Coursera Instructor Network
Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization
Coursera Instructor Network

Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization

Build Strategic Business and Research Skills. Master essential business strategy and research methods for data-driven decision making.

Joe Cooke
Marta Sotto-Mayor
João Freitas

Instructors: Joe Cooke

Included with Coursera Plus

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Earn a Certificate
With paid plans
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Earn a Certificate
With paid plans

What you'll learn

  • Apply strategic frameworks to analyze markets, competition, and organizational dynamics for informed business planning

  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative research using Excel and R to gather actionable business insights

  • Create compelling value propositions, business cases, and KPI systems to drive strategic decision-making

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

August 2025

55 practice exercises

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Specialization - 12 course series

What you'll learn

  • Apply strategic thinking to define and achieve business objectives.

  • Recognize and apply organizational dynamics to enhance team performance and company culture.

Skills you'll gain

Financial Statements, Budgeting, Business Acumen, Strategic Thinking, Organizational Effectiveness, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Financial Analysis, Team Performance Management, Team Leadership, Strategic Decision-Making, Resource Management, Financial Management, and Organizational Change

What you'll learn

  • Understand the economic and reputational impacts of sustainability on business operations.

  • Explore global initiatives and standards promoting sustainable business practices.

  • Learn to implement and adhere to sustainability reporting frameworks like GRI and SASB.

Skills you'll gain

Corporate Sustainability, Sustainable Business, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Supply Chain Planning, Corporate Strategy, Sustainability Standards, Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainability Reporting, Operational Efficiency, Risk Analysis, Sustainable Development, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Business Operations, Environmental Management Systems, and Business Ethics

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Market Research, Data Collection, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Consumer Behaviour, Business Research, Customer Insights, Market Trend, Quantitative Research, Trend Analysis, Data Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Market Analysis, Analytical Skills, Strategic Decision-Making, and Marketing
Commercial Awareness

Commercial Awareness

Course 44 hours

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate business acumen components, focusing on decision-making, financial literacy, and market insights.

  • Synthesize market trends to understand competitive landscapes.

  • Formulate strategies to navigate business challenges.

  • Critique business strategies with an eye toward economic and industry trends.

Skills you'll gain

Strategic Decision-Making, Competitive Analysis, Business Metrics, Business, Business Acumen, Marketing Strategies, Leadership, Market Dynamics, Strategic Thinking, Marketing, Business Management, Market Trend, Consumer Behaviour, Financial Analysis, Financial Acumen, Market Analysis, Sales, Business Strategy, Sales Strategy, and Business Marketing

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate the Components of Effective Value Propositions.

  • Synthesize Value Proposition Frameworks for Diverse Industries.

  • Design and Articulate Compelling Value Propositions.

  • Critique and Improve Existing Value Propositions.

Skills you'll gain

Business Strategy, Value Propositions, Innovation, Business Marketing, Communication, Competitive Analysis, Sales Presentation, Business Modeling, Strategic Communication, Product Knowledge, and Customer Analysis

What you'll learn

  • Identify the fundamentals of competitive analysis and benchmarking.

  • Interpret and apply market research insights to practical problem solving.

  • Communicate clearly comprehensive competitive analysis reports.

  • Evaluate and strategically apply competitive analysis.

Skills you'll gain

Competitive Analysis, Strategic Decision-Making, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Communication, Market Research, Market Intelligence, Business Strategy, Report Writing, Benchmarking, Market Dynamics, Market Analysis, and Business Metrics

What you'll learn

  • Analyze the importance and levels of business innovation.

  • Apply a model to generate opportunities for business improvements.

  • Implement prototypes strategically while managing resources and embracing failure.

Skills you'll gain

Innovation, Brainstorming, Business Process, Business Research, Prioritization, Business Strategy, Customer experience improvement, Design Thinking, Business Modeling, Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, Business Strategies, Product Development, Critical Thinking, Resource Management, Strategic Thinking, Ideation, New Product Development, Business Priorities, and New Business Development

What you'll learn

  • Explain the importance of KPIs in achieving organizational goals.

  • Identify the right KPIs for different business units and objectives.

  • Implement KPIs within your business framework, employing best practices for data collection and analysis to drive improvement.

  • Assess the impact of KPI-driven strategies on business performance, using data to iterate and enhance business processes.

Skills you'll gain

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Performance Analysis, Operational Efficiency, Performance Improvement, Business Reporting, Performance Measurement, Smart Goals, Business Analysis, Continuous Improvement Process, Business Priorities, Business Metrics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, and Business Process Improvement

What you'll learn

  • Examine qualitative research fundamentals by grasping the key principles, methodologies, and philosophical foundations of qualitative inquiry.

  • Design effective studies by framing research questions, choosing appropriate methods, and planning studies that yield rich and relevant data.

  • Apply data collection techniques by conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, and documenting observations confidently.

  • Analyze themes using coding techniques to identify patterns, refine insights, and create actionable, valid research findings.

Skills you'll gain

Research Methodologies, Qualitative Research, Interviewing Skills, Data Collection, Focus Group, Research Design, Case Studies, Report Writing, Research, Surveys, and Analysis

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Business Ethics, Financial Analysis, Decision Making, Business Writing, Risk Management, Financial Acumen, Business Research, Business Analysis, Return On Investment, and Proposal Writing

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate the importance and impact of accurately identifying your target audience on business growth.

  • Synthesize information from diverse sources to create detailed audience profiles.

  • Implement effective strategies for engaging with and gathering feedback from your target audience.

  • Critique the ethical implications and privacy concerns associated with targeting specific audience groups in marketing campaigns.

Skills you'll gain

Customer Insights, Target Audience, Persona Development, Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Market Research, Customer Analysis, Marketing Strategies, Business Development, Customer experience improvement, Customer Engagement, User Feedback, and Data-Driven Decision-Making

What you'll learn

  • Design a basic quantitative study, including determining research questions, selecting appropriate methods, and implementing data collection.

  • Perform basic statistical analyses (mean, standard deviation, correlations) using Excel and R.

  • Interpret descriptive statistical results to support informed decision-making.

  • Apply ethical considerations and quality checks throughout study design, data collection, and analysis to ensure rigor and reliability.

Skills you'll gain

R Programming, Quantitative Research, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Data Ethics, Statistical Reporting, Statistical Analysis, Research, Statistics, Research Design, Surveys, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Research Methodologies, Descriptive Statistics, Data Collection, and Data Presentation

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,445 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses34,771 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses16,801 learners

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