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Corporate Strategy

Corporate strategy is the strategy a firm uses to compete across multiple businesses. Many small firms want to grow by entering new businesses. Many large firms already are in multiple businesses, e.g. a photo camera producer selling also sunglasses.

We developed this course to help you make good corporate strategy decisions. Of the many decisions a firm has to make, corporate strategy decisions are among the most consequential. We will look at these key corporate strategy decisions:

- Diversification: How and which businesses should your firm enter?

- Divestiture: How and from which businesses should your firm exit?

- Corporate HQ: How should we organize corporate headquarters to create value across the different businesses?

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What's inside

Syllabus

Corporate Advantage

Welcome to week 1! This week, we introduce corporate strategy and its main goal: corporate advantage. To deepen our understanding of corporate strategy, we compare it with business strategy. We also cover sum-of-the-parts analysis, an often used technique to value multi-business firms, and we discuss how it relates to corporate advantage.

Diversification

Welcome to week 2! A key decision in corporate strategy is determining which businesses a firm should be active in. This week we look at the diversification decision: entering a new business. If you get stuck on the quiz or assignment, you should post on the Discussions to ask for help. (And if you finish early, I hope you'll go there to help your fellow classmates as well.)

Divestiture

Welcome to week 3! A key decision in corporate strategy is determining which businesses a firm should be active in. This week we look at the divestiture decision: exiting from a business. If you get stuck on the quiz or assignment, you should post on the Discussions to ask for help. (And if you finish early, I hope you'll go there to help your fellow classmates as well.)

Corporate Headquarters

Welcome to week 4! A key decision in corporate strategy is determining how to organize to create value across businesses. This week we look at corporate headquarters and how they can influence the different businesses. If you get stuck on the quiz or assignment, you should post on the Discussions to ask for help. (And if you finish early, I hope you'll go there to help your fellow classmates as well.)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for those looking to strengthen their expertise in corporate strategy, this course covers business strategy and analysis

Taught by Bart Vanneste, an established expert in corporate strategy

Develops skills in analyzing the sum-of-the-parts and creating corporate advantage in multiple businesses

Suitable for those seeking to make informed decisions on diversification and divestiture

Could benefit those looking to build a comprehensive understanding of corporate strategy

May be less suitable for those seeking to develop hands-on, practical skills in corporate strategy

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Reviews summary

Corporate strategy fundamentals

learners say this course provides a comprehensive overview of corporate strategy, with a focus on diversification, divestiture, and the role of corporate headquarters. The instructor is knowledgeable and engaging, and the course materials are well-organized and easy to follow. Students particularly appreciate the case studies and examples used to illustrate the concepts discussed.

Diversification is a strategy that companies use to reduce risk by investing in different businesses.

"Diversification is a common corporate strategy used to reduce risk."

"Diversification can be achieved through mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, or internal development."

"There are many benefits to diversification, including:"

"- Reduced risk"

"- Increased growth potential"

"- Improved financial performance"

Corporate headquarters plays a critical role in developing and implementing corporate strategy.

"Corporate headquarters is responsible for:"

"- Developing the company's overall strategy"

"- Allocating resources to different businesses"

"- Monitoring the performance of different businesses"

"- Making decisions about mergers and acquisitions and divestitures"

Companies can build a corporate advantage by leveraging their strengths to create value for their customers.

"A good corporate strategy starts with a clear understanding of your company's corporate advantage."

"Your corporate advantage is what makes your company unique and gives you an edge over your competitors."

"There are many different ways to create a corporate advantage, but some of the most common include:"

"- Having a strong brand"

"- Offering unique products or services"

"- Having a cost advantage"

"- Having a superior distribution network"

"- Having a strong team of employees"

Divestiture is a strategy that companies use to sell off a part of their business.

"Divestiture is the opposite of diversification."

"Divestiture can be used to:"

"- Raise capital"

"- Improve focus"

"- Reduce risk"

"- Improve financial performance"

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:

Practice Financial Analysis for Corporate Strategy

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Revisit financial analysis techniques to enhance the ability to evaluate and justify corporate strategy decisions.

Browse courses on Financial Analysis

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Review financial analysis concepts and techniques
Practice financial modeling using spreadsheets or software
Analyze company financial statements and make recommendations

Review 'Corporate Strategy' Textbook

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Reinforce understanding of course concepts by reviewing the foundational 'Corporate Strategy' textbook by David J. Collis and Cynthia A. Montgomery.

View Corporate Strategy: A Resource-Based Approach on Amazon

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Read assigned chapters
Take notes on key concepts and examples
Complete chapter review questions (if available)

Watch 'Corporate Strategy Explained' Tutorials

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Enhance understanding of course concepts by watching online tutorials that simplify and visually explain key strategies.

Browse courses on Corporate Strategy

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Search for reputable tutorials on YouTube or online platforms
Choose tutorials that cover specific topics or concepts
Take notes or summarize the main takeaways

Five other activities

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Join a Study Group for Corporate Strategy

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Foster collaboration and enhance understanding by engaging in regular discussions with peers through a study group.

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Find or create a study group with fellow classmates
Establish a regular meeting schedule
Discuss course topics, share insights, and solve problems together

Solve Diversification and Divestiture Case Studies

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Strengthen problem-solving skills by working through case studies that focus on diversification and divestiture strategies.

Browse courses on Diversification

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Locate case studies online or in textbooks
Read the case study and analyze the situation
Develop recommendations based on course concepts

Attend a 'Corporate Strategy in Practice' Workshop

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Experience real-world applications and industry insights by attending a workshop led by professionals.

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Register and attend the workshop
Take notes and ask questions during the presentations

Develop a Corporate Strategy Case Study

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Apply and synthesize course concepts by developing a case study that analyzes a real-world corporate strategy decision.

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Choose a company and its recent corporate strategy decision
Research the company and industry
Analyze the strategy using course frameworks
Write a report outlining the analysis and recommendations

Contribute to an Open Source Corporate Strategy Project

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Gain hands-on experience and stay abreast of industry trends by contributing to open-source projects related to corporate strategy.

Browse courses on Corporate Strategy

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Identify open-source projects on platforms like GitHub
Review the project and identify a contribution area
Fork the project and make your contributions
Submit a pull request with your changes for review

Career center

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

Corporate Strategy Analyst

Corporate Strategy Analysts are tasked with analyzing the performance of a company's different businesses and making recommendations on how to improve profitability. The Corporate Strategy course from the University of London, UCL School of Management can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as diversification, divestiture, and corporate headquarters, which are all essential for understanding how to make strategic decisions for a multi-business firm.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Strategy Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers provide financial advice to companies on a variety of transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and debt offerings. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the analytical skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as financial analysis, valuation, and deal structuring, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Private Equity Investor

Private Equity Investors invest in companies that are not publicly traded. They typically take a more active role in managing these companies than public market investors. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as private equity fund structures, due diligence, and portfolio management, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Investor

Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential. They typically take a more hands-on approach to investing than private equity investors. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as venture capital fund structures, due diligence, and portfolio management, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Management Consultant

Management Consultants provide advice to companies on a variety of business issues, such as strategy, operations, and marketing. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the analytical skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as business analysis, problem solving, and communication, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound business recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts provide financial advice to companies on a variety of matters, such as capital budgeting, investment analysis, and risk management. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the analytical skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as financial analysis, valuation, and risk management, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound financial decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Corporate Development Manager

Corporate Development Managers are responsible for developing and executing corporate strategy. They typically work closely with the CEO and other senior executives to identify and pursue growth opportunities. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound strategic decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Development Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing plans. They typically work closely with other departments, such as sales and product development, to ensure that the company's marketing efforts are aligned with its business objectives. The Corporate Strategy course can help you develop the analytical skills you need to succeed in this role. The course covers topics such as market research, consumer behavior, and marketing strategy, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound marketing decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating a team of sales representatives. They typically work closely with other departments, such as marketing and operations, to ensure that the company's sales efforts are aligned with its business objectives. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as sales forecasting, customer relationship management, and negotiation, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound sales decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a company. They typically work closely with other departments, such as finance and marketing, to ensure that the company's operations are efficient and effective. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as process improvement, supply chain management, and quality control, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound operational decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for identifying and pursuing new business opportunities. They typically work closely with other departments, such as sales and marketing, to ensure that the company's business development efforts are aligned with its business objectives. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as market research, business planning, and financial analysis, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound business development decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for developing and launching new products. They typically work closely with other departments, such as engineering and marketing, to ensure that the product meets the needs of the market. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as product development, market research, and competitive analysis, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound product management decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. They typically work closely with other departments, such as finance and operations, to develop solutions that can help the company achieve its business objectives. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as business process analysis, data analysis, and financial analysis, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound business analysis decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They typically work closely with other departments, such as finance and operations, to ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as project planning, risk management, and stakeholder management, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound project management decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They typically work closely with other departments, such as finance and marketing, to provide insights that can help the company make better decisions. The Corporate Strategy course may be useful for you in this role, as it covers topics such as data analysis, data visualization, and statistical modeling, which are all essential for understanding how to make sound data-driven decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

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 Corporate Strategy .

Corporate Strategy

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One of the best corporate strategy books available, Corporate Strategy: Theory and Practice, comprehensive textbook that covers every aspect of corporate strategy with both depth and clarity.

Corporate Strategy

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Corporate strategy fundamentals

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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