Introduction to Game Theory: Strategic Decision Making

How do individuals, businesses, and algorithms make decisions when their success depends on the choices of others? Game theory provides the mathematical framework to analyze these strategic interactions and predict outcomes in competitive situations. This text-based course guides you from the absolute basics of strategic interaction to analyzing complex, real-world scenarios. You will develop a structured way of thinking that improves your decision-making in business, economics, and daily life, while learning how these concepts shape modern technologies. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational concepts like players, strategies, payoffs, and information structures. - Identify and calculate Nash equilibria in both simultaneous and sequential games. - Analyze classic dilemmas, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma, and apply their lessons to real-world business competition. - Model multi-stage interactions using game trees and backward induction. - Explore modern applications of game theory in algorithmic decision-making and decentralized networks. - Practice strategic thinking through written scenarios and step-by-step analytical exercises. You will begin by learning key terminology, basic definitions, and the core principles of rational choice. From there, you will progress through classic game models, sequential decision-making, and contemporary applications in digital systems, all explained through clear, written text and practical scenarios. This course is designed for beginners, students, and professionals looking to sharpen their analytical skills, with no prior advanced mathematics or background required. Start building your strategic mindset and learn to anticipate the moves of others today.