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Foundations of Business Strategy

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Foundations of Business Strategy

Name: Foundations of Business Strategy
Rating: 4.783200236616386 (3381 reviews)

This course is part of Business Strategy Specialization

Instructors: Michael Lenox

188,319 already enrolled

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,381 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,381 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

How to use the SWOT, competitor, and environmental analysis tools
How to assess an industry's structure and how the competitive dynamics in an industry affect profitability
How to complete a capabilities analysis and how to use this analysis to guide decision making
How to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four generic competitive positions

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

5 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Business Strategy 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 4 modules in this course

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.

Module details

Welcome to the first module in the Foundations course. In this module, we'll discuss the meaning and importance of business strategy to an organization's competitive positioning. You'll learn about strategic analysis and the SWOT, competitor, and environmental analysis tools. Have fun building your strategy skillset!

What's included

11 videos5 readings1 assignment

11 videosTotal 48 minutes

An Introduction to Strategic Analysis5 minutes
Strategic Analysis5 minutes
The Strategist's Challenge7 minutes
Fundamental Principle of Business Strategy6 minutes
Competitive Markets7 minutes
A Little Calculus2 minutes
Two Perspectives on Economic Rents7 minutes
Module Lessons2 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: SWOT Analysis2 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Competitor Analysis3 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Environmental Analysis3 minutes

5 readingsTotal 50 minutes

Course Overview10 minutes
Course Requirements10 minutes
Get to Know Your Classmates10 minutes
Using the Discussion Forums10 minutes
Begin the Competitive Position Assignment10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Introduction to Strategic Analysis30 minutes

Hello and welcome back. In this module, we'll explore how to assess an industry's structure and how the competitive dynamics in an industry affect profitability. We'll go into depth with the five forces tool, a common and highly influential analytical framework. Happy analyzing!

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment

10 videosTotal 66 minutes

Analyzing Industry Structure5 minutes
Threat of Entry, Part 19 minutes
Threat of Entry, Part 25 minutes
Threat of Substitutes10 minutes
Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 17 minutes
Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 26 minutes
Bargaining Power of Suppliers6 minutes
Intensity of Rivalry9 minutes
Module Lessons3 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Five Forces Analysis5 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Analyzing Industry Structure30 minutes

Welcome! In this module, we'll examine the tangible and intangible assets that form an organization's strength. We'll show you in depth how to complete a capabilities analysis and how to use this analysis to guide decision making. Happy analyzing!

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment

8 videosTotal 43 minutes

Analyzing Firm Capabilities6 minutes
Value Chain6 minutes
Alignment6 minutes
Sustainability: Imitation8 minutes
Sustainability: Durability5 minutes
Building Capabilities8 minutes
Module Lessons1 minute
Strategist's Toolkit: Capabilities Analysis3 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Analyzing Firm Capabilities30 minutes

Welcome to the final module. In these lessons, we'll explore firms' competitive positioning relative to rivals and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four generic competitive positions firms occupy. We'll use an easy and intuitive tool--strategy maps--to visually communicate information about firm positioning, and discuss which position is best for a particular firm to see maximum value. Happy analyzing!

What's included

7 videos3 readings2 assignments1 peer review

7 videosTotal 40 minutes

Determining Competitive Positioning6 minutes
Generic Competitive Positions, Part 18 minutes
Generic Competitive Positions, Part 28 minutes
Mapping Competitive Positions6 minutes
Which Position Is Best?6 minutes
Module Lessons2 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Strategy Maps4 minutes

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Assignment Overview10 minutes
Assignment Rubric10 minutes
Sample Assignment Submission10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Peer Review Practice30 minutes
Determining Competitive Position30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Competitive Position Assignment120 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(595 ratings)

Michael Lenox

University of Virginia

24 Courses624,988 learners

Offered by

University of Virginia

Learner reviews

5 stars
82.74%
4 stars
14.56%
3 stars
1.62%
2 stars
0.41%
1 star
0.65%

Showing 3 of 3381

Reviewed on May 19, 2020

This course is a great starting point for someone who wants to learn about strategic analysis. The topics flow logically, and the instructors possess deep knowledge of this field.

Reviewed on Apr 28, 2020

One should do this course for becoming more proficient on strategic analysis. This course will provide you the fundamentals of how to formulate strategy to gain competitive advantage.

Reviewed on Jan 24, 2020

Excellent course that clearly synthesizes the various framework to analyze in-depth the industry and the firm's position within to present meaningful and powerful recommendations.

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