Strategic Analysis with Financial Competitive Profile Matrix from Coursera

By the end of this guided project, you will be able to use the Financial Competitive Profile Matrix (FCPM) to analyze your industry and identify your competitive advantage with key financial indicators. FCPM is a strategic management tool that enables you to benchmark your company in relation to competition and then identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of all the competitors based on some Financial Critical Success Factors (FCSFs) analysis. The FCSFs are assigned weight based on their importance, ranked on their strengths and weaknesses, then the weight is multiplied by the rank to determine weighted score. The sum of the weighted score reveals the company that has competitive advantage or disadvantage in the industry.

To demonstrate the application of the FCPM, we will use spreadsheet to analyze a division of our energy services company together. Example on the case study would empower you to use the model to analyze your company or any other company of your choice. The project is for business leaders who want have a deep insight on their competitive environment. Also, for strategist and financial analysts who are interested in helping organization in making informed strategic decisions. At the end of the project, you will be able to use the FCPM to analyze your company, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors, and then use it to determine your strategic direction

What's inside

Syllabus

Project Overview

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines FCPM, which is standard in business management

Taught by Omodiaogbe Samuel, a recognized expert in management strategy

Develops strategic planning skills, which are core skills for business leaders

May require prior knowledge of business analysis and finance

Uses case studies to demonstrate application, which may be helpful for practical understanding

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Strategic Analysis with Financial Competitive Profile Matrix with these activities:

Read "Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors"

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Provide a theoretical foundation for the Financial Competitive Profile Matrix (FCPM) by exploring industry analysis and competitive positioning.

View Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and the first three chapters of the book.
Summarize the key concepts of industry analysis and competitive strategy.
Identify examples of how companies have used these concepts to gain competitive advantage.

Follow online tutorials on financial modeling and FCPM

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Supplement classroom learning by exploring online resources that further explain the concepts and practical applications of financial modeling and FCPM.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

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Search for and select reputable online tutorials on financial modeling.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises provided.
Apply the knowledge gained to the FCPM model.

Attend industry conferences and meetups related to competitive analysis

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Expand knowledge and connect with professionals in the field to gain insights into the latest trends and best practices in competitive analysis.

Browse courses on Competitive Analysis

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Identify industry conferences and meetups.
Attend the events and participate in discussions.
Network with professionals and exchange ideas.

Five other activities

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Engage in peer discussions on FCPM applications and industry trends

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Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing by engaging in discussions with peers, exchanging perspectives and deepening understanding of the course concepts.

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Join or create a study group or online discussion forum.
Participate in discussions, share insights, and ask questions.
Collaborate on projects or case studies.

Create a financial model using the FCPM

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Develop hands-on skills in applying the FCPM to analyze a real-world industry and identify competitive advantages.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

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Gather financial data for a specific industry and a set of competitors.
Identify the key Financial Critical Success Factors (FCSFs) for the industry.
Assign weights to the FCSFs based on their importance.
Rank the competitors based on their strengths and weaknesses on each FCSFs.
Calculate the weighted scores for each competitor and determine the competitive advantage.

Practice analyzing FCPMs of different industries

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Reinforce understanding of the FCPM by analyzing multiple industry scenarios and identifying common patterns and variations.

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Select different industries and gather their financial data and FCSFs.
Apply the FCPM to analyze each industry and identify the competitive advantages of the leading players.
Compare and contrast the FCPMs of different industries.

Develop a presentation on the competitive analysis of a specific industry

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Showcase understanding of the FCPM and competitive analysis by presenting a comprehensive analysis of a specific industry and its competitive landscape.

Browse courses on Competitive Analysis

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Select an industry and gather relevant data.
Apply the FCPM to analyze the industry and identify competitive advantages.
Develop a presentation that clearly communicates the findings.

Conduct a competitive analysis for a business or startup

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Apply knowledge and skills to a real-world project by conducting a comprehensive competitive analysis for a business or startup.

Browse courses on Competitive Analysis

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Define the project scope and objectives.
Gather data on the industry, competitors, and target market.
Apply the FCPM to analyze the competitive landscape.
Develop actionable recommendations based on the analysis.
Present the findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Career center

Learners who complete Strategic Analysis with Financial Competitive Profile Matrix will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Strategic Planning Manager

Strategic Planning Managers develop and implement long-term plans for organizations, ensuring that they are aligned with the organization's goals and objectives. This course would be highly beneficial for this role as it provides insights into the FCPM, which can help you analyze the competitive landscape and make informed strategic decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategic Planning Manager

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers provide financial advice to companies and governments, helping them raise capital and make strategic decisions. This course would be beneficial for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you analyze the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can also help you make more informed investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers manage investment portfolios for individuals and institutions, making decisions about which investments to buy and sell. This course would be beneficial for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you analyze the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed investment decisions and manage risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Corporate Finance Analyst

Corporate Finance Analysts analyze the financial performance of companies and make recommendations on how to improve it. This course would be beneficial for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed financial decisions and improve corporate performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Finance Analyst

Cost Accountant

Cost Accountants analyze and report on the costs of operations for organizations. This course would be helpful for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiency.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cost Accountant

Financial Risk Manager

Financial Risk Managers assess and manage financial risks for organizations. This course would be beneficial for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed risk management decisions and protect the organization from financial losses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Risk Manager

Private Equity Analyst

Private Equity Analysts evaluate and analyze potential investment opportunities for private equity firms. This course would be helpful for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed investment decisions and identify undervalued companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data and trends to help businesses make informed decisions about investments, budgeting, and other financial matters. This course can be particularly useful for Financial Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in financial analysis and strategic decision-making.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists provide funding and support to early-stage, high-growth companies. This course would be beneficial for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you analyze the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed investment decisions and identify promising investment opportunities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Budget Analyst

Budget Analysts develop and manage budgets for organizations, ensuring efficient use of financial resources. This course would be helpful for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed budgeting decisions and allocate resources effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Budget Analyst

Forensic Accountant

Forensic Accountants investigate financial fraud and other financial crimes. This course would be beneficial for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you identify potential financial irregularities and assist in investigations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Accountant

Management Analyst

Management Analysts use their well-developed analytical and critical thinking skills to analyze and interpret data, helping businesses run more efficiently. This course would be helpful for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, a valuable tool for understanding the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you make more informed strategic decisions and improve business operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Analyst

Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants prepare and file tax returns for individuals and businesses, ensuring compliance with tax laws. This course may be helpful for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you identify potential tax savings and optimize tax strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Accountant

Business Consultant

Business Consultants provide expert advice to businesses on a wide range of topics, including strategy, operations, and finance. This course may be helpful for Business Consultants as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. This can be valuable when advising clients on making strategic decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant

Auditor

Auditors examine and evaluate the financial records of organizations to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. This course may be helpful for this role as it provides knowledge of the FCPM, which can help you understand the financial performance of a company and its competitors. It can help you identify potential risks and improve the accuracy of financial reporting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor