This Specialization covers both the dynamics and the global aspects of strategic management. With cases drawn from leading companies like Disney, Microsoft and Zappos, 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.
Business Strategy Specialization
Steer Your Business to Success. Generate value and demonstrate global impact in four courses.
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About this Specialization
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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 Strategy
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.
Approx. 6 months to complete
Suggested 4 hours/week
English
Subtitles: English, Vietnamese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Korean, Arabic
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
Foundations of Business Strategy
4.8
stars
1,416 ratings
Develop your ability to think strategically, analyze the competitive environment, and recommend firm positioning and value creation. In this course, we will 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. We'll apply these tools in case studies of industry leaders Google, Redhook, Piaggio and Apple.
Advanced Business Strategy
4.7
stars
617 ratings
Advance your strategic analysis skills in this follow-up to Foundations of Business Strategy. In this course, you'll learn the tools to analyze strategy across time (competitive dynamics), industries ( corporate strategy), geographies (international strategy), and institutions (non-market strategy). We'll 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. We'll apply these tools in case studies of industry leaders Disney, Orascom Telecom Holding, Sony, and GE Healthcare India.
Business Growth Strategy
4.7
stars
394 ratings
Get the tools you need to analyze, evaluate and recommend specific actions organizations can take to grow their value and avoid common growth pitfalls. Learn to determine how best to build value, whether by scaling existing markets, entering established markets or creating new markets through innovation and acquisitions. Apply these concepts in case studies of industry leaders JetBlue, Starbucks, Intel Corporate Venturing and Tata Motors.
Strategic Planning and Execution
4.7
stars
297 ratings
Avoid the pitfalls of strategy planning and execution with the tools and skills from this course. 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
Michael Lenox
Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy OfficerDarden School of Business
Jared Harris
Samuel L. Slover Research Chair in Business AdministrationDarden School of Business
Scott Snell
E. Thayer Bigelow Research Professor in Business AdministrationDarden School of Business
About 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?
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?
Can I take the course for free?
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.
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.