Strategy: Essentials for Management, Consulting & Startups from Udemy

Strategy: Essential Foundations for Management, Consulting and Startup Success is a complete, comprehensive introduction and overview of strategy and strategic management, taught by Chris Bolman, an entrepreneur, startup advisor and former VP of Marketing / Head of Growth at Percolate.

In this class, I do my best to distill and explain:

The history and origins of strategy
The most influential strategy frameworks and mental models
How great strategists think
An actionable framework to help you quickly develop, design and execute your own strategies
My personal lessons learned as a strategist, management consultant and technology leader

Through the lessons in this course, I'll distill the last 10 years of my career, and I'm confident I have a lot of helpful, actionable insights to share. Whether you're a leader, executive, manager, consultant, advertising agency planner, small business owner or anyone else looking to improve their strategic decision-making, this course is for you.

Hope you'll join me.

What's inside

Learning objective

By the end of this class you'll understand the key elements of a successful strategy, how to develop, present and communicate your own successful strategies, and what makes strategies win

Syllabus

Introduction

An introduction and overview of the class

The goals and structure of this course.

Some important principles every strategist should understand and keep in mind.

Let's define what "strategy" is.

A look at the first strategists in history and their contribution to later strategic thinking.

Where does the word "strategy" come from?

A brief look at Carl von Clausewitz, who's book "On War" is one of the most influential works of modern military strategy.

How to think about strategy like a story or narrative.

How to think about strategy like an algorithm or operating logic.

Strategy, particularly within organizations, is hierarchical. Here's what that means and why it's important.

In this lesson we discuss the five essential levels every strategy should include.

This lesson looks at Frederick Taylor, the founder of "scientific management," and his influence on later strategists, including Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company.

This lesson looks at two of the most famous early strategy teachers at Harvard Business School (HBS).

BCG was the first consultancy to develop a "strategy" practice.

This lesson describes McKinsey's four most important and influential strategy frameworks. I use -- and see these frameworks used by others -- all the time throughout strategic planning, forecasting and business analysis.

Advertising agency J. Walter Thompson originates the concept of "Account Planning" (advertising strategy) in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

This lesson explains game theory and it's relationship with strategy.

This lesson discussed strategic planning, how it works, and how strategists use it as part of their forecasting process.

To conclude our module on influential strategy frameworks, we look at Michael Porter's "Five Forces" model.

In this module, we examine the Six Building Blocks of Strategy, what they are, and how you should use and think about them in your own work.

Building Block #1: Problem (Clarity)

Building Block #2: Strategic Insights

Building Block #1: Structuring Your Strategy (Solution Structuring)

Building Block #4: Strategic Planning

Building Block #5: Translating Strategy to Action

Building Block #6: Results, Research and Learnings (and How to Close the Loop on Your Strategy)

A review and conclusion of this module on Building Blocks.

In this lesson, we summarize the course learnings by looking at this six important themes (design patterns) for why strategies win and establish competitive advantages.

My concluding thoughts on strategy, and an outline of my ask for you in your parting assignment.

This is the essay that originally inspired the class. As you can see, I've made modifications and added additional content to the class itself (particularly a lot of visuals). But I also wanted to provide a link to the original which shares a lot of the core course ideas and materials if you'd like to read, reference or share it.

Access this link to get my supplemental Growth Strategy Template materials, including a Google Doc link to my Strategy Brief Template.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops basic and advanced skills in strategy, one of the most fundamental components overseeing teams and managers

Taught by Chris Bolman, a recognized professional in the field of strategy and marketing

Examines real world examples of businesses' strategies so that learners can easily understand concepts

Explotes influential strategy frameworks from Harvard Business School (HBS) and McKinsey which are industry-standard tools for teams everywhere

Teaches a step-by-step framework to develop, design and execute your own strategic plans

Appropriate for job seekers, consultants, agency planners, business owners, executives, managers and other decision-makers who seek to create a complete strategy

Reviews summary

Strategy essentials: actionable insights for professionals

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive yet concise introduction to strategy, making complex concepts understandable and actionable. Students particularly value the practical frameworks like the 'Six Building Blocks', which can be immediately applied to real-world scenarios. The instructor's expertise and engaging teaching style are frequently highlighted, providing valuable real-world context and personal insights. While many find it an excellent foundation for beginners and those in leadership roles, some intermediate strategists note that it can be high-level and occasionally lacks deeper analysis, suggesting it's best for gaining a solid overview rather than advanced mastery.

Excellent for those new to strategy or needing an overview.

"Absolutely brilliant! As someone transitioning into a strategic role, this course provided the foundational knowledge I desperately needed."

"A very solid introduction to strategy... excellent for beginners."

"Good course for understanding the basics of strategy."

"This course demystifies strategy and makes it accessible."

Instructor's experience and clear teaching are highly praised.

"Chris Bolman distills complex strategic concepts into understandable, actionable insights."

"The instructor's personal anecdotes provided good real-world context."

"Chris Bolman's experience shines through."

"The instructor breaks down complex ideas well."

Provides immediately applicable strategic tools.

"The 'Six Building Blocks' model is a practical tool I can immediately apply."

"The practical framework for developing strategies is gold. I applied it to my startup almost immediately."

"I particularly found the practical application sections, especially the 'Six Building Blocks', most valuable."

"This course provided the foundational knowledge I desperately needed. The content is well-structured."

Less practical emphasis for some due to historical content.

"The historical context was interesting, but I personally found the practical application sections... most valuable."

"The course covers a lot of ground, but some parts felt a bit high-level... The historical sections were okay, but not what I signed up for."

"Decent overview. It covers a lot of historical context which wasn't my primary interest. I wanted more hands-on strategic problem-solving."

Some users found it covered topics without sufficient depth.

"Some parts felt a bit high-level. I was hoping for more in-depth analysis..."

"I found this course somewhat superficial... it doesn't go deep enough into any of them."

"If you already have some background, this might be too basic."

"Many of the frameworks are explained briefly, and I often felt I needed to do external research to fully grasp them."

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 Strategy: Essentials for Management, Consulting & Startups with these activities:

Find a mentor who can provide guidance on strategy and strategic management

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Finding a mentor can provide you with valuable insights and guidance from someone who has experience in the field of strategy and strategic management.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify your goals and objectives for mentorship
Research potential mentors
Reach out to potential mentors and request a meeting

Review past course notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams

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Refreshing past knowledge and skills on strategy can build a strong foundational understanding before beginning this course.

Browse courses on Strategy

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Gather past course materials, including notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams
Review key concepts, frameworks, and models from previous courses
Summarize important takeaways and insights to reinforce understanding

Read 'Good Strategy/Bad Strategy' by Richard Rumelt

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This book provides a clear and concise framework for developing and evaluating strategies.

View The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists on Amazon

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Read the book
Summarize the key concepts of the book
Apply the concepts of the book to your own work

Four other activities

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Attend a workshop on strategy and strategic management

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Attending a workshop can provide you with an opportunity to learn from experts in the field of strategy and strategic management.

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Research workshops on strategy and strategic management
Identify a workshop that meets your needs
Register for the workshop
Attend the workshop
Apply the concepts learned in the workshop to your own work

Develop a personal strategic plan

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Creating a personal strategic plan will help you apply the concepts of strategy and strategic management to your own life and career.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Define your goals and objectives
Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
Develop strategies to achieve your goals
Implement your strategies
Monitor and evaluate your progress

Practice developing and evaluating strategies using case studies

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Practicing developing and evaluating strategies using case studies can help you develop your skills in strategic thinking.

Browse courses on Case Studies

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Find case studies that are relevant to your interests
Analyze the case studies to identify the key issues
Develop strategies to address the key issues
Evaluate the strategies that you develop
Present your strategies to others for feedback

Develop a business case for a new product or service

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Developing a business case for a new product or service will help you apply the concepts of strategy and strategic management to a real-world situation.

Browse courses on Business Case Development

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Identify a market opportunity
Develop a solution to the market opportunity
Estimate the costs and benefits of the solution
Write a business case that outlines the opportunity, solution, and costs and benefits
Present your business case to potential investors or stakeholders

Career center

Learners who complete Strategy: Essentials for Management, Consulting & Startups will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Strategy Consulting Analyst

As a Strategy Consulting Analyst, you will be responsible for helping clients develop and implement strategies to improve their performance. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes strategies win. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work with clients to help them achieve their goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Consulting Analyst

Management Consultant

Management Consultants advise businesses on how to improve their performance. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to analyze a business's situation, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and develop and recommend solutions to improve its performance. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work with clients to help them achieve their goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses identify and solve problems. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to analyze a business's situation, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and develop and recommend solutions to improve its performance. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work with businesses to help them achieve their goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for developing and managing products. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes strategies win. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to develop and launch successful products.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes strategies win. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to develop and execute successful marketing campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes strategies win. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to plan, execute, and close successful projects.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning and executing the day-to-day operations of a business. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes strategies win. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to plan and execute successful operations.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes strategies win. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to start and grow your own business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts help businesses make financial decisions. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to analyze a business's financial performance, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and develop and recommend solutions to improve its financial performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help businesses raise capital. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to analyze a business's financial performance, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and develop and recommend solutions to improve its financial performance. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to help businesses raise capital.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful sales strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes sales strategies win.

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Marketing Researcher

Marketing Researchers conduct research to help businesses understand their customers and markets. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to develop, present, and communicate successful research strategies, and you will gain insights into what makes research strategies win.

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Management Information Systems Analyst

Management Information Systems Analysts help businesses design and implement information systems. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to analyze a business's information needs, develop and recommend solutions to meet those needs, and implement those solutions successfully.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Information Systems Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts help businesses make decisions based on data. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to analyze data, identify trends and patterns, and develop and recommend solutions to improve business performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data. This course can help you succeed in this role by providing you with a strong foundation in strategy and strategic management. You will learn how to design and conduct statistical studies, analyze data, and interpret results. This knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to you as you work to help businesses make decisions based on data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician