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.

Eric Zackrison
Joe Cooke
Marta Sotto-Mayor

Instructors: Eric Zackrison

Top Instructor

Access provided by Toshiba Software India

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

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English
Recently updated!

August 2025

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

 logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Advance your subject-matter expertise

  • Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
  • Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
  • Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
  • Earn a career certificate from Coursera Instructor Network

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: Budgeting
Category: Financial Forecasting
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Business Planning
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Financial Management
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Team Performance Management
Category: Management Accounting
Category: Resource Management
Category: Team Leadership
Category: Organizational Change
Category: Organizational Leadership

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: Corporate Sustainability
Category: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG)
Category: Sustainability Reporting
Category: Business Operations
Category: Governance
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Business Transformation
Category: Supplier Performance Management
Category: Business Reporting
Category: Risk Mitigation
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Supply Chain
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Business Management
Category: Environmental Management Systems

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Collection
Category: Market Research
Category: Marketing
Category: Trend Analysis
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Market Trend
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Business Research
Category: Analytical Skills
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
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: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Business
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Market Trend
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Sales Strategy
Category: Business 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: Business Modeling
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Communication
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Product Knowledge
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Innovation
Category: Strategic Communication
Category: Customer Analysis

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

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: Business Research
Category: Prioritization
Category: Resource Allocation
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: New Product Development
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Product Development
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Ideation
Category: Resource Management
Category: Entrepreneurship
Category: Business Solutions

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: Business Metrics
Category: Goal Setting
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Performance Reporting
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Performance Analysis
Category: Business Process Improvement
Category: Benchmarking

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: Research Methodologies
Category: Interviewing Skills
Category: Qualitative Research
Category: Data Collection
Category: Business Research
Category: Research Design
Category: Healthcare Ethics
Category: Focus Group
Category: Analysis
Category: Surveys
Category: Research

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Business Ethics
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Business Research
Category: Business Planning
Category: Proposal Writing
Category: Risk Management
Category: Analysis
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Business Writing

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

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

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,276 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses31,912 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses15,729 learners

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."
Coursera Plus

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy