Steer Your Business to Success. Generate value and demonstrate global impact in four courses.

4.8

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2,176 ratings

Michael Lenox +2 more instructors
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Business Strategy SpecializationUniversity of Virginia

What you will learn

How to evaluate industry evolution

How to build and sustain competitive advantage

How to formulate and assess business strategies

How to align efforts to organizational strategy

Skills you will gain

Strategic AnalysisStrategic ManagementStrategic ThinkingBusiness StrategyCapabilities AnalysisCompetitive PositionIndustry Structurebusiness competitionMergers And Acquisitions (M&A)innovation strategygrowth strategyStrategy Implementation

About this Specialization

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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.

Applied Learning Project

You will bring together all that you have learned in the foundational courses and employ your toolkit to develop a comprehensive Strategic Analysis. You will analyze the current state of the organization of your choice, strategic issues facing that organization and strategic paths it might pursue. Then you will make a recommendation of the best path for the organization to pursue, and write an Executive Summary. Your finished project will showcase your ability to conduct research on/within an organization, select and apply the most appropriate analytical tools, build a well-supported case for a specific position, and effectively communicate key points with executive leadership.

Learner Career Outcomes

67%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

25%

Got a pay increase or promotion.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Some familiarity with business is helpful, but not required.

Approximately 6 months to complete

Suggested pace of 2 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish, Korean

Learner Career Outcomes

67%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

25%

Got a pay increase or promotion.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Some familiarity with business is helpful, but not required.

Approximately 6 months to complete

Suggested pace of 2 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish, Korean

How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.

There are 5 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

Foundations of Business Strategy

4.8

stars

2,441 ratings

•

536 reviews

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.

Course2

Course 2

Advanced Business Strategy

4.8

stars

944 ratings

•

173 reviews

Advance your strategic analysis skills in this follow-up to Foundations of Business Strategy. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, you'll learn the tools to analyze strategy across time (competitive dynamics), industries (corporate strategy), geographies (international strategy), and institutions (non-market strategy). Top-ranked faculty will introduce the tools you need to complete a comprehensive evaluation and understand the strategy dynamics of an industry: Competitive Lifecycle, Internationalization and Stakeholder Analyses, and Diversification Matrices.

Course3

Course 3

Business Growth Strategy

4.7

stars

555 ratings

•

110 reviews

Get the tools you need to analyze, evaluate and recommend specific actions organizations can take to grow their value and avoid common growth pitfalls. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and taught by top-ranked faculty, you will learn to determine how best to build value, whether by scaling existing markets, entering established markets or creating new markets through innovation and acquisitions.

Course4

Course 4

Strategic Planning and Execution

4.7

stars

472 ratings

•

105 reviews

Avoid the pitfalls of strategy planning and execution with the tools and skills from this course. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and taught by top-ranked faculty, you'll learn the pillars of strategy execution--analysis, formulation, and implementation--and how to use the 4A model to effectively approach strategy execution. Finally, a panel of leaders from entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and industry, share their expertise gleaned from years of successful strategy planning and execution.

Instructors

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
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.
Can I take the course for free?
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
Time to completion can vary based on your schedule, but most learners are able to complete the Specialization in about 6 months.
How often is each course in the Specialization offered?
Each course in the Specialization is offered on demand, with cohorts opening each month. If you don't complete a course on the first try, you can easily transfer to the next session, and your completed work and grades will carry over. The Capstone is offered a few times per year.
What background knowledge is necessary?
No background knowledge is required. This Specialization is designed for all professionals interested in enhancing their business strategy skills, including executives, entrepreneurs, management consultants, financial analysts, and nonprofit sector leaders and employees.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
We suggest you take the courses in the order presented to get maximum benefit from the materials.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
UVA's Darden School of Business does not currently offer university credit for completing this Specialization.
What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?
You will be able to conduct a strategic analysis, make recommendations for firm positioning and value creation, analyze a firm’s market position and capabilities alongside industry dynamics, and execute a strategic analysis.
If I finish the Specialization, will it help me gain admission to Darden's MBA programs?
Admission to Darden is highly competitive and based on a number of requirements, including undergraduate record and degree, GMAT scores, and work experience. Successful completion of the Specialization is in no way a guarantee of admission - but you should mention it in your application!
Are there any required readings?
Our video lectures are designed to be self-contained; therefore, we suggest but do not require readings. The suggested readings have been selected to enhance the course experience; however, not all of the intellectual property owners of these materials make them freely available on the internet. While we strive to find sources of additional materials which are freely available, sometimes the best additional materials we would like to alert students to (books, magazine articles, journal articles or newspaper articles) are only available from their respective copyright owners for compensation. Rather than not alert the students to these materials, we have decided to list them and let students make their own decision on whether they would like to invest the money to view these materials.
Can I download materials to share with my colleagues?
All course materials are for your personal use while participating in this course. You are not allowed to share or distribute them in any form; however, they are available for licensing. If you’re interested, please contact DardenOnline@darden.virginia.edu.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.