Strategy for Management Consultants & Business Analysts from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to formulate a successful business strategy
Pick the right strategy for your business
How to analyze strategic choices in excel
Increase the value of your business or the businesses belong to your customers

How to structure complex issues
How to define key steps needed to achieve the selected strategy
Estimate the impact of strategic option you have chosen

How to formulate a successful business strategy
Pick the right strategy for your business
How to analyze strategic choices in excel
Increase the value of your business or the businesses belong to your customers
How to structure complex issues
How to define key steps needed to achieve the selected strategy
Estimate the impact of strategic option you have chosen

Syllabus

We begin with little intro into the course as well as some general info on production

In this lecture I will share some info on who am I and what is my experience

In this lecture I will show you how the course will be organized and what you can expect in each and every section of the course

Here I will show you what to do if a blurry image appears

Here I will show you how to find additional resources attached to the coruse like Excel files, presentations, links etc.

Here I will show you how you can find things in Udemy and how you can ask me questions

In the second section I will discuss the basic things you can do to improve its profitability without much of growth or expansion. This strategic direction is the best for people who are satisfied with the current size of their business

In this lecture I will discuss the cases that I will use in this section to show you what you can do within this strategic direction

One of the ways to improve your business is to improve processes. In this lecture I will discuss what you can do. Later on I will use an example to show you how it can be done in practice

Since we already know how in general terms to improve processes let’s go a bit deeper into details. Here I will discuss a case study we will use to show you how to improve a process. I will use as an Example a Do-it-Yourself chain and logistics processes that happen within the store

Here I will show you how we optimized the logistics processes in the store and what savings we managed to generate

Here I will show you how to estimate potential savings in Excel

We continue with the case study that we have introduced in previous lectures.

Another source of improvements is to use the right tools. In this lecture we will discuss the case of using the right tools and the impact of it. As an example I will use consulting firm

Another source of improving the profits without changing the scale of the business is to play with the pricing. Here I will discuss some general rules and approaches

In this lecture, we will talk about what kind of benefits the right price conveys

Here I will discuss from the psychology point of view what is the fair price and how to build around it

Imagine that you have a chain of physical stores and on-line store. What pricing would you use? How you would come up with the right pricing?

In this course I will show you the general solution to the case presented in the previous lecture

The impact of the price change on your profit will depend on a few factors. I will discuss in this lecture on what you should take into account and how to calculate it .

In this lecture I will show you how to solve the case shown in the previous lectures

Let’s now move on to working capital and how we can generate more cash from this source as well. I will discuss it briefly before we move on to a case study that will show you how to estimate the impact

We will continue with the example from previous lecture. In this example of single store when we look at the sales and inventory level it is clear that there is too much stock. Let’s see what we can do about it

Penetrate existing markets / products is the first area in which you can expand / scale your business. Here I will explain why it makes so much sense

Next level in the improvement of your business is achieving the so called operational Excellence. I will discuss it briefly in this lecture. Later on I will discuss the case of low cost business operators that are the best examples of operational excellence

In this section I will show you want drives the economics of low cost model. I will show you using the airlines examples how low cost carrier differ in comparison with regular players

In many cases you can get high end result from compounding effect in time or by getting small improvements in many areas. In this lecture I will explain the concept. The compounding effect is especially important with low cost carriers. You need a lot of small improvements to make the difference in costs.

I will show you in this lecture where the difference in cost comes from using as an example the airlines espiecially data on the Raynair and Lufthansa

Another way to boost your current profits is to do a lot of cross-selling and up-selling. Here I will discuss the general rules for those 2 activities

In B2B Services since you have already a nice base you try to sell them more of your products. The best example are big 4 auditing companies. I will discuss the general preconditions for cross-selling and introduce the case we will be solving in next lectures

In this lecture I will show you how to solve the case shown in the previous lectures.

We will have a look at how much and in what was Amazon investing.

The last way to boost your profits without scaling is to get rid of non-core assets. In this lecture, we will discuss the general rules for identifying which assets should be sold

In the next 3 lectures, I will show you how to sell non-core assets. We will use the case of cosmetics producer

Here I will show you the solution to the previously introduced case

In this section I will show you different ways in which you can grow your business or your customers’ businesses in size. This strategic choice is perfect for those business that have a winning business model and a lot of room to grow. As always there will be loads of case studies, practical knowledge how to do in practice the necessary calculation in Excels

At some point you will start considering expansion. I will show you in this section how you can expand your retail business and how to decide what to do

Once your business model is right you will want to expand and grow. There are some options to do that and I will show them in this lecture

If you are present on specific market you want to know when you will reach a saturation market – the maximal number of shops that will not cause much cannibalization. I will show you how to approach this subject

We will now try to check in practice how to find saturation point for a retailer. In this lecture I will introduce the case that we will work with for the next few lectures. You will be asked to find the saturation for grocery store operating in Poland

In this lecture we solve previously introduced case.

Here I will show you the solution to the previously introduced case in Power Point

More risk is entering totally new categories. It is doable if you have a strong brand and you pick the right categories. We will discuss it in this lecture and later on show how to do it using a nice case study

Another way to expand your business is to target new customers with existing products. Here I will show you the general rules for this method

Here I will show you example of approach to segmentation done for restaurant chain

Let’s have a look at a milk producer that wants to expand its product range. In this case, you will be asked to analyze and find the best candidates for brand expansions.

I will show you in this lecture how new customers can be acquired using a cases study of a fitness club

In this lecture, I will show you how to solve the case shown in the previous lectures.

Another way to expand your business is to enter new markets for existing products. Here I will discuss the general framework and we will move on to cases

Creating an expansion strategy requires you to do a number of things. I will show you in this lecture how to approach this subject

In this lecture, I will start the case study that we will be solving for the next few lectures. Imagine that you are a Spanish fashion retailer and you want to figure out which countries you should enter. Therefore, you prepare a ranking of countries that show attractiveness and the size of each and every market.

In this lecture, we solve the previously introduced case. Here I will show you the data set you can play with

In this lecture we solve previously introduced case. In this lectuer we will discuss the function we are using to make the ranking

In this lecture we solve previously introduced case. Here I will show you the ranking of countries and regions in Excel

In this lecture we solve previously introduced case. Here I will show you the power point result

You can also think about adding new products within existing categories. This is what we will discuss in this lecture

Here I will discuss the case of domestic appliance produces that we will use in the next few lectures

Here I will show you the solution to the previously introduced case in Excel

Let’s see how we can calculate the impact of M&A. For this, we will use the case of a plywood producer.

Here I will show you how to create a scatter plot

Not always an introduction of a new product makes sense. I will show you here how to check whether you are making the right decision. We will be using in this case a salad fast food that has just introduced 2 new products and you want to check whether it makes sense.

If you are not satisfied with your current scaling effect you can consider going up or down the value chain. We will discuss it also this option

We will discuss here when it makes sense to expand up or down the value chain.

To show you how it can be done in practice we will discuss here the example of Benefits System from Poland that has expanded in many directions its main business of operating card giving you access to fitness clubs

Another example of the successful implementation of this strategy is Zara. I will discuss it briefly in this lecture

When you run a business you sometimes you can create new assets (often intangible) that you can utilize in other ways and make money out of it. We will discuss it here

If you are not happy with the slow of organic scaling and expanding your business you can consider M&A. I will discuss here when it makes sense

I will discuss here the general concept of low cost mode, when it makes sense and in what industries it is already used

We will have a look at how much and in what was Disney investing.

In 4th section I will show you how you can protect your business by going into a niche. I will devote a lot of time to Blue Ocean Strategy and Low Cost Strategy – 2 very powerful strategic concepts that have been disrupting many markets

IKEA has been very successful in implementing low cost model in furniture. I will show you all main elements were they were very successful: “big box” model built outside the city center, design, consistent message, diversified revenue streams, operational excellence, business scale

Raynair is an example of a great execution of the low cost model in airlines. They have used 1 type of aircraft and increased their capacity, they do only point-to-point and use cheap airports. Raynair is also master of operational excellence and has been also very creative on the revenue streams

Biedronka is a very good execution of low cost model in retail. Biedronka keeps it simple on the operational side and they went deep into product management. I will show you how they managed to become a leader in Poland

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a framework for strategy formulation and execution, mirroring the approaches used by top consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, PwC, and EY

Offers practical insights into calculating the impact of strategic changes and choosing optimal strategies, which can be applied to grow a business

Includes Excel-based case studies and analyses, providing practical tools and insights for solving business problems and calculating the impact of strategic choices

Draws upon the instructor's experience as a consultant in top firms and as a board member, offering real-world insights and practical tips

Explores strategies for improving profitability without significant growth, which is suitable for businesses satisfied with their current size

Examines various ways to expand a business, which is ideal for businesses with a winning model and room to grow, including case studies and practical Excel calculations

Reviews summary

Practical strategy for professionals & consultants

Learners say this course provides a highly practical and actionable framework for developing and executing business strategy. According to students, the course excels in using real-world case studies and Excel exercises to illustrate concepts, making the learning highly relevant for consultants and business analysts. Many appreciate the instructor's extensive experience and the valuable insights shared from his career. While some aspects might require supplemental learning depending on individual needs, the course offers a solid foundation and useful tools for strategic analysis and implementation. Students found the accompanying Excel files and resources particularly helpful for applying concepts directly to their work.

Examples heavily feature retail and consulting.

"The heavy focus on examples from retail and consulting was very relevant and helpful for my specific background."

"While the strategic concepts are universal, I noticed many examples were specific to the retail or consulting industries."

"As someone not in retail or consulting, I had to work a bit harder to translate the examples to my own industry."

Heavy use of Excel for calculations.

"Be prepared to use Excel extensively throughout the course; it's fundamental to understanding the calculations shown."

"This course is great if you want to improve your Excel skills specifically for strategic modeling and analysis."

"Some exercises were challenging for me due to the required proficiency in complex Excel functions and modeling."

"A strong command of Excel is necessary to get the most out of the practical examples."

Strong base, may need deeper study.

"This course serves as a great starting point for understanding different strategic options and frameworks."

"I feel I gained a solid foundation in strategic thinking and analysis after taking this course."

"The course gives a good overview but might not go deep enough into every single topic for very advanced practitioners."

"I might supplement this course with additional, more specialized resources for specific industry deep dives."

Provided files are practical tools.

"The downloadable Excel files and presentation slides provided with the lectures are incredibly useful resources."

"I really appreciate getting the actual analysis files used in the case study lectures; it's a big help."

"Having access to ready-made analysis templates that I can modify for my own work saves a lot of time."

Provides a clear, usable strategy framework.

"Finally, a strategy framework that is easy to follow, understand, and apply directly in my job."

"The step-by-step guide helps structure complex strategic issues efficiently."

"I can immediately apply this framework and the tools to help my clients as a business analyst."

"Helped me understand how to formulate and execute strategy effectively in a structured way."

Insights from extensive professional experience.

"The instructor's 15 years of experience in top firms really show; the insights he shares are invaluable."

"I learned practical tips and tricks from the instructor that only someone with deep, real-world experience would know."

"Appreciate the real-world perspective and stories brought by the instructor from his consulting and board roles."

Real-world examples using Excel analyses.

"The case studies using Excel are incredibly practical and helped me apply the concepts right away."

"Loved working through the real-world examples presented. It makes strategy less abstract and more actionable for me."

"Learning how to calculate the financial impact of strategic changes in Excel was very useful for my consulting projects."

"The Excel files provided with the lectures are a huge plus; I can reuse them as templates for my own work."

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 Strategy for Management Consultants & Business Analysts with these activities:

Review 'Competitive Strategy'

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Gain a deeper understanding of competitive advantage and industry analysis.

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

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Read the book and identify Porter's Five Forces.
Apply the Five Forces to a specific industry.
Analyze how companies can achieve competitive advantage.

Review Excel Data Analysis Techniques

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Refresh Excel skills to better analyze strategic choices.

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Review Excel functions for data analysis.
Practice using pivot tables and charts.
Complete an online Excel tutorial.

Create a Strategy Framework Comparison Chart

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Organize and compare different strategy frameworks covered in the course.

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List all the strategy frameworks covered in the course.
Identify the key components of each framework.
Create a chart comparing the frameworks' strengths and weaknesses.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Review 'Blue Ocean Strategy'

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Understand the principles of Blue Ocean Strategy to identify uncontested market spaces.

View Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Identify examples of companies that have successfully implemented Blue Ocean Strategy.
Apply the Blue Ocean framework to a business case study.

Excel Scenario Analysis Practice

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Reinforce Excel skills for calculating the impact of strategic choices.

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Create a spreadsheet model for a business case.
Define key input variables and their possible ranges.
Use Excel's scenario manager to analyze different strategic options.
Document the results and draw conclusions.

Strategic Analysis Blog Post

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Solidify understanding by writing a blog post analyzing a company's strategy.

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Choose a company and its industry.
Research the company's strategic choices.
Analyze the impact of these choices using course frameworks.
Write a blog post summarizing your analysis.

Develop a Strategic Plan for a Startup

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Apply course concepts to create a strategic plan for a hypothetical startup.

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Choose a startup idea and define its mission.
Conduct market research and competitive analysis.
Develop a strategic plan using course frameworks.
Create a presentation summarizing the plan.

Career center

Learners who complete Strategy for Management Consultants & Business Analysts will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Management Consultant

The role of a Management Consultant involves advising organizations on how to improve their performance and efficiency. This often includes strategic planning, operational improvement, and organizational restructuring. This course helps build a foundation for this career by providing a framework for formulating and executing business strategies, similar to top consulting firms. The course's emphasis on calculating the impact of strategic choices and implementing strategies aligns with the core responsibilities of a Management Consultant. The practical case studies and Excel-based analyses in the course are particularly relevant, offering templates and approaches that can be adapted for real-world consulting projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Management Analyst

A Management Analyst, also known as a management consultant, helps organizations improve their efficiency and effectiveness. They analyze problems, recommend solutions, and assist with implementation. This course helps a Management Analyst by providing a framework for strategic decision-making and execution similar to top consulting firms. The emphasis on calculating the impact of strategic choices and implementing strategies directly supports the work of a Management Analyst. The practical case studies and Excel-based analyses in the course offer templates and approaches that can be adapted for real-world consulting projects. The skill set will be very beneficial to the Management Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst identifies business needs and determines solutions to business problems. They often play a key role in strategic planning and implementation. This course helps equip professionals with the skills to analyze strategic choices and calculate their impact, making it valuable for a Business Analyst. The course teaches how to formulate and execute business strategies, skills highly valued in this role. The emphasis on practical application through case studies and Excel analyses provides a Business Analyst with immediately usable tools and techniques. In particular, modules on expanding a business or transforming it would be very beneficial for a Business Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Corporate Strategist

A Corporate Strategist is responsible for developing and implementing a company's strategic goals and objectives. This position requires a deep understanding of market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and internal capabilities. This course helps one become a Corporate Strategist by providing a framework for strategic decision-making and execution that mirrors the approach of top consulting firms. The course's focus on various strategic choices, impact calculation, and implementation strategies is directly applicable to the responsibilities of a Corporate Strategist. The many case studies and Excel-based analyses provide practical insights into real-world strategic challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Strategist

Strategy Analyst

A Strategy Analyst helps organizations develop and implement long-term strategic plans. This involves market research, competitive analysis, and the identification of growth opportunities. This course is highly relevant, as it teaches a framework for formulating and executing strategies, skills central to the role of a Strategy Analyst. The focus on calculating the impact of strategic choices and understanding different strategic options directly supports the work of a Strategy Analyst. The numerous case studies and Excel-based analyses provide practical experience in evaluating and implementing strategic initiatives. The Strategy Analyst is concerned with improving business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Analyst

Entrepreneur

An Entrepreneur is someone who starts and manages their own business. They are responsible for all aspects of the business, from developing a business plan to securing funding to managing operations. This course is designed to help Entrepreneurs formulate and execute successful business strategies. The course teaches strategic choices, impact calculation, and implementation, providing Entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to grow their businesses. The practical examples, Excel analyses, and case studies offer invaluable insights for navigating the challenges of running a business. Anyone who is an Entrepreneur or wishes to be one should strongly consider this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Chief Executive Officer

A Chief Executive Officer is the highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of a company, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations. This course helps prepare one to be a Chief Executive Officer by providing a framework for strategic decision-making and execution. The course's focus on strategic choices, impact calculation, and implementation aligns with the core responsibilities of a CEO. The many real world case studies would be of tremendous value to someone ascending to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for a product or product line. They analyze market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes to guide product development. This course teaches a framework for formulating and executing business strategies, which may be beneficial for a Product Manager. The course's emphasis on strategic choices and impact calculation may help a Product Manager make informed decisions about product strategy and development. The modules on expanding a business and going niche are particularly relevant to a Product Manager. The person in the role of Product Manager would likely find value in this course.

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Chief Operations Officer

A Chief Operations Officer oversees a company's internal operations. They are responsible for ensuring that the company's operations are efficient and effective. This course helps provide insight to a Chief Operations Officer by providing a framework for understanding different strategic options and their potential impact. The course's emphasis on implementation and process improvement aligns with the COO's responsibilities. The modules on improving profitability and expanding a business can provide valuable insights for optimizing operations. This course should contribute significantly to the skills of a Chief Operations Officer.

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Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying and pursuing new business opportunities. This involves market research, lead generation, and relationship building. This course may be useful for a Business Development Manager, as it teaches a framework for formulating and executing business strategies. The modules on expanding a business and going niche are particularly relevant for identifying new markets and opportunities. The course will help a Business Development Manager understand the overall landscape of business strategy and enable them to generate maximum impact with their work.

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Market Research Analyst

A Market Research Analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price. This course may be useful for a Market Research Analyst, as it provides a framework for understanding different strategic options and calculating their potential impact. The course's emphasis on data-driven decision-making aligns with the responsibilities of a Market Research Analyst. The modules on expanding a business and going niche could be particularly relevant for identifying new market opportunities. A Market Research Analyst would find the data focus of the course to be very helpful.

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Investment Director

An Investment Director is responsible for overseeing investment strategies and managing investment portfolios. They analyze market trends, assess risk, and identify investment opportunities. While this course focuses more on business strategy, the emphasis on data-driven decision-making and Excel-based analysis may be useful for an Investment Director. Understanding how strategic decisions are made and how their impact is calculated may help an Investment Director assess the potential of different investment opportunities. The course may also provide a broader strategic context for investment decisions. The Investment Director would find this course to be an interesting supplement to their formal training.

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Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst provides guidance to businesses and individuals in making investment decisions. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments. While this course focuses more on business strategy, the emphasis on data-driven decision-making and Excel-based analysis makes it helpful for a Financial Analyst. The course's framework for calculating the impact of strategic choices may prove useful in assessing the financial implications of different business decisions. The skills learned can help a Financial Analyst understand the broader strategic context in which financial decisions are made. A Financial Analyst may also find the course modules on growing a business useful.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the production of goods and/or provision of services. This involves managing resources, optimizing processes, and ensuring efficiency. While this course focuses primarily on strategy, the emphasis on implementation and process improvement makes it helpful for an Operations Manager. The modules on improving profitability and expanding a business may provide valuable insights for optimizing operations. The Operations Manager should focus on the sections of the course that teach implementation, but the understanding of strategy will benefit nearly all Operations Managers. The case studies presented in the course should be especially helpful.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, organizes, and manages resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. While this course is not directly focused on project management, the content on strategy implementation can be valuable to a Project Manager. Understanding how strategic decisions are made and how their impact is calculated may help a Project Manager align project goals with broader business objectives. The course may also provide a Project Manager with a better understanding of the strategic context in which their projects are executed. A Project Manager would likely benefit from modules teaching implementation of strategy.

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Strategy for Management Consultants & Business Analysts

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical strategy for professionals & consultants

Activities

Career center

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