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Grow to Greatness

Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I

Edward D. Hess

This course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and taught by top-ranked faculty, focuses on challenges faced by existing private businesses when they attempt to grow substantially.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

This module introduces the course.

The Truth About Growth

This module presents an overview of growth in business with common myths and truths. There is a required reading: Edward D. Hess, "Growth is the Dynamic Confluence of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Values." An option case study reading on Eyebobs Eyeware, Inc is also available. Please visit the Eyebobs website at https://www.eyebobs.com and think about whether Julie's vision and customer value proposition connects with you. What do you like about the site? What do you dislike? Why is her website so important to her business? What should Julie do to keep her website "fresh"?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Instructs on principles of business strategy, entrepreneurship, and values, all essential skills for the business leader

Covers common myths and truths about business growth

Utilizes case studies to provide practical examples of growth challenges and solutions

Provides a structured approach to creating and implementing a growth plan

Emphasizes the importance of innovation and strategic acquisitions as key drivers of growth

Taught by top-ranked faculty from a renowned business school, ensuring quality of instruction

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Reviews summary

Smart growth strategies for private business

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in smart growth strategies tailored for private businesses. Many found the use of real-world case studies and practical examples to be particularly useful and directly applicable to their own companies. The instructor's expertise is frequently highlighted as a significant strength, offering clear explanations of complex concepts. While the course structure is generally well-received, some learners note that certain topics could benefit from greater depth or elaboration for more experienced professionals. Overall, students feel it offers valuable insights and actionable frameworks for those looking to strategically scale their businesses.

Knowledgeable and engaging instructor.

"The professor is incredibly knowledgeable and explains complex ideas clearly and concisely."

"Instructor clearly knows the subject matter well and is passionate about it."

"Liked the lectures very much, the instructor was engaging and easy to follow."

"His experience shines through and makes the concepts come alive."

Valuable insights for business growth.

"Gave me practical tools and strategies to think about growing my business effectively."

"Highly relevant content for anyone leading or advising a private company focused on growth."

"Learned concrete frameworks like the 4 P's and the four ways to grow that I can use immediately."

"The course content is very pertinent to the challenges faced by established private businesses."

Real-world examples enhance learning.

"The case studies included are the best part of this course and very realistic and applicable."

"I really appreciated the case studies; they helped solidify the concepts discussed in the lectures."

"Working through the Barger & Sons case felt like tackling a real business problem, which was incredibly helpful."

"The inclusion of case studies makes the material much more relatable to actual business scenarios."

Readings and cases require focus.

"The required readings and case analyses took a fair amount of time each week to properly digest."

"Be prepared to dedicate significant time to the case studies, they are crucial but demanding."

"While manageable, the workload requires consistent effort to keep up."

"It's not a course you can rush through if you want to get the most out of the cases."

Good overview, may lack depth for experts.

"This course provides a good foundation in growth strategies, but some areas felt a bit introductory for me."

"For experienced professionals already dealing with growth, parts might be a bit too basic."

"I wish some of the growth strategies were explored in more detail rather than just introducing them."

"It's a great starting point, but you might need more advanced resources later."

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 Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I with these activities:

Revisit Growth Strategies

Show steps

Review key concepts and theories related to business growth, such as the 4 P's and the growth matrix.

Browse courses on Growth Strategies

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Review the course description and syllabus.
Identify the key growth concepts and theories covered in the course.
Summarize the main points of each concept or theory.

Read 'The Lean Startup'

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Gain insights from Eric Ries's bestseller on how to build and validate a successful business model.

View The Startup Way: How Modern Companies Use... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of 'The Lean Startup'.
Read the book at your own pace.
Take notes and highlight key passages.
Apply the lessons learned to your own business or growth strategy.

Discuss Growth Strategies with Peers

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Engage with peers to share insights, discuss challenges, and develop innovative growth strategies.

Browse courses on Growth Strategies

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Identify a group of peers who are also taking the course.
Schedule a time to meet regularly to discuss growth strategies.
Come prepared to each meeting with specific questions or topics to discuss.
Be open to sharing your own insights and experiences.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Explore Case Studies on Growth Challenges

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Analyze real-world case studies to understand the complexities and challenges involved in business growth.

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Identify a case study that is relevant to your own business or industry.
Read the case study and identify the key challenges faced by the company.
Analyze the strategies and solutions implemented by the company.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and solutions.

Develop a Growth Plan for a Business

Show steps

Apply the concepts learned in the course to create a comprehensive growth plan for a specific business.

Show steps

Identify a specific business to develop a growth plan for.
Analyze the business's current situation and identify areas for growth.
Develop a set of growth strategies and tactics.
Create a timeline and budget for implementing the growth plan.
Monitor the progress of the growth plan and make adjustments as needed.

Develop a Growth Strategy Presentation

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Showcase your understanding of growth strategies by creating a compelling presentation that outlines your plan for business growth.

Browse courses on Growth Strategies

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Choose a specific business to develop a growth strategy for.
Develop a set of growth strategies and tactics.
Create a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation that outlines your growth strategy.
Practice your presentation and get feedback from peers.
Deliver your presentation to your instructor or a group of peers.

Participate in a Business Plan Competition

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Test your growth strategies and business acumen by participating in a business plan competition.

Browse courses on Business Planning

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Identify a business plan competition that aligns with your interests.
Develop a business plan for the competition.
Submit your business plan to the competition.
Attend the competition and present your business plan.
Win the competition!

Implement a Growth Strategy for a Business

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Put your knowledge into practice by implementing a growth strategy for a real business.

Browse courses on Growth Strategies

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Identify a business that is willing to let you implement a growth strategy.
Develop a set of growth strategies and tactics.
Implement the growth strategies and tactics.
Monitor the progress of the growth strategies and make adjustments as needed.
Evaluate the success of the growth strategies.

Career center

Learners who complete Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Small Business Owner

Small Business Owners are responsible for all aspects of running their own businesses. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities involved in owning and operating a small business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Small Business Owner

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are responsible for starting and growing their own businesses. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities involved in growing a business, making it a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Strategy Consultant

Strategy Consultants help businesses develop and implement growth strategies. This course provides a strong foundation in strategy consulting, which is essential for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Consultant

Management Consultant

Management Consultants help businesses improve their performance. This course provides a strong foundation in business strategy and operations, which is essential for success in this role.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. This course provides a strong foundation in marketing principles and practices, which is essential for success in this role.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts are responsible for providing financial advice to businesses and individuals. This course provides a strong foundation in financial analysis, which is essential for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This course provides a strong foundation in product management, which is essential for success in this role.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business. This course provides a strong foundation in operations management, which is essential for success in this role.

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Consultant

Consultants work closely with clients to help them develop and implement growth strategies. This course helps build a foundation in strategy, entrepreneurship, and values, all of which are essential for success in consulting.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. This course provides a strong foundation in project management, which is essential for success in this role.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating sales teams. This course provides a strong foundation in sales management, which is essential for success in this role.

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Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists provide funding to early-stage businesses. This course provides a strong foundation in venture capital, which is essential for success in this role.

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Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help businesses raise capital and provide financial advice. This course provides a strong foundation in finance and accounting, which is essential for success in this role.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for identifying opportunities for growth within a company. Knowledge of 'smart growth' techniques like those taught in this course may be helpful for someone in this role.

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Accountant

Accountants prepare and maintain financial records. While this course does not provide a foundation in accounting, it may be helpful for accountants who are looking to grow their careers into management or consulting.

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Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I.

Scaling Up Excellence

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Provides practical advice on how to scale up a business while maintaining its culture and values. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs and business leaders who are looking to grow their businesses.

Scaling Up Excellence: Getting to More Without...

Hardcover

Scaling Up Excellence: Getting to More Without...

Kindle Edition

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

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Explains why large companies often fail to innovate and how they can overcome this challenge. It must-read for business leaders who want to understand the challenges of innovation.

Grow to Greatness

Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Smart growth strategies for private business

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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