This course bridges the gap between daily operations and high-level strategy, teaching you how to manage resources effectively and advocate for new opportunities. You’ll gain a solid foundation in finance to interpret company health, manage budgets, and evaluate investment returns. Additionally, you’ll learn to build and present compelling business cases that align with organizational goals, assess risks, and secure stakeholder buy-in for your initiatives.
Drive Business Results
Drive Business Results
This course is part of New Manager’s Playbook Specialization
Instructor: Harvard Business Review
Access provided by SmartStream
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Understand and analyze financial statements to gauge financial health and monitor operational success
Weigh costs and benefits, track financial performance, and make the most of resources.
Analyze potential opportunities and risks to determine if the benefits of a new investment outweigh its costs.
Develop and present compelling business cases that explore alternatives and outline clear implementation plans for stakeholders.
Skills you'll gain
- Presentations
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Business Planning
- Investments
- Expense Management
- Business Development
- Financial Forecasting
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Business Metrics
- Business Acumen
- Financial Reporting
- Budgeting
- Financial Statements
- Balance Sheet
- Financial Analysis
- Return On Investment
- Proposal Development
- Cost Benefit Analysis
- Budget Management
- Risk Analysis
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Taught in English
Recently updated!
March 2026
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
This course is part of the New Manager’s Playbook Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 3 modules in this course
Let’s face it—money is the fuel that keeps your organization running. No matter your role, by understanding the fundamentals of finance, you ensure your team will make the most of its resources. Learn how to interpret financial statements, create a budget, and invest wisely to produce the desired returns.
What's included
13 videos34 readings1 assignment
You recognize a great opportunity to help your organization, but how do you communicate it? Learn how to create and present a compelling business case that aligns with your company’s strategic priorities.
What's included
11 videos47 readings1 assignment
What's included
2 assignments
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
Offered by
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Explore more from Business
Harvard Business Review
Duke University
¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.