This course is part of the Business Strategy Specialization

4.6
stars
168 ratings

Michael Lenox +1 more instructor

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Business Strategy SpecializationUniversity of Virginia

About this Course

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A Capstone Project is an assignment designed specifically to apply and showcase the skills you learned in the Specialization. To this end, the Business Strategy Capstone Project, a comprehensive Strategic Analysis, provides an opportunity for you to synthesize concepts and knowledge from the four prerequisite courses in the specialization. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, you will be guided through your project by top-ranked faculty. You may continue with the organization you selected for previous assignments or select a new organization for this project. You will analyze the current state of the organization, strategic issues facing the organization, strategic paths the organization might pursue, make a recommendation of the best path for the organization to pursue, and write an Executive Summary. Your finished project will serve as an artifact showcasing your ability to conduct research on/within an organization, select and apply the most appropriate analytical tools, build a well-supported case for a specific position, and effectively communicate key points with executive leadership.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 5 of 5 in the

Business Strategy Specialization

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Employ your toolkit to develop your comprehensive Strategic Analysis
Build a well-supported case recommending a specific strategic path
Effectively and efficiently communicate key points with executive leadership
Identify strategic paths the organization might pursue

Skills you will gain

Strategic Analysis
Strategic Management
Business Strategy
Competitiveness

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 5 of 5 in the

Business Strategy Specialization

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.94/5 (19 Ratings)

Michael Lenox

Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer

Darden School of Business

388,080 Learners

21 Courses

Jared Harris

Samuel L. Slover Research Chair in Business Administration

Darden School of Business

178,880 Learners

10 Courses

Offered by

University of Virginia

A premier institution of higher education, The University of Virginia offers outstanding academics, world-class faculty, and an inspiring, supportive environment. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University is guided by his vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of students from all walks of life. Through these courses, global learners have an opportunity to study with renowned scholars and thought leaders.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome and Getting Started

Welcome to the Business Strategy in Practice project-centered course and congratulations on completing the four prerequisite courses! In this course, you will bring together all that you have learned and employ your toolkit to develop your comprehensive Strategic Analysis. To get started, watch our "Welcome to the Business Strategy in Practice" video lecture. Then, read our Course Overview so you get a sense of what's ahead, including four milestones to help keep you on track to complete your project within the eight weeks. We are excited to watch you put your learning into action! Good luck, work hard, encourage one another, and enjoy!

1 hour to complete

10 videos (Total 34 min), 1 reading

10 videos

Welcome to Business Strategy in Practice2mWIP Milestone 14mStrategist's Toolkit: SWOT Analysis2mStrategist's Toolkit: Competitor Analysis2mStrategist's Toolkit: Environmental Analysis3mStrategist's Toolkit: Five Forces Analysis4mStrategist's Toolkit: Competitive Life Cycle Analysis3mStrategist's Toolkit: Stakeholder Analysis4mStrategist's Toolkit: Capabilities Analysis2mStrategist's Toolkit: Strategy Maps4m

1 reading

Course Overview10m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

WIP Milestone 1

2 hours to complete

Week3

Week 3

14 minutes to complete

WIP Milestone 1 Peer Reviews, Start WIP Milestone 2

14 minutes to complete

1 video (Total 4 min)

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

WIP Milestone 2

2 hours to complete

Week5

Week 5

1 hour to complete

WIP Milestone 2 Peer Reviews, Start WIP Milestone 3

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 24 min)

Week6

Week 6

2 hours to complete

WIP Milestone 3

Welcome to Week 6. This week you should continue working on WIP Milestone 3 so that you are ready to submit your assignment by the end of the week. Looking ahead, Week 7 is a busy week: you will need to wrap up your peer reviews for WIP Milestone 3 and then prepare for the Final Milestone, putting the finishing touches on and then submitting your Strategic Analysis! So don't delay -- get going and work hard to meet your deadlines!

2 hours to complete

Week7

Week 7

3 hours to complete

From WIP Milestone 3 to the Final Milestone

Welcome to Week 7. This is a busy week: you will need to wrap up your peer reviews for WIP Milestone 3 and then prepare for the final milestone: submitting your finished project! To prepare for the final milestone, you will pull together the work you completed for previous milestones, write a cogent and concise executive summary, put the finishing touches on your project, and then submit it for one final round of peer review. We are excited to see your finished projects!

3 hours to complete

1 video (Total 2 min)

Week8

Week 8

10 minutes to complete

Finished Project Peer Reviews

Welcome to Week 8, our final week together. This is another "buffer" week allowing time to complete your peer reviews. While we only require three peer reviews, please consider completing an additional review or two to help your peers who might still be waiting for their final grade and Specialization Certificate. Additionally, we have a discussion opportunity for you to share final comments, reflections, and thoughts on your capstone experience.

10 minutes to complete

Reviews

4.6

52 reviews

5 stars
77.38%
4 stars
15.47%
3 stars
3.57%
2 stars
1.19%
1 star
2.38%

TOP REVIEWS FROM BUSINESS STRATEGY IN PRACTICE (PROJECT-CENTERED COURSE)

by DOOct 17, 2019

The hands on approach helped me to gain confidence in my ability to carry out a strategic analysis of an organization. The project forced me to thoroughly revise all the preceding 4 courses.

by AMFeb 23, 2018

An excellent specialization to learn about the strategies a firm uses. This specialization is a perfect leeway for someone who want to become a strategist.

by ANov 1, 2021

Everything was great except, the peer-graded assignments; get rid of them for a CPU-generated grade!

by JSNov 26, 2016

Unless you complete the Capstone project all the knowledge remains bookish and theoretical.

In order to learn application of knowledge or skill in action one must do the Capstone project.

View all reviews

About the Business Strategy Specialization

This Specialization covers both the dynamics and the global aspects of strategic management. You'll learn how to evaluate industry evolution, build and sustain competitive advantage, formulate and assess business strategies, and align efforts to organizational strategy. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply your skills by creating a comprehensive Strategic Analysis for an existing business or a venture of your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. 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.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, 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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Business Strategy in Practice (Project-centered Course)

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain