We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Take this course

Advanced Competitive Strategy

Tobias Kretschmer

4.7

Based on 867 ratings

, see reviews

Tobias Kretschmer

Advanced Competitive Strategy will introduce new topics and modules with even more real world examples and opportunities for student interaction than in the previous course Competitive Strategy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/competitivestrategy).

In Advanced Competitive Strategy, we will look at how companies can build up and maintain their customer base by increasing switching costs and facilitating strategic customer lock-ins. We will find out how firms can increase their profits by pursuing suitable price discrimination and product differentiation strategies.

Read more

Advanced Competitive Strategy will introduce new topics and modules with even more real world examples and opportunities for student interaction than in the previous course Competitive Strategy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/competitivestrategy).

In Advanced Competitive Strategy, we will look at how companies can build up and maintain their customer base by increasing switching costs and facilitating strategic customer lock-ins. We will find out how firms can increase their profits by pursuing suitable price discrimination and product differentiation strategies.

We will look at examples of what is acceptable behavior under the premises of EU competition and US antitrust policies and discover exciting ways of how companies can increase their returns by strategically making use of network effects and economies of size. We will further intensify our newly acquired knowledge about network effects and discuss strategies that are explicitly tailored to network markets.

We will analyze the workings of mergers and acquisitions and, moreover, support you in considering alternative strategies that can help companies grow organically.

Or subscribe to Coursera Plus

And get unlimited access to Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Maintaining your Customer Base

In this module we will look at strategies that can help us maintain our customer base. For this, we will take an analytical approach that helps us understand the point at which our customers will switch to a competitors and the amount of money a competitor is willing to spend to acquire our customers. Based on this understanding, we will derive applicable strategies that can help us lock in our customers strategically. We will do this by keeping in mind that also customers may apply their own strategies to avoid lock in and further, that our competitors will seek to apply strategies in the pursuit of making our customers theirs.

Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores business practices, which is standard in industry

Develops strategic approaches to competition, which are core skills for business leaders

Taught by Tobias Kretschmer, who is recognized for their work in economic studies

Examines competitive strategy, which is highly relevant for business growth

Covers case studies, which adds color to other business courses

Advises students to take Competitive Strategy first, as a prerequisite

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Practical frameworks for business strategy

According to learners, this course offers practical frameworks and real-world examples crucial for understanding competitive strategy. Many found the explanations of concepts like customer lock-in, price discrimination, and network effects to be very clear and easy to understand. While some students with extensive prior experience felt the content was not truly 'advanced' as the title suggests and might be better suited for intermediate learners, the majority appreciated the clarity of the lectures and the usefulness of the strategic tools presented. The course is generally seen as providing a solid foundation or refresher in key strategic areas applicable to professional contexts.

Good for overview or refresher.

"This course provided a solid foundation in key competitive strategy areas."

"It served as an excellent refresher for me on core strategic concepts I hadn't revisited in a while."

"If you need a structured overview of modern competitive strategy, this is a great place to start."

Lectures are well-delivered.

"The professor is very clear and engaging in his delivery, making the lectures easy to follow."

"I liked the instructor's teaching style; he presented the material logically."

"The explanations by the instructor were a highlight of the course for me."

Complex topics explained simply.

"The instructor explained difficult concepts like price discrimination and network effects in a very clear and digestible way."

"I appreciated how well the lectures were structured and how the professor simplified complex strategic ideas."

"Despite the 'advanced' title, the material was presented clearly, making it accessible."

Learn strategies you can apply.

"I gained practical insights that I can immediately apply in my role as a business analyst."

"The frameworks and examples were highly relevant and provided actionable strategies for real-world competitive scenarios."

"This course gave me practical tools I could start using right away, not just academic theory."

Maybe too basic for some experts.

"As someone with significant prior experience in strategy, I found the content to be more intermediate than 'advanced'."

"The course is good, but if you're looking for cutting-edge or deeply complex strategy, this might feel a bit basic."

"I expected more depth and advanced techniques given the course title."

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 Advanced Competitive Strategy with these activities:

Review the concept of switching costs

Show steps

Review the concept of switching costs and how it affects customer retention to build a strong foundation for learning about maintaining your customer base.

Browse courses on Customer Retention

Show steps

Read the introductory section of the module on Maintaining your Customer Base.
Take notes on the key points about switching costs and their impact on customer retention.
Complete the practice exercises at the end of the section.

Practice calculating switching costs

Show steps

Engage in practice drills to solidify your understanding of calculating switching costs and its implications for strategic customer lock-ins.

Show steps

Gather data on customer churn rates, acquisition costs, and customer lifetime value.
Use the formula provided in the module to calculate switching costs for different customer segments.
Analyze the results and draw conclusions about the impact of switching costs on customer retention.

Mentor a junior student or peer on the fundamentals of competitive strategy

Show steps

Share your knowledge and skills by mentoring others, reinforcing your understanding of competitive strategy and enhancing your communication abilities.

Show steps

Identify a junior student or peer who is interested in learning about competitive strategy.
Establish regular meeting times to provide guidance and support.
Review key concepts and case studies together.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Attend a workshop on price discrimination strategies

Show steps

Participate in a workshop to gain practical insights and real-world examples of effective price discrimination strategies.

Show steps

Identify workshops or industry events that focus on price discrimination strategies.
Register for and attend the workshop.
Actively participate in the workshop and take notes on key concepts and best practices.

Explore case studies on strategic customer lock-ins

Show steps

Examine real-world examples to deepen your understanding of how companies successfully implement strategic customer lock-ins.

Show steps

Identify case studies of companies that have successfully implemented strategic customer lock-ins.
Analyze the strategies used by these companies to lock in customers.
Evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies and identify key lessons learned.

Participate in a peer-led discussion group on mergers and acquisitions

Show steps

Engage in discussions with peers to exchange insights and perspectives on complex topics like mergers and acquisitions, deepening your understanding of the strategies involved.

Show steps

Identify a peer group or study buddy to collaborate with.
Establish regular meeting times to discuss key concepts and case studies.
Take turns leading the discussion and presenting your findings.
Critically analyze different perspectives and challenge each other's assumptions.

Develop a presentation on the legal and ethical implications of EU competition and US antitrust policies

Show steps

Create a comprehensive presentation to showcase your understanding of the legal and ethical boundaries of competition and antitrust laws, which will aid in your comprehension of competition in network markets.

Show steps

Research EU competition and US antitrust policies and their implications for businesses.
Identify case studies of companies that have faced legal challenges related to competition law.
Develop a presentation that outlines the key legal and ethical considerations for businesses in these markets.
Present your findings to your peers or a relevant audience.

Contribute to open-source projects related to network effects

Show steps

Make valuable contributions to open-source projects in the field of network effects to gain hands-on experience and expand your knowledge beyond the classroom.

Show steps

Identify open-source projects related to network effects.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills and knowledge.
Make a pull request to the project with your proposed changes.
Collaborate with other contributors to refine your work.

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced Competitive Strategy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Executive Officer

A Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the overall management of a company. This course can help Chief Executive Officers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for developing effective strategies that can help businesses achieve their strategic goals. The course covers topics such as strategic planning, market analysis, and financial analysis, which are all essential for developing successful business strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operating Officer

A Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a company. This course can help Chief Operating Officers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their operational goals. The course covers topics such as operations management, process improvement, and supply chain management, which are all essential for developing successful operational strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Operating Officer

Corporate Development Manager

A Corporate Development Manager is responsible for developing and executing corporate strategies. This course can help Corporate Development Managers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for developing effective strategies that can help businesses achieve their strategic goals. The course covers topics such as strategic planning, market analysis, and financial analysis, which are all essential for developing successful corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Development Manager

Strategy Consultant

A Strategy Consultant is responsible for providing advice to businesses on how to achieve their strategic goals. This course can help Strategy Consultants build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for developing effective strategies that can help businesses succeed. The course covers topics such as strategic planning, market analysis, and financial analysis, which are all essential for developing successful business strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Consultant

Competitive Intelligence Analyst

A Competitive Intelligence Analyst is responsible for collecting and analyzing data about competitors. This course can help Competitive Intelligence Analysts build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their competitive goals. The course covers topics such as competitive intelligence, industry analysis, and SWOT analysis, which are all essential for developing successful competitive intelligence strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Competitive Intelligence Analyst

Venture Capitalist

A Venture Capitalist is responsible for investing in early-stage companies. This course can help Venture Capitalists build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their growth goals. The course covers topics such as venture capital investing, seed funding, and Series A funding, which are all essential for developing successful venture capital investment strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Market Research Analyst

A Market Research Analyst is responsible for collecting and analyzing data about markets and customers. This course can help Market Research Analysts build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their marketing goals. The course covers topics such as market research, customer segmentation, and competitive analysis, which are all essential for developing successful marketing strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Chief Financial Officer

A Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the financial management of a company. This course can help Chief Financial Officers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their financial goals. The course covers topics such as financial analysis, budgeting, and capital raising, which are all essential for developing successful financial strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Financial Officer

Chief Marketing Officer

A Chief Marketing Officer is responsible for the marketing and sales of a company's products or services. This course can help Chief Marketing Officers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for developing effective marketing campaigns that can reach and engage target audiences. The course covers topics such as marketing management, brand management, and digital marketing, which are all essential for developing successful marketing strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Marketing Officer

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns that promote a company's products or services. This course can help Marketing Managers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for developing effective marketing campaigns that can reach and engage target audiences. The course covers topics such as customer behavior, market analysis, and pricing strategies, which are all essential for developing successful marketing campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Chief Technology Officer

A Chief Technology Officer is responsible for the technology and innovation of a company. This course can help Chief Technology Officers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their technology goals. The course covers topics such as technology management, innovation management, and product development, which are all essential for developing successful technology strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer

Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. This course can help Product Managers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for developing products that meet the needs of target markets. The course covers topics such as product development, market research, and pricing strategies, which are all essential for developing successful products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. This course can help Business Analysts build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their goals. The course covers topics such as industry analysis, competitive analysis, and SWOT analysis, which are all essential for developing effective business strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Investment Banker

An Investment Banker is responsible for providing advice to businesses on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and other financial transactions. This course can help Investment Bankers build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their financial goals. The course covers topics such as financial analysis, valuation, and mergers and acquisitions, which are all essential for developing successful financial strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Private Equity Investor

A Private Equity Investor is responsible for investing in private companies. This course can help Private Equity Investors build a strong foundation in competitive strategy, which is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies that can help businesses achieve their growth goals. The course covers topics such as private equity investing, venture capital, and leveraged buyouts, which are all essential for developing successful private equity investment strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Investor

Reading list

We've selected 11 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 Advanced Competitive Strategy.

Cover image

Cover image

Competitive Strategy

Save

Is the foundational text on competitive strategy. It is an excellent reference for thinking about how companies gain and maintain competitive advantage in a market.

Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing...

By Michael E. Porter 2 Book Collection set:...

Strategy and Competition: The Porter Collection (3...

New-Competitive Strategy

Strategy: Seeking and Securing Competitive...

Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Save

Provides a practical guide to the Lean Startup methodology, which process for developing and testing new products and services quickly and efficiently.

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Cover image

Cover image

The Individualists

Save

Provides an optimistic view of the future of humanity, arguing that we are making progress on a wide range of fronts.

The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and...

The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and...

Cover image

Cover image

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

Save

Explains why large, successful companies often fail to innovate and are disrupted by smaller, more nimble competitors.

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

Cover image

Cover image

Crossing the Chasm, 3rd Edition

Save

Provides a framework for understanding the challenges of marketing and selling technology products to mainstream customers.

Crossing the Chasm, 3rd Edition: Marketing and...

(中文) Crossing the Chasm: A Guide to Marketing Disruptive...

Crossing the Chasm, 3rd Edition: Marketing and...

Cover image

Cover image

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the mergers and acquisitions process. It covers topics such as deal structuring, due diligence, and post-merger integration.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings...

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings...

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings...

Cover image

Cover image

From Conflict Resolution to Peacebuilding

Save

Explores the science of habit formation and provides insights into how we can change our habits for the better.

From Conflict Resolution to Peacebuilding

Cover image

Cover image

Thinking Through Sun Tzu's Art of War

Save

This ancient Chinese military treatise provides insights into strategy and competition that are still relevant today.

Three Faces of Sun Tzu: Analyzing Sun Tzu's Art of...

Cover image

Cover image

Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why the World Isn't Fair

Save

Provides a sweeping overview of human history, from our origins as hunter-gatherers to the present day.

Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why the World Isn't Fair

(Español) Por qué el mundo es injusto [Why the World Isn’t...

Audible Audiobook

Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why the World Isn't Fair

Cover image

Cover image

The Future of Capitalism

Save

Examines the challenges facing capitalism in the 21st century, including inequality, climate change, and technological disruption.

The Future of Capitalism: Facing the New Anxieties

(Deutsch) Sozialer Kapitalismus!: Mein Manifest gegen den...

(中文) The Future of Capitalism: Facing the New Anxieties...

Cover image

Cover image

Save

This classic work on political power provides insights into the ruthless nature of competition.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Copy Link

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.

Rating

4.7

Effort

11 hours to complete

Via

Coursera

Institution

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)

Instructor

Tobias Kretschmer

Language

English

Transcripts

Español Français Português Deutsch Italiano 中文 العربية 한국어 日本語 हिंदी Nederlands Svenska Pусский Türkçe Polski Ελληνικά українська мова magyar nyelv Bahasa Indonesia ไทย қазақша اُردُو, فارسی বাংলা tiếng Việt پښتو آذربایجان دیلی

This course belongs to a collection called Competitive Strategy and Organization Design. It's comprised of four courses:

Advanced Competitive Strategy (viewing)
Strategic Organization Design
Competitive Strategy
Competitive Strategy and Organization Design Project

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores business practices, which is standard in industry

Develops strategic approaches to competition, which are core skills for business leaders

Taught by Tobias Kretschmer, who is recognized for their work in economic studies

Examines competitive strategy, which is highly relevant for business growth

Covers case studies, which adds color to other business courses

Advises students to take Competitive Strategy first, as a prerequisite

Share this

Share to help others discover this course.

Link

Begin learning today

Enroll now to gain full access to Advanced Competitive Strategy.

Enroll now Enroll in this course

Save for later

Add this course to your list. Find it anytime.

Save

Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser