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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

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Access provided by University of Peradeniya

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

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

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Collection
Category: Market Research
Category: Trend Analysis
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Business Research
Category: Analytical Skills
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Focus Group
Category: Marketing
Category: Market Trend
Category: Market Dynamics
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: Business Leadership
Category: Sales Strategy
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Business
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Market Trend
Category: Strategic Thinking

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: Product Knowledge
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Business Modeling
Category: Customer Analysis
Category: Communication
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Innovation
Category: Strategic Communication

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

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

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: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Performance Analysis
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Business Process Improvement
Category: Goal Setting
Category: Performance Reporting
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
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: Qualitative Research
Category: Interviewing Skills
Category: Data Collection
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Research Design
Category: Healthcare Ethics
Category: Research
Category: Surveys
Category: Analysis
Category: Business Research
Category: Focus Group

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

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

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: Market Research
Category: Customer experience improvement
Category: Customer Engagement
Category: Business Development
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Data Analysis
Category: User Feedback
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: New Business Development
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: Correlation Analysis
Category: Data Ethics
Category: R Programming
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Microsoft Excel
Category: Data Literacy
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Statistics
Category: Research Design
Category: Statistical Analysis
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Descriptive Statistics
Category: Data Collection
Category: Data Presentation
Category: Research
Category: Research Methodologies

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,270 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses31,781 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses15,693 learners

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