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Strategic management

Be competitive

The ability to think strategically in today’s global, high-tech business environment is critical to ensuring your organisation survives – and grows – into the future. By breaking down business strategy and value creation to its essential elements, you’ll develop your strategic thinking skills. And through structured learning activities including video lectures, quizzes, discussion prompts and written assessments you’ll discover how to improve your organisation’s competitiveness. This course focuses on the key principles behind the latest thinking in value co-creation, strategy and marketing, and teaches you how to apply them. By learning how to continuously plan, monitor, analyse and assess all that is necessary for an organisation to meet its goals and objectives, you will be better prepared to take your organisation forward in a viable strategic direction.

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What's inside

Syllabus

The importance of value for competitive strategy

This week you will be introduced to the strategy framework that captures the components of competitive strategy. The components of competitive strategy are: strategy content, internal strategy context, and external strategy context. You will develop an understanding of how those components contribute to value creation and value capture. You will gain understanding of the key characteristics of competitive strategy, starting with two foundational topics: First, we will establish that organisations are all about value creation. You will understand what value means, and also how value creation has become a central topic in organisations. Second, you will learn about what strategy actually is and what the characteristics of competitive strategy are.

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what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for managers and executives in charge of developing and implementing business strategies

Develops strategic thinking skills

Taught by an Associate Professor of Strategic Management

Provides frameworks and tools to analyze and assess business environments

Focuses on practical application with case studies and quizzes

Requires prior knowledge of strategic management concepts

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Reviews summary

Solid introduction to strategic management

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation and an excellent introduction to strategic management principles. Students praise the clarity and practical relevance of the content, finding the included frameworks such as Porter's 5 Forces, PESTEL, Ansoff, and BCG particularly useful and applicable to their work. Many found the course well-structured and the instructor engaging, making complex concepts easy to understand. While the course is largely positive, a few reviewers felt it was a bit theoretical and could benefit from more practical examples or case studies, suggesting it might be better suited for beginners or those needing a refresher rather than experienced strategists. Overall, it's highly recommended for those seeking a clear and practical overview.

Good overview, might be basic for experienced.

"Solid introduction to strategic management... It's good for someone new to the topic..."

"...some parts felt a little basic if you already have some business background."

"...perhaps not advanced enough for experienced strategists."

"Didn't add significant value for me."

Instructor explains concepts well.

"...the instructor was engaging and the materials were well-structured."

"Instructor explains concepts well and is easy to understand."

Learn useful frameworks applicable to real work.

"...frameworks like Porter's 5 Forces and PESTEL were explained really well. I can definitely apply this to my work."

"The deep dive into value creation and competitive options was exactly what I needed."

"The included frameworks like Ansoff and BCG matrices were useful refreshers."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work"

Provides a solid base in strategic management.

"This course was excellent! The lectures were clear and concise..."

"Solid introduction to strategic management. It covers the core concepts well."

"Found this course incredibly valuable. It provides a strong foundation in understanding strategic positioning..."

"Excellent introduction to strategic management. Highly recommended."

Some found it theoretical, needing more cases.

"...sometimes the concepts felt a bit theoretical without enough practical examples or case studies."

"...didn't provide enough actionable insights. Frameworks were mentioned but not explored in sufficient detail for real-world application."

"Expected more practical tools."

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 management: Be competitive with these activities:

Read Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and frameworks in competitive strategy, which will be foundational to the course.

View HBR at 100: The Most Influential and Innovative... on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters to establish a strong foundation in the concepts of value creation and industry analysis.
Summarize and present the key points from Chapters 4-6, focusing on the forces that determine industry competition.

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

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Provides opportunities to apply the Porter's Five Forces framework to analyze industries and evaluate their competitive landscape.

Browse courses on Porter's Five Forces

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Identify an industry of interest.
Analyze each of the five forces in the industry using real-world data and examples.

Value Proposition Canvas

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Allows you to apply the concepts of customer segmentation, competitive positioning, and value creation to a real-world business scenario.

Browse courses on Value Proposition

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Identify the target customer segments for your chosen industry.
Analyze the value propositions of your competitors.
Develop a value proposition canvas that summarizes your target customers, their needs, and how your offering meets those needs.

Five other activities

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Case Study: Analyzing Netflix's Competitive Strategy

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Provides a practical example of how to analyze the competitive strategy of a real-world company, focusing on industry analysis, value creation, and strategic positioning.

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Read the case study on Netflix.
Identify the target customers, competitors, and industry forces that have shaped Netflix's strategy.
Analyze the value proposition and competitive positioning of Netflix.

Read The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen

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Provides insights into the challenges of innovation and how to avoid the 'innovator's dilemma', which is relevant for organizations seeking to maintain their competitive edge.

View The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books) on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters to develop an understanding of disruptive innovation and its impact on businesses.
Identify real-world examples of disruptive innovation in different industries.

Workshop: Value Co-Creation and Customer Engagement

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Provides hands-on experience in developing strategies for value co-creation and enhancing customer engagement, which are crucial for competitive success.

Browse courses on Value Co-Creation

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Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions.
Develop a plan for incorporating value co-creation and customer engagement into your strategic planning.

Contribute to Open Strategy Projects

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Provides exposure to how collaborative open-source communities approach strategic planning and execution, fostering innovation and sharing of best practices.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Identify open-source initiatives related to strategy, such as the Open Strategy Network.
Review their projects, discussions, and resources.
Contribute your own insights, perspectives, or tools to these projects, collaborating with others.

Mentorship Program: Strategic Planning for Startups

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Provides an opportunity to apply your understanding of strategy by guiding startups in developing their strategic plans, offering valuable insights and support.

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Volunteer as a mentor in a program that connects you with early-stage startups.
Work closely with your assigned startup team, providing guidance and support on their strategic planning process.

Career center

Learners who complete Strategic management: Be competitive will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Analista de negocios

Los Analistas de Negocios trabajan con las partes interesadas para comprender sus necesidades comerciales y traducirlas en requisitos técnicos. Los conocimientos adquiridos en este curso, como el análisis de la industria y el desarrollo de estrategias, pueden ayudar a los Analistas de Negocios a identificar oportunidades, desarrollar soluciones y crear estrategias efectivas para las organizaciones.

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Estratega de Marketing

Los Estrategas de Marketing desarrollan e implementan estrategias de marketing para promover los productos o servicios de una organización. Este curso brinda información valiosa sobre el análisis de clientes y competidores, la comprensión de la industria y el desarrollo de estrategias competitivas, lo que puede ayudar a los Estrategas de Marketing a crear campañas de marketing efectivas y mejorar los resultados comerciales.

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Consultor de gestión

Los Consultores de Gestión asesoran a las organizaciones sobre cómo mejorar sus operaciones y lograr sus objetivos comerciales. Este curso proporciona una base sólida en principios estratégicos, análisis de la industria y desarrollo de estrategias, lo que puede ayudar a los Consultores de Gestión a brindar información valiosa y soluciones prácticas a sus clientes.

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Gerente de Producto

Los Gerentes de Producto son responsables de la estrategia, el desarrollo y el lanzamiento de productos. Este curso ofrece conocimientos sobre análisis de clientes y competidores, desarrollo de estrategias competitivas y evaluación de opciones estratégicas, lo que puede ayudar a los Gerentes de Producto a crear productos exitosos que satisfagan las necesidades del mercado.

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Investigador de mercado

Los Investigadores de Mercado recopilan y analizan datos sobre el mercado para comprender las necesidades y preferencias de los clientes. Este curso brinda información valiosa sobre análisis de clientes, análisis de la industria y evaluación de opciones estratégicas, lo que puede ayudar a los Investigadores de Mercado a realizar investigaciones efectivas y proporcionar información valiosa a las organizaciones.

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Analista Financiero

Los Analistas Financieros evalúan la salud financiera de las empresas y hacen recomendaciones de inversión. Este curso proporciona una base en el análisis de la industria, la evaluación de opciones estratégicas y el desarrollo de estrategias competitivas, lo que puede ayudar a los Analistas Financieros a comprender el desempeño financiero de las empresas y tomar decisiones de inversión informadas.

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Emprendedor

Los Emprendedores inician y dirigen sus propios negocios. Este curso ofrece conocimientos sobre desarrollo de estrategias competitivas, análisis de la industria y evaluación de opciones estratégicas, lo que puede ayudar a los Emprendedores a desarrollar planes de negocios sólidos y tomar decisiones informadas para sus empresas.

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Gerente de Operaciones

Los Gerentes de Operaciones planifican y supervisan las operaciones diarias de una organización. Este curso brinda información valiosa sobre análisis de la industria, desarrollo de estrategias competitivas y evaluación de opciones estratégicas, lo que puede ayudar a los Gerentes de Operaciones a optimizar los procesos, mejorar la eficiencia y lograr los objetivos comerciales.

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Especialista en Desarrollo de Negocios

Los Especialistas en Desarrollo de Negocios identifican y desarrollan nuevas oportunidades comerciales para las organizaciones. Este curso ofrece conocimientos sobre análisis de clientes, análisis de la industria y desarrollo de estrategias competitivas, lo que puede ayudar a los Especialistas en Desarrollo de Negocios a explorar nuevos mercados, establecer relaciones y generar ingresos para sus organizaciones.

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Gerente de Proyecto

Los Gerentes de Proyecto planifican, ejecutan y cierran proyectos para lograr los objetivos comerciales. Este curso proporciona una base en el desarrollo de estrategias, el análisis de la industria y la evaluación de opciones estratégicas, lo que puede ayudar a los Gerentes de Proyecto a gestionar proyectos de manera efectiva, minimizar riesgos y entregar resultados exitosos.

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Investigador de Operaciones

Los Investigadores de Operaciones utilizan técnicas analíticas para mejorar los procesos y la toma de decisiones en las organizaciones. Este curso ofrece conocimientos sobre análisis de la industria, evaluación de opciones estratégicas y desarrollo de estrategias competitivas, lo que puede ayudar a los Investigadores de Operaciones a identificar áreas de mejora, desarrollar soluciones basadas en datos y optimizar el rendimiento.

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Analista de riesgos

Los Analistas de Riesgos evalúan y gestionan los riesgos que enfrentan las organizaciones. Este curso proporciona una base en el análisis de la industria, la evaluación de opciones estratégicas y el desarrollo de estrategias competitivas, lo que puede ayudar a los Analistas de Riesgos a comprender los posibles riesgos, desarrollar estrategias de mitigación y proteger a las organizaciones de las pérdidas.

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Economista

Los Economistas estudian la producción, distribución y consumo de bienes y servicios. Este curso ofrece conocimientos sobre análisis de la industria, desarrollo de estrategias competitivas y evaluación de opciones estratégicas, lo que puede ayudar a los Economistas a comprender las tendencias económicas, predecir el comportamiento del mercado y asesorar a las organizaciones sobre políticas y estrategias económicas.

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Abogado

Los Abogados brindan asesoramiento legal y representación a individuos y organizaciones. Este curso puede ser útil para los Abogados que trabajan en derecho comercial o corporativo, ya que proporciona información valiosa sobre análisis de la industria, desarrollo de estrategias competitivas y evaluación de opciones estratégicas.

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Profesor

Los Profesores enseñan e investigan en instituciones educativas. Este curso puede ser útil para los Profesores que enseñan administración de empresas o estrategia, ya que proporciona material actualizado sobre los últimos principios y prácticas en el campo.

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Reading list

We've selected 14 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 Strategic management: Be competitive.

Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases

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This widely-used textbook provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of strategic management. It covers all the key topics in the course, including value creation, competitive analysis, and strategic decision-making. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the theory and practice of strategic management.

Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases:...

Paperback

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Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases:...

Paperback

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Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases:...

Hardcover

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Strategic Management: Competitiveness and...

Hardcover

Strategic Management: Competitiveness and...