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.
Offered By
Business Strategy SpecializationUniversity of VirginiaAbout this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
32%
started a new career after completing these courses
33%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 5 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Some familiarity with business is helpful, but not required.
Approx. 9 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Russian, English, Spanish
What you will learn
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
Skills you will gain
Capabilities AnalysisBusiness StrategyCompetitive PositionStrategic AnalysisIndustry Structure
Learner Career Outcomes
32%
started a new career after completing these courses
33%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 5 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Some familiarity with business is helpful, but not required.
Approx. 9 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Russian, English, Spanish
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.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
2 hours to complete
Introduction to Strategic Analysis
Welcome to the first module in the Foundations course. In this module, we'll discuss the meaning and importance of business strategy to an organization's competitive positioning. You'll learn about strategic analysis and the SWOT, competitor, and environmental analysis tools. Have fun building your strategy skillset!
2 hours to complete
11 videos (Total 48 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
11 videos
Strategic Analysis4m
The Strategist's Challenge6m
Fundamental Principle of Business Strategy6m
Competitive Markets6m
A Little Calculus2m
Two Perspectives on Economic Rents7m
Module Lessons1m
Strategist's Toolkit: SWOT Analysis2m
Strategist's Toolkit: Competitor Analysis2m
Strategist's Toolkit: Environmental Analysis3m
5 readings
Course Overview10m
Course Requirements10m
Get to Know Your Classmates10m
Using the Discussion Forums10m
Begin the Competitive Position Assignment10m
1 practice exercise
Introduction to Strategic Analysis30m
2 hours to complete
Analyzing Industry Structure
Hello and welcome back. In this module, we'll explore how to assess an industry's structure and how the competitive dynamics in an industry affect profitability. We'll go into depth with the five forces tool, a common and highly influential analytical framework. Happy analyzing!
2 hours to complete
10 videos (Total 66 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
10 videos
Threat of Entry, Part 19m
Threat of Entry, Part 24m
Threat of Substitutes10m
Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 17m
Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 26m
Bargaining Power of Suppliers5m
Intensity of Rivalry9m
Module Lessons3m
Strategist's Toolkit: Five Forces Analysis4m
1 reading
Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment10m
1 practice exercise
Analyzing Industry Structure30m
1 hour to complete
Analyzing Firm Capabilities
Welcome! In this module, we'll examine the tangible and intangible assets that form an organization's strength. We'll show you in depth how to complete a capabilities analysis and how to use this analysis to guide decision making. Happy analyzing!
1 hour to complete
8 videos (Total 43 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
8 videos
Value Chain5m
Alignment6m
Sustainability: Imitation7m
Sustainability: Durability4m
Building Capabilities8m
Module Lessons1m
Strategist's Toolkit: Capabilities Analysis2m
1 reading
Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment10m
1 practice exercise
Analyzing Firm Capabilities30m
4 hours to complete
Determining Competitive Position
Welcome to the final module. In these lessons, we'll explore firms' competitive positioning relative to rivals and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four generic competitive positions firms occupy. We'll use an easy and intuitive tool--strategy maps--to visually communicate information about firm positioning, and discuss which position is best for a particular firm to see maximum value. Happy analyzing!
4 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 40 min), 3 readings, 3 quizzes
7 videos
Generic Competitive Positions, Part 18m
Generic Competitive Positions, Part 27m
Mapping Competitive Positions6m
Which Position Is Best?5m
Module Lessons2m
Strategist's Toolkit: Strategy Maps4m
3 readings
Assignment Overview10m
Assignment Rubric10m
Sample Assignment Submission10m
2 practice exercises
Determining Competitive Position30m
Peer Review Practice30m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS STRATEGY
by VKJul 19, 2019
Great insight of the basic tools covering all important aspects, both professors have discussed fundamental needs of the topic around Business Strategy, keen to learn rest of the courses and excited.
by TMMay 1, 2018
This course is very helpful. It emanates from the strategist' mind. The way this course empowers a person is phenomenal. I personally learnt a lot with this course and hope to learn further as well.
by AJMay 16, 2020
Good! The professors in this courser explained it quite well.. It was very well paced not at all monotonous or boring. Even the peer review was done very fast without having to wait for long.
by SHApr 8, 2020
learned some great stuff on how to analyse a company's position. the report was difficult to do, since its been a while since I've had homework, but did help with the overall understanding.
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, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
