Foundations of Business Strategy
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Foundations of Business Strategy
This course is part of Business Strategy Specialization
Instructors: Michael Lenox
190,410 already enrolled
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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
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
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- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
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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.
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 videos•Total 48 minutes
- An Introduction to Strategic Analysis•5 minutes
- Strategic Analysis•5 minutes
- The Strategist's Challenge•7 minutes
- Fundamental Principle of Business Strategy•6 minutes
- Competitive Markets•7 minutes
- A Little Calculus•2 minutes
- Two Perspectives on Economic Rents•7 minutes
- Module Lessons•2 minutes
- Strategist's Toolkit: SWOT Analysis•2 minutes
- Strategist's Toolkit: Competitor Analysis•3 minutes
- Strategist's Toolkit: Environmental Analysis•3 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
- Course Overview•10 minutes
- Course Requirements•10 minutes
- Get to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
- Using the Discussion Forums•10 minutes
- Begin the Competitive Position Assignment•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Introduction to Strategic Analysis•30 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 videos•Total 66 minutes
- Analyzing Industry Structure•5 minutes
- Threat of Entry, Part 1•9 minutes
- Threat of Entry, Part 2•5 minutes
- Threat of Substitutes•10 minutes
- Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 1•7 minutes
- Bargaining Power of Buyers, Part 2•6 minutes
- Bargaining Power of Suppliers•6 minutes
- Intensity of Rivalry•9 minutes
- Module Lessons•3 minutes
- Strategist's Toolkit: Five Forces Analysis•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Analyzing Industry Structure•30 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 videos•Total 43 minutes
- Analyzing Firm Capabilities•6 minutes
- Value Chain•6 minutes
- Alignment•6 minutes
- Sustainability: Imitation•8 minutes
- Sustainability: Durability•5 minutes
- Building Capabilities•8 minutes
- Module Lessons•1 minute
- Strategist's Toolkit: Capabilities Analysis•3 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Reminder: Competitive Position Assignment•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Analyzing Firm Capabilities•30 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 videos•Total 40 minutes
- Determining Competitive Positioning•6 minutes
- Generic Competitive Positions, Part 1•8 minutes
- Generic Competitive Positions, Part 2•8 minutes
- Mapping Competitive Positions•6 minutes
- Which Position Is Best?•6 minutes
- Module Lessons•2 minutes
- Strategist's Toolkit: Strategy Maps•4 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Assignment Overview•10 minutes
- Assignment Rubric•10 minutes
- Sample Assignment Submission•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Determining Competitive Position•30 minutes
- Peer Review Practice•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
- Competitive Position Assignment•120 minutes
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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 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.
Reviewed on May 21, 2016
Fascinating course so far, with useful concepts and great assignments designed to improve learning by applying frameworks and concepts to actual companies. Would highly recommend!
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