Foundations of Business Strategy

  • 4.8
Approx. 9 hours to complete

Course Summary

This course provides an introduction to the foundational concepts of business strategy, including competitive advantage, value creation, and market positioning. Through a combination of case studies, lectures, and discussions, students will gain an understanding of how successful companies develop and implement effective business strategies.

Key Learning Points

  • Learn the key concepts and frameworks of business strategy
  • Understand how to analyze and evaluate market opportunities
  • Develop skills in strategic decision-making and implementation

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

    • USA: $70,000 - $100,000
    • India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹10,00,000
    • Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
    • USA: $70,000 - $100,000
    • India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹10,00,000
    • Spain: €30,000 - €50,000

    • USA: $80,000 - $120,000
    • India: ₹7,00,000 - ₹15,00,000
    • Spain: €40,000 - €60,000
    • USA: $70,000 - $100,000
    • India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹10,00,000
    • Spain: €30,000 - €50,000

    • USA: $80,000 - $120,000
    • India: ₹7,00,000 - ₹15,00,000
    • Spain: €40,000 - €60,000

    • USA: $150,000 - $500,000
    • India: ₹30,00,000 - ₹2,00,00,000
    • Spain: €80,000 - €200,000

Related Topics for further study


Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the key concepts and frameworks of business strategy
  • Analyze and evaluate market opportunities
  • Develop skills in strategic decision-making and implementation

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

  • Basic understanding of business concepts
  • Familiarity with Excel and basic financial analysis

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

  • Online
  • Self-paced
  • Lecture-based

Similar Courses

  • Business Strategy: Achieving Competitive Advantage
  • Strategic Management
  • Corporate Strategy

Related Education Paths


Notable People in This Field

  • Peter Thiel
  • Sheryl Sandberg
  • Elon Musk

Related Books

Description

Develop your ability to think strategically, analyze the competitive environment, and recommend firm positioning and value creation. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, top-ranked faculty will help you explore the underlying theory and frameworks that provide the foundations of a successful business strategy and provide the tools you need to understand that strategy: SWOT, Competitor, Environmental, Five Forces, and Capabilities Analyses, as well as Strategy Maps.

Knowledge

  • How to use the SWOT, competitor, and environmental analysis tools
  • How to assess an industry's structure and how the competitive dynamics in an industry affect profitability
  • How to complete a capabilities analysis and how to use this analysis to guide decision making
  • How to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four generic competitive positions

Outline

  • Introduction to Strategic Analysis
  • An Introduction to Strategic Analysis
  • Strategic Analysis
  • The Strategist's Challenge
  • Fundamental Principle of Business Strategy
  • Competitive Markets
  • A Little Calculus
  • Two Perspectives on Economic Rents
  • Module Lessons
  • Strategist's Toolkit: SWOT Analysis
  • Strategist's Toolkit: Competitor Analysis
  • Strategist's Toolkit: Environmental Analysis
  • Course Overview
  • Course Requirements
  • Get to Know Your Classmates
  • Using the Discussion Forums
  • Begin the Competitive Position Assignment
  • Introduction to Strategic Analysis
  • Analyzing Industry Structure
  • Analyzing Industry Structure
  • Threat of Entry, Part 1
  • Threat of Entry, Part 2
  • Threat of Substitutes
  • Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 1
  • Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 2
  • Bargaining Power of Suppliers
  • Intensity of Rivalry
  • Module Lessons
  • Strategist's Toolkit: Five Forces Analysis
  • Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment
  • Analyzing Industry Structure
  • Analyzing Firm Capabilities
  • Analyzing Firm Capabilities
  • Value Chain
  • Alignment
  • Sustainability: Imitation
  • Sustainability: Durability
  • Building Capabilities
  • Module Lessons
  • Strategist's Toolkit: Capabilities Analysis
  • Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment
  • Analyzing Firm Capabilities
  • Determining Competitive Position
  • Determining Competitive Positioning
  • Generic Competitive Positions, Part 1
  • Generic Competitive Positions, Part 2
  • Mapping Competitive Positions
  • Which Position Is Best?
  • Module Lessons
  • Strategist's Toolkit: Strategy Maps
  • Assignment Overview
  • Assignment Rubric
  • Sample Assignment Submission
  • Determining Competitive Position
  • Peer Review Practice

Summary of User Reviews

A comprehensive course on business strategy offered by UVA Darden that has received positive reviews from its users. The course covers key concepts and tools that are essential for developing a successful business strategy.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course provides practical insights and real-world examples that help users understand how to apply the concepts and tools taught in the course to their own business situations.

Pros from User Reviews

  • The course covers a wide range of topics and provides a comprehensive understanding of business strategy.
  • The instructors are knowledgeable and engaging, making the course content easy to understand and apply.
  • The course provides practical examples and case studies that help users understand how to apply the concepts and tools taught in the course to their own business situations.
  • The course is well-structured and easy to follow, making it a great option for beginners.
  • The course provides a great foundation for those who want to pursue a career in business strategy or related fields.

Cons from User Reviews

  • Some users found the course content to be too basic and not challenging enough.
  • The course can be time-consuming, and some users found it difficult to keep up with the pace of the course.
  • Some users found the course to be too theoretical and not practical enough.
  • The course does not provide any certification or accreditation upon completion.
  • The course is relatively expensive compared to other online courses.
English
Available now
Approx. 9 hours to complete
Michael Lenox, Jared Harris
University of Virginia
Coursera

Instructor

Michael Lenox

  • 4.8 Raiting
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