Introduction to Strategy from Coursera

This course was developed for professionals from any area who wish to improve their knowledge of strategy and who intend to apply this knowledge to their personal and professional life.

The art and science of strategy is important because it offers tools to support decision making in volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous scenarios. As a strategist, you will need to make decisions with information incomplete and often contradictory. The lack of access to information can be partially addressed with the analysis techniques that you will learn in this course.

This course will be focused and will offer some of the most important tools for the elaboration of the strategy and will develop your ability to use them.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Strategy

This week's goal is to introduce the concept of strategy. We will discuss how strategy is an ancient concept, whose basic principles are the same since ancient times until today. We present the mission, vision, and values and describe the importance of understanding the external environment in which the company is inserted.

Internal Analysis

In this week we will discuss the internal analysis techniques, that is, the activities directly and indirectly related to the company's purpose, and the VRIO technique, which helps us understand which of the internal resources determine the sources of competitive advantage.

SWOT - TOWS

This week is dedicated to the study of the SWOT - TOWS technique, which allows you to identify how to use internal resources (both strengths and weaknesses) to deal with the opportunities and threats generated by the external environment. The student will realize that this technique is different from the traditional SWOT technique.

Strategic Monitoring

Week 4 is dedicated to the discussion of Strategic monitoring techniques. Strategic monitoring is important because macro-environment variables change frequently. Therefore, it is important to use a professional system to identify changes, understand what they mean and how they affect the company's business.

Generic Strategies

Week 5 is dedicated to the study of generic strategies, as presented by Porter. A generic strategy is a way for the company to position itself within the industry, and each of the generic strategies indicates how to use company elements to avoid direct competition against other companies that use other generic strategies.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for beginners who want to learn about strategy

Provides important tools for developing strategy

Useful for professionals looking to apply strategy in different aspects of their lives

Exploration of the art and science of strategy is valuable in making decisions in uncertain scenarios

Covers essential tools for strategy development

Practical approach to developing the ability to use strategy tools

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 Introduction to Strategy with these activities:

Review Fundamental Business Concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of the core concepts of business strategy.

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Review textbooks or online materials on business concepts.
Attend introductory business workshops or webinars.
Discuss key concepts with peers or a mentor.

Practice SWOT Analysis

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Reinforce your understanding of SWOT analysis techniques by completing practice drills.

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Identify a business or organization.
Conduct a SWOT analysis on the business or organization.
Identify opportunities for improvement and potential threats.
Develop strategies to capitalize on strengths and mitigate weaknesses.

Read Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors

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Enhance your understanding of strategic analysis and competitive advantage.

View Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing... on Amazon

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Read and comprehend the key concepts of the book.
Apply the concepts to real-world case studies.
Summarize and reflect on your key takeaways.

One other activity

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Develop a Strategic Plan

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Apply your knowledge of strategy by creating a comprehensive strategic plan.

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Define the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
Conduct an internal and external analysis.
Develop strategic objectives and goals.
Identify resources and allocate responsibilities.
Create a monitoring and evaluation plan.

Career center

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

Business Strategist

A Business Strategist develops and executes strategies to help a company achieve its goals. This course can help you understand the principles of strategy and how to apply them in the real world. You will learn how to analyze the external environment, identify opportunities and threats, and develop strategies to capitalize on them. This course can also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in this role.

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Management Consultant

A Management Consultant provides advice to businesses on how to improve their performance. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Management Consultant, such as analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. You will also learn about different business strategies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager plans and executes marketing campaigns to promote products or services. This course can help you understand the principles of marketing and how to apply them to your own work. You will learn about different marketing strategies, how to conduct market research, and how to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. This course can also help you develop the creativity and communication skills that are essential for success in this role.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the development and marketing of a product. This course can help you understand the principles of product management and how to apply them to your own work. You will learn about different product development strategies, how to conduct market research, and how to launch and manage a product. This course can also help you develop the analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in this role.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a business. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Operations Manager, such as planning, organizing, and controlling. You will also learn about different operations management strategies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst provides advice to businesses on how to manage their finances. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Financial Analyst, such as financial modeling, analysis, and valuation. You will also learn about different financial strategies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Sales Manager

A Sales Manager is responsible for leading and motivating a team of salespeople. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Sales Manager, such as leadership, communication, and negotiation. You will also learn about different sales strategies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager is responsible for generating new business for a company. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Business Development Manager, such as networking, lead generation, and closing deals. You will also learn about different business development strategies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Project Manager, such as project planning, scheduling, and budgeting. You will also learn about different project management methodologies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Brand Manager

A Brand Manager is responsible for developing and managing a brand. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Brand Manager, such as brand strategy, marketing, and communication. You will also learn about different brand management strategies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Market Researcher

A Market Researcher conducts research to understand consumer behavior. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Market Researcher, such as research design, data analysis, and reporting. You will also learn about different market research methodologies and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst analyzes data to extract insights. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Data Analyst, such as data analysis, visualization, and interpretation. You will also learn about different data analysis techniques and how to apply them to real-world situations.

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Financial Advisor

A Financial Advisor provides financial advice to individuals and families. This course may help you build a foundation in basic financial concepts and strategies. That said, to become a financial advisor, you will likely need an advanced degree and licensure. This course can help introduce you to the field of finance.

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Human Resources Manager

A Human Resources Manager is responsible for managing the human resources of a company. This course may help you build a foundation in basic human resources concepts and strategies. That said, to become a human resources manager, you will likely need an advanced degree and certification. This course can help introduce you to the field of human resources.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist is responsible for managing the public relations of a company. This course may help you build a foundation in basic public relations concepts and strategies. That said, to become a public relations specialist, you will likely need an advanced degree and experience. This course can help introduce you to the field of public relations.

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