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Structured Approach to Problem Solving

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Structured Approach to Problem Solving

This course is part of multiple programs.

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.6

161 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.6

161 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Explain the lifecycle of DS project and role of structured thinking in DS project.

  • Define a problem statement using the SMART framework. Explain the activities, best practices, and pitfalls in the implementation phase.

  • Construct MECE issue tree to break-down business problems into parts. Create a problem statement worksheet to scope business problems.

  • Explain the role of human centered design during solutioning of business problems.

Details to know

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Assessments

12 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

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This course is available as part of
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  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

This course is an introductory course that equips you with the concepts and tools of problem thinking. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain the different stages of a data science project 2. Discuss some of the tools and techniques used in data science. 3. Apply structured thinking to solving problems and avoid the common traps while doing so 4. Apply human-centric design in problem-solving. This course also acts as the first stepping-stone for aspiring data scientists. This course is a part of the program titled Fractal Data Science Professional Certificate. This course is tailored for learners seeking to enhance their analytical and critical thinking abilities. Ideal for students, professionals, and anyone intrigued by systematic approaches, this course empowers you with the foundational skills needed to approach problems with clarity and confidence.

This module teaches you how to use structured thinking to solve problems at work and in everyday life. You will also learn about the different stages and roles in data science, as well as the tools used in data science.

What's included

15 videos7 readings5 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

15 videos•Total 70 minutes
  • What Is Data Science?•4 minutes
  • Course Introduction•4 minutes
  • A day in the life of a Data Scientist•2 minutes
  • Stages of a Data Science Project•7 minutes
  • Roles in a Data Science Project•5 minutes
  • Tools of the Trade•5 minutes
  • Applications of Data Science•4 minutes
  • Introduction to Structured Thinking•5 minutes
  • Frameworks of Structured Thinking•5 minutes
  • Structured Thinking and Problem Solving•4 minutes
  • Structured Thinking in Solving Business Problems•8 minutes
  • Framing the Problem Statement•5 minutes
  • The Common Pitfalls — The Loop Trap•4 minutes
  • The Common Pitfalls — The Complexity Trap•5 minutes
  • The Common Pitfalls — The Obvious Trap•3 minutes
7 readings•Total 110 minutes
  • The Future of Data Science•10 minutes
  • Course Syllabus•10 minutes
  • Skills and Competencies for the Future Workforce•30 minutes
  • The Global Problem Statement•30 minutes
  • Story of a Data Scientist•10 minutes
  • Solving Problems Like a Pro•10 minutes
  • Tell us what you think!•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 95 minutes
  • Introduction to Data Science•15 minutes
  • Structured Thinking & Efficient Project Management •30 minutes
  • Structured Approach - An Introduction•10 minutes
  • Problem Statements•10 minutes
  • End of Module Graded Quiz•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
  • Defining a Problem Statement•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
  • Collaboration & problem-solving. •10 minutes

This module teaches structured thinking for solving business problems and covers tools and frameworks used in the process. It also highlights common mistakes to avoid.

What's included

13 videos3 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

13 videos•Total 65 minutes
  • Defining a Problem Statement Worksheet (PSW)•8 minutes
  • How the PSW Helps in Defining a Problem Statement•7 minutes
  • Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive (MECE)•4 minutes
  • What is an Issue Tree?•7 minutes
  • Creating an Issue Tree•5 minutes
  • Documenting the Implementation Phase•7 minutes
  • The Adoption Plan•3 minutes
  • Metrics for Evaluation-1•7 minutes
  • Metrics for Evaluation-2•2 minutes
  • Creating User Research for Insights•4 minutes
  • Common Design Pitfalls•4 minutes
  • Common Strategic Pitfalls•3 minutes
  • Phases of Testing a DS Project•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 22 minutes
  • Best Practices and Pitfalls of a PSW•8 minutes
  • What is a Hypothesis Tree?•8 minutes
  • Other Frameworks for Problem-Solving•6 minutes
6 assignments•Total 85 minutes
  • Solving Problems•10 minutes
  • Frameworks of Problem Solving•10 minutes
  • Finalizing Solutions•10 minutes
  • Implementing a Solution - Getting ready•10 minutes
  • End of Module Graded Quiz•30 minutes
  • Creating a PSW•15 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 25 minutes
  • AI and Automation •10 minutes
  • User Centricity in Design and Strategy•15 minutes

Human-Centered Design is an approach that prioritizes the end-users' needs by understanding them and creating products that cater to their preferences and behaviors. The goal is to design products that are user-friendly, effective, and enjoyable to use. This module would help you understand why and how you should also keep your users/humans at the center of solving your business problems.

What's included

6 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

6 videos•Total 57 minutes
  • Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Empathy•8 minutes
  • What is HCD?•5 minutes
  • The Discovery Phase•5 minutes
  • The Solution Phase•8 minutes
  • Fireside Chat with Biju Dominic•26 minutes
  • Empathy in Design — Three Strategies to Build Empathy•4 minutes
3 readings•Total 38 minutes
  • Optional Reading - User Centered Design in a Product Development Lifecycle Process•15 minutes
  • Empathy Map — Why and How•8 minutes
  • Empathy Map, User Persona, and User Flow•15 minutes
1 assignment•Total 180 minutes
  • Keeping User at the Center•180 minutes
1 peer review•Total 90 minutes
  • Case Study: Traffic Signals — How to Design Better Traffic Signals for Colorblind Individuals (Especially Red and Green Colorblind Individuals)•90 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
  • Human-Centric Designs in Daily Life•10 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.6 (56 ratings)
Fractal Analytics
23 Courses•136,400 learners

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DD
·

Reviewed on Feb 24, 2024

Every aspiring data analyst should check out this course. Highly recommended. It gave answers to all my queries.

SS
·

Reviewed on Oct 31, 2024

Very detailed course and very relatable examples are used which makes it more interesting.

AG
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Reviewed on May 5, 2024

A decently informative course, though the guest videos were mostly pointless. The pace was good.

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

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¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.