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Michael Useem and Peter Cappelli

People are the most valuable asset of any business, but they are also the most unpredictable, and the most difficult asset to manage. And although managing people well is critical to the health of any organization, most managers don't get the training they need to make good management decisions. Now, award-winning authors and renowned management Professors Mike Useem and Peter Cappelli of the Wharton School have designed this course to introduce you to the key elements of managing people. Based on their popular course at Wharton, this course will teach you how to motivate individual performance and design reward systems, how to design jobs and organize work for high performance, how to make good and timely management decisions, and how to design and change your organization’s architecture. By the end of this course, you'll have developed the skills you need to start motivating, organizing, and rewarding people in your organization so that you can thrive as a business and as a social organization.

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What's inside

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.
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Taught by Peter Cappelli and Michael Useem, esteemed authors and distinguished business school professors
Examines critical aspects of management, such as motivating individuals, structuring tasks, and making strategic decisions
Presents research-based concepts and frameworks to support management practices
Emphasizes the importance of designing and changing organizational architecture to enhance team performance
Offers a comprehensive understanding of management principles for various industries and organizational settings
Provides guidance on applying management techniques to real-world business scenarios

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Reviews summary

Core management principles from wharton

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to core management principles, particularly focusing on managing people and organizational structure. Many found the content to be highly valuable and practical, applicable to their work. The lectures are often described as clear and engaging, delivered by experienced Wharton professors. While some found the material foundational, suitable for beginners or those needing a refresher, others wished for more depth or advanced topics, particularly in areas like decision-making complexity or practical implementation challenges. The course is generally considered well-structured, but a few learners noted that some concepts felt slightly outdated or could benefit from more recent examples. Overall, it's seen as a strong starting point for understanding fundamental management concepts.
Good for beginners, covers core concepts.
"This course is a great starting point for someone new to management or looking for a solid overview of the basics."
"Provides a strong foundation in core management principles. It covers the fundamentals well."
"A good refresher course covering essential topics, but perhaps not enough for experienced managers seeking advanced strategies."
"Gained a solid foundation from completing this course."
Course flow is logical and easy to navigate.
"The course syllabus is well-organized, progressing logically from individual motivation to organizational structure."
"Appreciated how the modules built upon each other, making it easier to connect the concepts."
"The structure made it easy to follow the learning path and absorb the information effectively."
"Found the overall structure of the course very helpful for understanding the material."
Lectures are easy to follow and well-presented.
"The professors are experts in their fields and explain complex concepts very clearly. Their experience shines through."
"Found the lectures engaging and easy to understand. The delivery style kept me interested throughout the modules."
"Excellent instructors who made the potentially dry topics come alive with real-world examples."
"The instructors were knowledgeable and presented the material effectively."
Provides highly applicable insights for management.
"I found this course very practical and valuable. It gave me actionable insights that I could apply directly in my daily work as a manager."
"The strategies for motivating teams and structuring jobs are something I immediately started thinking about implementing."
"This was an excellent course packed with relevant and useful information for anyone in a leadership or management role."
"Learned practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
Some topics or examples could be more advanced/recent.
"While the content is good, some of the examples feel a bit dated. Could benefit from more modern case studies, especially concerning technology in HR."
"Wish some modules went into more detail. Felt like just scratching the surface on decision-making and organizational change."
"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex topics or optimization techniques."
"Some sections felt a bit too high-level; I was hoping for more practical 'how-to' guidance."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Management Fundamentals with these activities:
Review the basics of statistics and data analysis
Strengthens foundation in data analysis, which is essential for understanding and applying motivation theories.
Browse courses on Statistics
Show steps
  • Review the basic concepts of statistics and data analysis.
  • Practice using statistical techniques to analyze data.
Read a book that relates to the topic
Provides foundational knowledge on the theory of motivation and its implications in management practices.
View Drive on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Identify the different types of motivation and their impact on employee behavior.
  • Consider how the principles of motivation can be applied to your own work environment.
Watch a tutorial on how to design high-performing jobs
Expands knowledge on job design principles and their impact on employee performance, enhancing understanding of the module.
Browse courses on Job Design
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on how to design high-performing jobs.
  • Watch the tutorial and take notes on the key concepts.
  • Apply the concepts you learned to your own work.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Develop a plan for motivating your team
Applies course concepts to a real-world scenario, fostering critical thinking and practical skills in motivating employees.
Browse courses on Performance Management
Show steps
  • Identify the specific goals you want to achieve with your team.
  • Research different types of motivation and select the ones that are most appropriate for your team.
  • Develop a plan for implementing your motivation strategies.
  • Monitor the progress of your plan and make adjustments as needed.
Discuss with a peer the challenges of making good and timely management decisions
Fosters critical thinking and collaboration, allowing students to exchange perspectives and gain insights on decision-making strategies.
Browse courses on Decision Making
Show steps
  • Find a peer to discuss the challenges of making good and timely management decisions with.
  • Discuss the different challenges that you have faced.
  • Brainstorm strategies for overcoming these challenges.
Practice using different types of rewards to motivate employees
Provides hands-on experience in applying reward systems, solidifying understanding of their effects on employee behavior.
Browse courses on Performance Management
Show steps
  • Identify different types of rewards that can be used to motivate employees.
  • Practice using these rewards in a simulated environment.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of your rewards and make adjustments as needed.
Create a presentation on the different types of organizational structures
Enhances understanding of organizational structures and their impact on management and team performance.
Browse courses on Organizational Structure
Show steps
  • Research different types of organizational structures.
  • Create a presentation that explains the different types of organizational structures and their advantages and disadvantages.
  • Present your findings to your team or class.
Participate in a case competition on organizational management
Provides a challenging and immersive experience in applying course concepts to real-world organizational issues.
Browse courses on Organizational Management
Show steps
  • Find a case competition on organizational management.
  • Develop a solution to the case.
  • Present your solution to a panel of judges.

Career center

Learners who complete Management Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources (HR) Managers oversee all aspects of recruiting, hiring, training, and employee relations. If this is your career path, taking this course will be very advantageous. In this course, you will learn how to motivate individual performance and design reward systems. You will also learn how to hire employees using technology, tracking systems, and outsourcing. This course will prepare you to make good management decisions and lead your team to success. Additionally, this course can help you build a foundation for success as a Human Resources Manager.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
Compensation and Benefits Managers are responsible for developing and implementing compensation and benefits programs that attract and retain employees. They also stay up-to-date on legal requirements and best practices in the field. If this is your career path, Management Fundamentals can help you develop a strong foundation in the field. You will learn how to design and implement reward systems that motivate employees. You will also learn how to make good management decisions and lead your team to success.
Training and Development Manager
Training and Development Managers oversee all aspects of employee training and development.
Organization Development Manager
Organization Development Managers help organizations improve their performance and achieve their goals.
Human Resources Consultant
Human Resources Consultants provide guidance and support to organizations on all aspects of human resources management.
Chief People Officer
Chief People Officers (CPOs) are responsible for the overall people strategy of an organization.
Executive Recruiter
Executive Recruiters recruit and place executives in high-level positions.
Talent Acquisition Manager
Talent Acquisition Managers are responsible for attracting and hiring new employees.
Human Resources Generalist
Human Resources Generalists provide general support to human resources departments.
Industrial and Organizational Psychologist
Industrial and Organizational Psychologists apply psychological principles to improve workplace productivity and employee well-being.
Management Analyst
Management Analysts study and analyze organizations to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
Business Process Analyst
Business Process Analysts study and analyze business processes to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
Quality Control Analyst
Quality Control Analysts ensure that products and services meet quality standards.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and analytical techniques to solve business problems.
Systems Analyst
Systems Analysts design and implement computer systems and applications.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Management Fundamentals.
Provides a practical guide to leading change. It covers topics such as creating a sense of urgency, building a guiding coalition, and overcoming resistance.
Provides a set of principles that Dalio has used to build a successful business and life. It covers topics such as goal setting, decision-making, and relationships.
Provides a framework for understanding why successful companies often fail to innovate. It covers topics such as disruption, technology adoption, and organizational culture.
Provides a practical guide to building a successful startup using the lean methodology. It covers topics such as customer development, hypothesis testing, and iteration.
This ancient Chinese military treatise provides valuable insights into strategy, leadership, and decision-making. It can be applied to a variety of contexts, including business management.
Provides a set of principles for personal and professional success. It covers topics such as self-awareness, goal setting, and interpersonal relationships.
Provides a comprehensive overview of emotional intelligence and its importance in personal and professional life. It covers topics such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy.

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