Behavioural Science at Work: Applying Behavioural Insights to Boost Business Performance

Drive workplace performance and innovation with the power of psychology

Why do people resist change, ignore policies, or struggle to collaborate—even with the best intentions?.

Behavioural science helps you unpack these everyday challenges, offering practical, evidence-based strategies to shift mindsets and shape workplace culture.

Join this online course from Durham University to explore the core frameworks of behavioural science and learn how to apply them to real-world organisational challenges.

Transform your workplace with behavioural science

From reducing bias in decision-making to increasing employee motivation, behavioural insights can help shape workplace culture and systems.

You’ll explore core principles like choice architecture, habit loops, and environmental triggers, all backed by psychological theory on this course.

Learn how small changes can create big impact

Next, you’ll learn how to create conditions for creativity and innovation by applying behavioural science to leadership, team culture, and processes.

With case studies and real-world examples to support your learning, you’ll grasp the different ways that subtle nudges can lead to significant improvements in performance.

Apply behavioural insights to real-world scenarios

Throughout the course, you’ll practise using behavioural science frameworks at work. Whether you’re leading change, shaping strategy, or designing workplace policies, you’ll leave with a toolkit to put human psychology into action.

This course is designed for business, government, or non-profit professionals looking to apply behavioural insights at work. No psychology background needed, but some professional experience is recommended to maximise your learning.

This course is designed for business, government, or non-profit professionals looking to apply behavioural insights at work. No psychology background needed, but some professional experience is recommended to maximise your learning.

• Identify and explain core behavioural science principles such as cognitive bias, choice architecture, and social norms, and explain how these influence decision-making and behaviour in the workplace.
• Develop skills to diagnose behavioural challenges in organisations and identify barriers to effective performance, collaboration, and innovation within teams or systems.
• Apply behavioural science frameworks (e.g. EAST, COM-B) to craft practical, evidence-based interventions that can improve outcomes in areas such as employee engagement, productivity, and communication.
• Evaluate the impact of behavioural interventions to assess the effectiveness of behavioural solutions using appropriate metrics and reflect on the ethical implications of nudging and behavioural design in organisational settings.