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Doug E Thomas, Ph.D.

This course utilizes an inquiry based approach to understanding sources of competitive advantages in companies and other organizations.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1
How do we measure the success of a business?
Week 2
How does the business environment influence the success of a company?
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Week 3
How can a company develop unique internal sources of competitive advantage?
Week 4
How can you predict which company will win in competition?
Week 5
How can companies deal with disruptions in the marketplace? Part 1
Week 6
How can companies deal with disruptions in the marketplace? Part 2

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches foundational concepts in competitive advantage and firm strategy
Applies an inquiry based approach to understanding competitive advantage
Develops an understanding of how industry environments influence a company's success
Taught by experienced instructors in the field of business and strategy
Examines various strategies companies use to gain and sustain competitive advantage
Develops skills in analyzing industry dynamics and predicting competitive outcomes

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive entrepreneurial strategic management

Learners say that Entrepreneurial Strategic Management is an engaging course perfect for beginners and those looking for a refresher on strategic management. It provides a rich body of information that can be used by those working with entrepreneurs. Students say that Professor Thomas is an excellent instructor who has a clear and concise way of explaining topics. The course includes plenty of real-life examples.
Learners with little to no experience can take this course.
"The course is excellent for someone with minimum or no background in business education."
"Nice,Excellent"
"Succint, only the information I needed without the fluff. Excellent Job!!"
Learners can apply the concepts they learn.
"Thank you, Coursera, the University of New Mexico, and Professor Thomas for this great approach to understanding business strategies."
"The tools provided in this course were greatly useful and I'm excited to be able to apply them in real life."
"As an Economic Development program manager, I regularly work with entrepreneurs looking to launch, expand, or relocate their small to mid-size businesses. This course provided a rich body of information to use during those discussions."
Concepts are broken down in a clear manner.
"The course is excellent for someone with minimum or no background in business education."
"The instructor described all the concepts amazingly!"
"It was a great course for me to recap and revise the essential concepts for Strategic Management as well as learn about some popular and famous examples from the market."
The instructor is engaging and easy to understand.
"The tutor uses examples that are easy to understand and easily drives the point home."
"Excellent Instructor. Has a clear and concise way of explaining topics"
"Good professor, liked it, I am very picky about professor's voices for some reason. I also liked his format."

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 Entrepreneurial Strategic Management with these activities:
Watch a tutorial on Porter's Five Forces model
Reinforces understanding of Porter's Five Forces, a key concept in the course.
Browse courses on Porter's Five Forces
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on Porter's Five Forces model on YouTube or another online platform.
  • Watch the tutorial and take notes.
Read 'Competing for Advantage'
Provides a foundational understanding of competitive advantage in business, which is a key topic in this course.
Show steps
  • Read the first three chapters of the book to understand the concept of competitive advantage.
  • Summarize Porter's Five Forces model and how it can be used to analyze competition.
  • Identify examples of competitive advantages from different industries.
Attend a workshop on competitive intelligence
Provides insights into industry best practices and tools for gathering and analyzing competitive intelligence.
Browse courses on Competitive Intelligence
Show steps
  • Identify a workshop on competitive intelligence.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop and take notes.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Analyze company financials to identify competitive advantages
Develops the skills to analyze company financials, which is essential for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of a business.
Browse courses on Financial Analysis
Show steps
  • Gather financial statements from a company's website.
  • Calculate key financial ratios such as gross margin, operating margin, and return on equity.
  • Compare these ratios to industry benchmarks to identify areas where the company excels or falls behind.
Organize and review course materials
Strengthens overall understanding of course concepts by organizing and reviewing materials.
Show steps
  • Gather all course materials, including lecture notes, readings, and assignments.
  • Organize the materials into a logical order.
  • Review the materials regularly to reinforce learning.
Develop a SWOT analysis for a company
Develops strategic thinking skills and applies course concepts to real-world business scenarios.
Browse courses on SWOT Analysis
Show steps
  • Identify a company to analyze.
  • Research the company's industry, competitors, and target market.
  • Conduct interviews with employees or customers to gather insights.
  • Create a SWOT analysis template.
  • Fill out the SWOT analysis template with your findings.
Participate in a business case competition
Provides practical experience in applying course concepts to real-world business challenges.
Browse courses on Case study
Show steps
  • Find a business case competition to participate in.
  • Form a team of 2-3 people.
  • Analyze the case study and develop a solution.
  • Practice presenting your solution.
  • Attend the competition and present your solution to a panel of judges.

Career center

Learners who complete Entrepreneurial Strategic Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs start and operate their own businesses. They identify business opportunities, develop business plans, and raise capital. This course may be useful for Entrepreneurs, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Strategy Consultant
Strategy Consultants help organizations develop and implement strategies for growth and profitability. They work with senior executives to analyze the business environment, identify opportunities, and develop plans for action. This course may be useful for Strategy Consultants, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, the business environment, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies. They lead sales teams and work with customers to close deals. This course may be useful for Sales Managers, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts identify business needs, analyze business processes, and develop solutions that improve efficiency and effectiveness. They play a key role in helping organizations achieve their strategic objectives. This course may be useful for Business Analysts, as it helps them understand the sources of competitive advantages, measure the success of a business, and develop strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for the development and marketing of products. They work with engineers, designers, and marketers to create products that meet the needs of customers. This course may be useful for Product Managers, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Operations Manager
Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of an organization. They plan, organize, and control the use of resources to achieve organizational goals. This course may be useful for Operations Managers, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of business issues. They help organizations improve their performance, solve problems, and make better decisions. This course may be useful for Consultants, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, the business environment, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Investment Banker
Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and advise them on mergers and acquisitions. They analyze financial data, develop financial models, and negotiate deals. This course may be useful for Investment Bankers, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, the business environment, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Market Research Analyst
Market Research Analysts gather and analyze data about customers, markets, and competitors. They help organizations understand the needs of their customers and develop strategies to meet those needs. This course may be useful for Market Research Analysts, as it provides an understanding of the business environment, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Business Development Manager
Business Development Managers are responsible for generating new business opportunities for their organizations. They identify and qualify potential customers, develop sales strategies, and negotiate contracts. This course may be useful for Business Development Managers, as it provides insights into how to develop unique internal sources of competitive advantage, predict which company will win in competition, and deal with disruptions in the marketplace.
Senior Executive
Senior Executives are responsible for the overall direction and operation of an organization. They set strategic goals, develop policies, and make decisions that affect the entire organization. This course may be useful for Senior Executives, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, the business environment, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Corporate Planner
Corporate Planners develop long-term plans for their organizations. They analyze the business environment, identify trends, and develop strategies for growth and profitability. This course may be useful for Corporate Planners, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, the business environment, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Management Consultant
Management Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of management issues. They help organizations improve their performance, solve problems, and make better decisions. This course may be useful for Management Consultants, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Project Manager
Project Managers lead and manage projects from start to finish. They work with stakeholders to define project goals, develop project plans, and manage project resources. This course may be useful for Project Managers, as it provides an understanding of the sources of competitive advantages, how to measure the success of a business, and strategies for dealing with disruptions in the marketplace.
Business Architect
Business Architects establish strategic plans for an organization's products, services, and other business endeavors by examining the business environment and customer needs. The course may be useful for Business Architects, as it provides an understanding of how to develop unique internal sources of competitive advantage, predict which company will win in competition, and deal with disruptions in the marketplace.

Reading list

We've selected 29 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 Entrepreneurial Strategic Management.
This classic text on competitive strategy is an indispensable read for students and practitioners alike. Porter's five forces framework powerful tool for understanding the competitive landscape and developing successful strategies.
This concise and accessible book provides a clear framework for developing good strategies. Rumelt's focus on simplicity, focus, and alignment is essential for entrepreneurs and strategic managers alike.
Provides a contrarian view of the startup world. It argues that the best way to build a successful startup is to focus on creating something new and different.
Provides a practical guide to using the Value Proposition Design methodology to develop and launch successful products and services.
This groundbreaking book challenges the conventional wisdom about innovation. Christensen argues that large, successful companies are often blindsided by disruptive technologies because they are too focused on protecting their existing businesses.
Provides a proven methodology for predictable revenue growth. Ross and Tyler share best practices from Salesforce.com on topics such as sales prospecting, lead qualification, and customer relationship management.
A step-by-step guide to acquiring customers for your startup. Weinberg and Mares provide practical advice on developing a traction strategy, testing different channels, and measuring results.
A classic self-help book that provides guidance on personal and professional effectiveness. Covey's principles can be applied to various aspects of business and leadership.
Provides a comprehensive overview of business strategy. It is written in a clear and concise style, and it is packed with examples from the real world.
Provides a comprehensive overview of strategic management. It is written in a clear and concise style, and it is packed with examples from the real world.
Must-read for entrepreneurs who want to build successful businesses using the lean startup methodology. Ries provides a step-by-step guide to testing and validating your business ideas.
Provides a practical framework for acquiring customers and building a sustainable business. Weinberg and Mares offer a wealth of advice on everything from marketing and sales to customer service.
Provides a step-by-step guide to using the lean product development process to build successful products. Olsen offers practical advice on everything from market research to user testing to product launch.
Provides a collection of tools and techniques for developing innovative products and services. Christensen and Raynor offer practical advice on everything from market research to product design to business model development.
Collection of essays on the challenges and opportunities of building a successful startup. Thiel shares his insights on everything from product development to fundraising to marketing.
Comprehensive guide to building a successful startup. Blank and Dorf provide practical advice on everything from customer discovery to product development to fundraising.
Classic text on marketing and selling technology products to mainstream customers. Moore provides a framework for understanding the different challenges and opportunities that companies face at each stage of the technology adoption lifecycle.
Builds on Christensen's earlier work on disruptive innovation to provide a comprehensive framework for creating and sustaining successful growth. Christensen offers practical advice on everything from market research to product development to business model innovation.

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