University of Virginia
Business Strategy Specialization
University of Virginia

Business Strategy Specialization

Steer Your Business to Success. Generate value and demonstrate global impact in four courses.

Michael Lenox
Jared Harris
Scott Snell

Instructors: Michael Lenox

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4.8

(2,964 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.8

(2,964 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • How to evaluate industry evolution

  • How to build and sustain competitive advantage

  • How to formulate and assess business strategies

  • How to align efforts to organizational strategy

Details to know

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Taught in English
17 practice exercises

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Specialization - 5 course series

What you'll learn

  • How to use the SWOT, competitor, and environmental analysis tools

  • How to assess an industry's structure and how the competitive dynamics in an industry affect profitability

  • How to complete a capabilities analysis and how to use this analysis to guide decision making

  • How to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four generic competitive positions

Skills you'll gain

Competitive Analysis, Business Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Market Analysis, Business Planning, Corporate Strategy, Value Propositions, Organizational Strategy, and Analysis
Advanced Business Strategy

Advanced Business Strategy

Course 210 hours

What you'll learn

  • The dynamics of competition, the competitive life cycle, and strategies to survive and thrive through industry disruption

  • Internationalization strategies, how, where, and when to enter foreign markets, and foreign direct investment

  • How businesses compete across industries, the value of being in different markets, and the right degree of diversification

  • Stakeholder management and how engaging with non-capital stakeholders can create value

Skills you'll gain

Business Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Corporate Strategy, Stakeholder Management, International Finance, Market Dynamics, Stakeholder Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategic Decision-Making, Innovation, Product Lifecycle Management, Strategic Thinking, Global Marketing, Growth Strategies, and Business Ethics
Business Growth Strategy

Business Growth Strategy

Course 310 hours

What you'll learn

  • How to identify and evaluate opportunities to scale an organization

  • How to enter new markets and apply game theory to analyze, assess, and respond to competitors

  • How to assess the impact of a potential merger and acquisition and avoid common pitfalls of this type of growth

  • How to unlock the keys to innovation, from building an innovative capability to adding value from innovation to determining an innovation strategy

Skills you'll gain

Business Strategy, Growth Strategies, Innovation, Competitive Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategic Decision-Making, Organizational Strategy, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking, Business Valuation, New Business Development, Market Opportunities, and Market Dynamics

What you'll learn

  • How to connect strategic analysis to strategy execution using hypothesis testing to unearth key assumptions and assess their validity

  • Four different approaches to strategy formulation and how governance ties into effective strategy formulation

  • Use the 4A Model for effective strategy execution to ensure appropriate human and organizational resources are in place

  • Tips from industry experts for successful strategy development and execution

Skills you'll gain

Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Strategy, Business Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Analysis, Governance, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Analysis, and Data-Driven Decision-Making

What you'll learn

  • Employ your toolkit to develop your comprehensive Strategic Analysis

  • Build a well-supported case recommending a specific strategic path

  • Effectively and efficiently communicate key points with executive leadership

  • Identify strategic paths the organization might pursue

Skills you'll gain

Report Writing, Business Writing, Competitive Analysis, Presentations, Business Communication, Business Analysis, Peer Review, Business Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Project Management, and Business Research

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Instructors

Michael Lenox
University of Virginia
24 Courses594,187 learners
Jared Harris
University of Virginia
10 Courses262,773 learners

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