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Elicia Salzberg

Do you speak “business"? You will. This course is designed to give you the terminology, concepts and frameworks necessary to understand businesses, to unpack their constituent parts, and to build your own tool-kit for strategy and decision-making.

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Do you speak “business"? You will. This course is designed to give you the terminology, concepts and frameworks necessary to understand businesses, to unpack their constituent parts, and to build your own tool-kit for strategy and decision-making.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to fine tune your education, this course introduces basic concepts and frameworks that can be applied across markets, at all levels of business. The course kicks off with core value propositions and moves through a business model framework, competition and macro environmental tools, theories of disruption, basic accounting literacy and concludes with an integrated look at business functions.

This course, part of the Business Fundamentals Professional Certificate program, sets the stage with a big picture perspective on business.

What you'll learn

  • How to break a company down into its main components and activities
  • How disruption happens in an industry
  • The basics of industry competitive dynamics
  • Basic financial statement literacy
  • How different business functions work and integrate

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to break a company down into its main components and activities
  • How disruption happens in an industry
  • The basics of industry competitive dynamics
  • Basic financial statement literacy
  • How different business functions work and integrate

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Begins with core value propositions and moves through a business model framework
Conclusion is an integrated look at business functions
Builds a foundational base of business concepts
Introduces basic concepts that can be applied across markets
Introduces basic business concepts
Provides basic accounting literacy

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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 Business Foundations with these activities:
Read 'Business Model Generation'
This book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and analyzing business models.
Show steps
  • Read each chapter thoroughly
  • Take notes on key concepts and frameworks
  • Apply the concepts to real-world business examples
Follow tutorials on industry analysis
Industry analysis is crucial for understanding the competitive landscape and making informed business decisions.
Browse courses on Industry Analysis
Show steps
  • Find reputable sources for industry analysis tutorials
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step and take notes
  • Apply the techniques to analyze different industries of interest
Develop a business model canvas
Creating a business model canvas will help you visualize and articulate the key elements of a business model.
Browse courses on Business Model Canvas
Show steps
  • Identify the key components of the business model canvas
  • Gather information and data on your target market, value proposition, and revenue streams
  • Fill out the business model canvas template
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Participate in a study group
Study groups provide a supportive environment for discussing course material, sharing insights, and testing your understanding.
Show steps
  • Find or form a study group with classmates
  • Meet regularly to review course material and discuss concepts
  • Prepare questions and participate actively in discussions
Solve case studies on business strategy
Solving case studies is an excellent way to apply business concepts to real-world scenarios and improve decision-making skills.
Browse courses on Business Strategy
Show steps
  • Find case studies that align with course topics
  • Read the case studies thoroughly and analyze the key issues
  • Develop and evaluate potential solutions
Develop a business plan outline
Creating a business plan outline will help you organize your thoughts and lay the foundation for a comprehensive plan.
Browse courses on Business Plan
Show steps
  • Research different business plan formats and templates
  • Identify the key sections and components of a business plan
  • Develop an outline that includes the main sections and supporting details

Career center

Learners who complete Business Foundations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Business Consultant
As a Business Consultant, you help companies identify and solve their business problems. You work with businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and make sound recommendations. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as a Business Consultant.
Business Analyst
As a Business Analyst, you analyze business operations to improve productivity and efficiency. You are a bridge between the business and IT teams, translating business needs into technical requirements. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their needs. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Business Analyst.
Financial Analyst
As a Financial Analyst, you analyze financial data to make investment recommendations and provide financial advice. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their financial performance. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Financial Analyst.
Investment Banker
As an Investment Banker, you help companies raise capital and advise them on mergers and acquisitions. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and their financial performance. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as an Investment Banker.
Management Consultant
As a Management Consultant, you help companies improve their performance by providing them with advice on strategy, operations, and technology. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their challenges. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Management Consultant.
Operations Manager
As an Operations Manager, you oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their operations. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as an Operations Manager.
Risk Manager
As a Risk Manager, you identify and manage risks for businesses. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and their risks. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as a Risk Manager.
Venture Capitalist
As a Venture Capitalist, you invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their potential. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Venture Capitalist.
Supply Chain Manager
As a Supply Chain Manager, you oversee the flow of goods and services from suppliers to customers. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their supply chains. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Supply Chain Manager.
Technology Consultant
As a Technology Consultant, you help companies implement and use technology to improve their performance. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and their technology needs. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as a Technology Consultant.
Strategy Consultant
As a Strategy Consultant, you help companies develop and execute their strategies. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and their strategies. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as a Strategy Consultant.
Marketing Manager
As a Marketing Manager, you develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and their customers. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as a Marketing Manager.
Project Manager
As a Project Manager, you lead and manage projects from start to finish. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their projects. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Project Manager.
Sales Manager
As a Sales Manager, you lead and manage a sales team to achieve revenue targets. This Business Foundations course helps you build a foundation for understanding businesses and their customers. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will be invaluable for your career as a Sales Manager.
Product Manager
As a Product Manager, you are responsible for the development and launch of new products and services. This Business Foundations course provides you with the tools and frameworks you need to understand businesses and their customers. You will learn about core value propositions, business models, disruption, accounting literacy, and how business functions work and integrate. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in your career as a Product Manager.

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 Business Foundations.
Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful startup. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the lean startup methodology and how to apply it to their own businesses.
Provides a simple framework for developing and evaluating business strategies. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different types of business strategies and how to develop a winning strategy.
Provides a framework for understanding why large companies often fail to innovate. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the challenges of innovation and how to overcome them.
Provides a framework for building a successful technology company. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different stages of a technology company's growth and how to avoid the common pitfalls.
Provides a practical guide to the challenges of running a successful business. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different types of challenges that businesses face and how to overcome them.
Provides a step-by-step guide to getting traction for your startup. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different channels for getting traction and how to use them effectively.
Provides a timeless set of principles for winning in business and life. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different strategies for winning and how to apply them to their own goals.
Provides a sweeping history of humanity. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different stages of human evolution and how they have shaped our world.
Provides a thought-provoking look at the power of introverts. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different types of introversion and how to use them to their advantage.
Provides a practical guide to finding happiness. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different factors that contribute to happiness and how to increase them.
Provides a timeless parable about the importance of following your dreams. It is particularly useful for students who are interested in learning about the different challenges and rewards of pursuing your passions.

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