Corporate Strategy from Coursera

In this course you will learn how corporations create, capture, and maintain value, going beyond the management of a single line of business. It is thus a complement to (and should typically follow) a course on Business Strategy, which focuses on developing and sustaining competitive advantage for a single business unit. Here, you will be able to better understand and learn the tools to analyze and manage decisions from a corporate-level perspective, which emphasizes the management of multiple businesses and multiple stakeholders. Examples of such decisions include vertical integration, diversification, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, international expansion, global strategy, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

You will:

• Understand how corporations create and capture value as multi-business enterprises.

• Learn tools and frameworks to assess choices regarding corporate scope, corporate transactions and global strategy.

• Learn to analyze complex business situations and develop coherent corporate strategies.

• Understand the role of corporate governance and stakeholder management in modern companies.

This course is part of the iMBA offered by the University of Illinois, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by two professors recognized in business strategy

Suitable for business professionals who plan to specialize in corporate strategy

Highly relevant for company executives, business leaders, and management professionals

Provides frameworks for assessing and analyzing business strategies

Covers key concepts in corporate strategy, including mergers, acquisitions, and global expansion

Helps learners understand the role of corporate governance and stakeholder management

Reviews summary

Analyzing corporate strategy frameworks

According to learners, this course provides a foundation in corporate strategy concepts and analytical frameworks. Many students found the tools taught to be practical and useful for analyzing business situations and relevant for career development, particularly praising the instructor's clarity. However, a significant number of reviewers felt the course was overly theoretical and lacked practical application, describing the assignments as academic busy work and exams as testing trivial details or memorization. This creates a notable rift in student experience, with some calling it excellent while others found it one of the worst.

Opinions are divided on clarity and engagement.

"The professor is excellent, explaining complex topics clearly and engagingly."

"The instructor drones and lectures lack depth and insight, making it hard to pay attention."

"I found the instructor's insights very helpful and the lectures well-structured."

Offers a good overview of key strategy topics.

"It provides a good overview of the main concepts in corporate strategy."

"The course provides a very solid understanding of the foundational concepts..."

"Offers a good overview of key corporate strategy topics like M&A and global expansion."

Provides useful tools for business analysis.

"The frameworks and tools taught are very practical and helped me structure my thoughts..."

"Provides valuable frameworks and analytical tools for decision making and developing strategy."

"I learned relevant concepts and tools that feel applicable in real-world business contexts."

Often criticized as academic busy work or testing memorization.

"Assignments are academic busy work and completely useless for learning..."

"Exams test trivial things that you would never need to remember in the real world."

"The assignments seemed like busy work rather than reinforcing practical skills or understanding."

Too theoretical, not enough real-world application.

"The course is overwhelmingly theoretical and academic, with no real-world application."

"Very theoretical and not useful for people working in real companies."

"It doesn't really prepare you for anything practical in corporate strategy."

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 Corporate Strategy with these activities:

Review Corporate Finance concepts

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Review key concepts in corporate finance to strengthen your foundation for understanding the course materials.

Browse courses on Corporate Finance

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Review time value of money concepts
Review capital budgeting techniques

Read 'Corporate Strategy' by Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of corporate strategy concepts and frameworks by reviewing this foundational text.

View Strategic Management: Competitiveness and... on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: Introduction to Corporate Strategy
Read Chapter 2: The Concept of Corporate Strategy

Organize and review course materials

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Improve retention and understanding by actively organizing and reviewing course materials on a regular basis.

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Create a system for organizing notes
Review notes after each class or lecture

Five other activities

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Engage in peer discussions on course concepts

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Enhance your understanding and critical thinking skills by engaging in discussions with peers about course concepts.

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Join the discussion forum
Post your thoughts and questions

Analyze business cases on corporate strategy

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Develop your analytical skills and apply corporate strategy concepts by working through real-world business cases.

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Read the case study
Identify the key issues and challenges
Develop potential solutions

Attend guest lectures on industry best practices

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Learn from industry experts and gain insights into practical applications of corporate strategy concepts.

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Attend the guest lecture
Take notes and ask questions

Develop a presentation on a specific corporate strategy topic

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Solidify your understanding by researching and presenting on a specific topic related to corporate strategy.

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Choose a topic
Research the topic
Develop your presentation
Practice your presentation

Participate in a corporate strategy case competition

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Challenge yourself and test your skills by participating in a case competition that requires you to apply corporate strategy concepts.

Browse courses on Corporate Strategy

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Form a team
Analyze the case study
Develop a solution and presentation

Career center

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

Corporate Strategy Manager

Corporate strategy managers are responsible for developing and implementing corporate strategies. They work with senior management to set the strategic direction of the company and develop plans to achieve its goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Strategy Manager

Corporate Finance Analyst

Corporate finance analysts play a key role in developing and implementing corporate strategies. They analyze financial data and make recommendations on capital budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Finance Analyst

Strategic Planner

Strategic planners develop and implement long-range plans for organizations. They work with senior management to set the strategic direction of the organization and develop plans to achieve its goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategic Planner

Chief Operating Officer

The COO is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. They oversee the company's sales, marketing, and customer service. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Operating Officer

Consultant

Consultants provide strategic advice to clients on a wide range of topics, including corporate strategy, business development, and operations. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Private Equity Associate

Private equity associates work for private equity firms that invest in companies and help them grow. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Associate

Venture Capitalist

Venture capitalists invest in early-stage companies and help them grow. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Chief Financial Officer

The CFO is responsible for the financial health of the company. They oversee the company's financial planning, budgeting, and accounting. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

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Analyst

Analysts help create corporate strategies by conducting business and industry research. This industry knowledge is crucial to successfully implementing growth strategies that maximize corporate value.

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Investment Banker

Investment bankers help companies raise capital and provide strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Management Consultant

Management consultants help organizations improve their performance. They work with clients to develop and implement strategies for growth, cost reduction, and operational efficiency. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of corporate strategy and the tools and frameworks used to analyze and develop corporate strategies. This knowledge can be invaluable to entrepreneurs as they make decisions about how to start and grow their businesses.

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Business Development Manager

Business development managers work to aid in the overall growth of the company. Their ability to identify new opportunities and forge partnerships is enabled by a deep understanding of corporate strategy and competitive advantage.

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Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for the development and marketing of products. They work with engineers, designers, and marketing teams to bring new products to market and to improve existing products.

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Market Research Analyst

Market research analysts conduct research to understand the needs of customers and competitors. This information is used to develop marketing and advertising campaigns and to make strategic decisions about product development and pricing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst