Coursera Instructor Network
Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization
Coursera Instructor Network

Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization

Build Strategic Business and Research Skills. Master essential business strategy and research methods for data-driven decision making.

Joe Cooke
Marta Sotto-Mayor
João Freitas

Instructors: Joe Cooke

Access provided by Department of State OIG/INV

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Apply strategic frameworks to analyze markets, competition, and organizational dynamics for informed business planning

  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative research using Excel and R to gather actionable business insights

  • Create compelling value propositions, business cases, and KPI systems to drive strategic decision-making

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

August 2025

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Specialization - 12 course series

What you'll learn

  • Apply strategic thinking to define and achieve business objectives.

  • Recognize and apply organizational dynamics to enhance team performance and company culture.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Financial Statements
Category: Budgeting
Category: Business Acumen
Category: Resource Management
Category: Financial Management
Category: Team Performance Management
Category: Organizational Effectiveness
Category: Organizational Change
Category: Business Planning
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Team Leadership
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Strategic Decision-Making

What you'll learn

  • Understand the economic and reputational impacts of sustainability on business operations.

  • Explore global initiatives and standards promoting sustainable business practices.

  • Learn to implement and adhere to sustainability reporting frameworks like GRI and SASB.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Sustainable Business
Category: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG)
Category: Corporate Sustainability
Category: Supply Chain Planning
Category: Environmental Management Systems
Category: Risk Analysis
Category: Sustainability Standards
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Climate Change Mitigation
Category: Business Operations
Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Business Ethics
Category: Sustainability Reporting
Category: Corporate Strategy
Category: Sustainable Development

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Collection
Category: Market Research
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Market Trend
Category: Marketing
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Analytical Skills
Category: Trend Analysis
Category: Business Research
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Commercial Awareness

Commercial Awareness

Course 44 hours

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate business acumen components, focusing on decision-making, financial literacy, and market insights.

  • Synthesize market trends to understand competitive landscapes.

  • Formulate strategies to navigate business challenges.

  • Critique business strategies with an eye toward economic and industry trends.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Marketing
Category: Sales
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Sales Strategy
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Business Acumen
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Business
Category: Business Management
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Market Trend
Category: Leadership

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate the Components of Effective Value Propositions.

  • Synthesize Value Proposition Frameworks for Diverse Industries.

  • Design and Articulate Compelling Value Propositions.

  • Critique and Improve Existing Value Propositions.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Value Propositions
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Innovation
Category: Business Modeling
Category: Sales Presentation
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Customer Analysis
Category: Communication
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Strategic Communication
Category: Product Knowledge

What you'll learn

  • Identify the fundamentals of competitive analysis and benchmarking.

  • Interpret and apply market research insights to practical problem solving.

  • Communicate clearly comprehensive competitive analysis reports.

  • Evaluate and strategically apply competitive analysis.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Market Research
Category: Business Communication
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Report Writing
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Benchmarking
Category: Market Intelligence

What you'll learn

  • Analyze the importance and levels of business innovation.

  • Apply a model to generate opportunities for business improvements.

  • Implement prototypes strategically while managing resources and embracing failure.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Brainstorming
Category: Innovation
Category: Customer experience improvement
Category: Business Priorities
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Entrepreneurship
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: Design Thinking
Category: Business Process
Category: Business Research
Category: Ideation
Category: Business Modeling
Category: Product Development
Category: New Business Development
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Resource Management
Category: Prioritization
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: New Product Development
Category: Business Strategies

What you'll learn

  • Explain the importance of KPIs in achieving organizational goals.

  • Identify the right KPIs for different business units and objectives.

  • Implement KPIs within your business framework, employing best practices for data collection and analysis to drive improvement.

  • Assess the impact of KPI-driven strategies on business performance, using data to iterate and enhance business processes.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Smart Goals
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Business Process Improvement
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Performance Improvement
Category: Business Reporting
Category: Business Priorities
Category: Performance Analysis

What you'll learn

  • Examine qualitative research fundamentals by grasping the key principles, methodologies, and philosophical foundations of qualitative inquiry.

  • Design effective studies by framing research questions, choosing appropriate methods, and planning studies that yield rich and relevant data.

  • Apply data collection techniques by conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, and documenting observations confidently.

  • Analyze themes using coding techniques to identify patterns, refine insights, and create actionable, valid research findings.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Qualitative Research
Category: Data Collection
Category: Interviewing Skills
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Analysis
Category: Report Writing
Category: Surveys
Category: Focus Group
Category: Research
Category: Case Studies
Category: Research Design

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Business Ethics
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Business Research
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Proposal Writing
Category: Risk Management
Category: Business Writing
Category: Decision Making
Category: Return On Investment

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate the importance and impact of accurately identifying your target audience on business growth.

  • Synthesize information from diverse sources to create detailed audience profiles.

  • Implement effective strategies for engaging with and gathering feedback from your target audience.

  • Critique the ethical implications and privacy concerns associated with targeting specific audience groups in marketing campaigns.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Customer Insights
Category: Persona Development
Category: Target Audience
Category: Market Research
Category: Business Development
Category: Data Analysis
Category: User Feedback
Category: Ethical Standards And Conduct
Category: Customer experience improvement
Category: Data Ethics
Category: Customer Engagement
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Customer Analysis

What you'll learn

  • Design a basic quantitative study, including determining research questions, selecting appropriate methods, and implementing data collection.

  • Perform basic statistical analyses (mean, standard deviation, correlations) using Excel and R.

  • Interpret descriptive statistical results to support informed decision-making.

  • Apply ethical considerations and quality checks throughout study design, data collection, and analysis to ensure rigor and reliability.

Skills you'll gain

Category: R Programming
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Microsoft Excel
Category: Data Ethics
Category: Statistical Analysis
Category: Surveys
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Data Collection
Category: Research Design
Category: Research
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Descriptive Statistics
Category: Statistics
Category: Data Presentation
Category: Statistical Reporting

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,423 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses34,389 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses16,657 learners

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