University of Virginia
Business Strategy Specialization
University of Virginia

Business Strategy Specialization

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

Michael Lenox
Jared Harris
Scott Snell

Instructors: Michael Lenox

72,103 already enrolled

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.8

(2,758 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 month
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.8

(2,758 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 month
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll 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

Details to know

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Taught in English

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Specialization - 5 course series

Foundations of Business Strategy

Course 19 hours4.8 (3,061 ratings)

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

Category: Strategy Implementation
Category: Strategy Formulation
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Business hypothesis testing

Advanced Business Strategy

Course 210 hours4.8 (1,095 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • The dynamics of competition, the competitive life cycle, and strategies to survive and thrive through industry disruption

  • Internationalization strategies, how, where, and when to enter foreign markets, and foreign direct investment

  • How businesses compete across industries, the value of being in different markets, and the right degree of diversification

  • Stakeholder management and how engaging with non-capital stakeholders can create value

Skills you'll gain

Category: Strategic Analysis
Category: Capabilities Analysis
Category: Industry Structure
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Competitive Position

Business Growth Strategy

Course 310 hours4.7 (672 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • How to identify and evaluate opportunities to scale an organization

  • How to enter new markets and apply game theory to analyze, assess, and respond to competitors

  • How to assess the impact of a potential merger and acquisition and avoid common pitfalls of this type of growth

  • How to unlock the keys to innovation, from building an innovative capability to adding value from innovation to determining an innovation strategy

Skills you'll gain

Category: Strategic Analysis
Category: Strategic Management
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Competitiveness

Strategic Planning and Execution

Course 410 hours4.7 (750 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • How to connect strategic analysis to strategy execution using hypothesis testing to unearth key assumptions and assess their validity

  • Four different approaches to strategy formulation and how governance ties into effective strategy formulation

  • Use the 4A Model for effective strategy execution to ensure appropriate human and organizational resources are in place

  • Tips from industry experts for successful strategy development and execution

Skills you'll gain

Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: growth strategy
Category: innovation strategy
Category: Mergers And Acquisitions (M&A)
Category: Business Strategy

Business Strategy in Practice (Project-centered Course)

Course 511 hours4.7 (179 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • Employ your toolkit to develop your comprehensive Strategic Analysis

  • Build a well-supported case recommending a specific strategic path

  • Effectively and efficiently communicate key points with executive leadership

  • Identify strategic paths the organization might pursue

Skills you'll gain

Category: Strategic Management
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: business competition
Category: Business Strategy

Instructors

Michael Lenox
University of Virginia
24 Courses489,024 learners
Jared Harris
University of Virginia
10 Courses229,204 learners

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