Fundamentals** course on Coursera for anyone interested in enhancing their management skills. Whether you are new to management or looking to refine your abilities, this course offers an engaging, informative, and actionable learning experience. With the expertise of Professors Useem and Cappelli guiding your journey, you will be well-prepared to leverage your most valuable asset – your people – to drive your organization’s success. Don't miss the opportunity to invest in your professional growth; enroll today!

Syllabus

Motivation and Reward

In this module, you'll learn how motivation affects an individual's performance and how to use that motivation to drive performance. You'll explore how incentive systems are designed and how psychological concepts such as behavior modification, imitation, conformity, and compliance influence and shape these systems. You’ll also examine the current process of hiring employees using technology, tracking systems, and outsourcing. And you’ll learn how you can provide valuable feedback to your employees, and make performance appraisals productive. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to apply what you've learned to best motivate, hire, and evaluate your employees.

This module is designed to teach you the difference between a task and a job. You'll learn how jobs are historically designed, and you'll explore some of the drawbacks related to past work systems. You'll also learn how job design has been influenced by engineering and psychology. Finally, you'll look at real-world examples from the GM and Toyota to compare their respective approaches. By the end of this module, you'll understand how jobs and systems of work have evolved to improve employee performance and productivity.

In this module, you'll learn how to make good and timely management decisions. Through several real-world examples, you'll see how leaders create and build a decision-making mindset. You'll also learn how leaders can make costly decisions that affect their team or their entire company negatively. By the end of this module, you will be able to apply key concepts to make good and timely management decisions and build a higher performing team.

This module was created to describe the influence of an organizations architecture on management and its team's performance. You'll explore how inequity fosters disparity among employees and can inhibit a company's success. You'll also look at two real-world examples of leaders who tackled problems within their organizational structures to effect change. By the end of this module, you will be able to identify key steps in which you can lead change within your organization.