Business Strategy in Practice (Project-centered Course)

Business Strategy in Practice (Project-centered Course)

This course is part of Business Strategy Specialization

Instructors: Michael Lenox

18,008 already enrolled

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8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

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

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Business Strategy Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 8 modules in this course

A Capstone Project is an assignment designed specifically to apply and showcase the skills you learned in the Specialization. To this end, the Business Strategy Capstone Project, a comprehensive Strategic Analysis, provides an opportunity for you to synthesize concepts and knowledge from the four prerequisite courses in the specialization. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, you will be guided through your project by top-ranked faculty. You may continue with the organization you selected for previous assignments or select a new organization for this project. You will analyze the current state of the organization, strategic issues facing the organization, strategic paths the organization might pursue, make a recommendation of the best path for the organization to pursue, and write an Executive Summary. Your finished project will serve as an artifact showcasing your ability to conduct research on/within an organization, select and apply the most appropriate analytical tools, build a well-supported case for a specific position, and effectively communicate key points with executive leadership.

Welcome to the Business Strategy in Practice project-centered course and congratulations on completing the four prerequisite courses! In this course, you will bring together all that you have learned and employ your toolkit to develop your comprehensive Strategic Analysis. To get started, watch our "Welcome to the Business Strategy in Practice" video lecture. Then, read our Course Overview so you get a sense of what's ahead, including four milestones to help keep you on track to complete your project within the eight weeks. We are excited to watch you put your learning into action! Good luck, work hard, encourage one another, and enjoy!

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 34 minutes

Welcome to Business Strategy in Practice2 minutes
WIP Milestone 14 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: SWOT Analysis2 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Competitor Analysis3 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Environmental Analysis3 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Five Forces Analysis5 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Competitive Life Cycle Analysis3 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Stakeholder Analysis4 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Capabilities Analysis3 minutes
Strategist's Toolkit: Strategy Maps4 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Course Overview10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Introductions10 minutes

Welcome to Week 2. This week you should continue working on WIP Milestone 1 so that you are ready to submit your assignment by the end of the week. Good luck and work hard -- thorough research will help you build a solid foundation for your project!

What's included

1 peer review1 discussion prompt

Welcome to Week 3. This is "buffer" week allowing time to complete your peer reviews -- providing as much constructive feedback as possible -- and then to start working on WIP Milestone 2.

What's included

1 video1 discussion prompt

Welcome to Week 4. This week you should continue working on WIP Milestone 2 so that you are ready to submit your assignment by the end of the week. Good luck and work hard -- you will need a solid understanding of the different options and strategic paths in order to make your recommendation in the next milestone!

What's included

1 peer review1 discussion prompt

Welcome to Week 5. This is another "buffer" week allowing time to complete your peer reviews -- providing as much constructive feedback as possible -- and then to start working on WIP Milestone 3.

What's included

6 videos1 discussion prompt

Welcome to Week 6. This week you should continue working on WIP Milestone 3 so that you are ready to submit your assignment by the end of the week. Looking ahead, Week 7 is a busy week: you will need to wrap up your peer reviews for WIP Milestone 3 and then prepare for the Final Milestone, putting the finishing touches on and then submitting your Strategic Analysis! So don't delay -- get going and work hard to meet your deadlines!

What's included

1 peer review1 discussion prompt

Welcome to Week 7. This is a busy week: you will need to wrap up your peer reviews for WIP Milestone 3 and then prepare for the final milestone: submitting your finished project! To prepare for the final milestone, you will pull together the work you completed for previous milestones, write a cogent and concise executive summary, put the finishing touches on your project, and then submit it for one final round of peer review. We are excited to see your finished projects!

What's included

1 video1 peer review1 discussion prompt

Welcome to Week 8, our final week together. This is another "buffer" week allowing time to complete your peer reviews. While we only require three peer reviews, please consider completing an additional review or two to help your peers who might still be waiting for their final grade and Specialization Certificate. Additionally, we have a discussion opportunity for you to share final comments, reflections, and thoughts on your capstone experience.

What's included

1 discussion prompt

Earn a career certificate

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Instructors

Michael Lenox

University of Virginia

24 Courses630,602 learners

Jared Harris

University of Virginia

10 Courses288,684 learners

Offered by

University of Virginia

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