Coursera

Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization

Coursera

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

2,535 already enrolled

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Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

from 224 reviews of courses in this program

Intermediate 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

from 224 reviews of courses in this program

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

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

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

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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

Category: Financial Planning
Category: Business Planning
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Business Acumen
Category: Team Performance Management
Category: Organizational Strategy
Category: Resource Management
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Financial Management
Category: Organizational Effectiveness
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Business Management
Category: Team Management
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Team Leadership
Category: Organizational Development
Category: Decision Making
Sustainable Business Strategies

Sustainable Business Strategies

Course 2, 5 hours

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

Category: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG)
Category: Corporate Sustainability
Category: Sustainable Business
Category: Climate Change Mitigation
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Sustainability Standards
Category: Climate Change Programs
Category: Supply Chain Planning
Category: Case Studies
Category: Corporate Strategy
Category: Environmental Issue
Category: Sustainability Reporting
Category: Business Operations
Category: Sustainable Development
Introduction to Market Research

Introduction to Market Research

Course 3, 5 hours

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Collection
Category: Market Research
Category: Analytical Skills
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Trend Analysis
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Market Intelligence
Category: Customer Analysis
Category: Marketing
Category: Analysis
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Business Research
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Market Trend
Commercial Awareness

Commercial Awareness

Course 4, 3 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

Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Trend Analysis
Category: Business Leadership
Category: Campaign Planning
Category: Sales
Category: Marketing
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Sales Strategy
Category: Competitive Intelligence
Category: Leadership
Category: Business Acumen
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Market Trend
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Business Planning
Category: Market Analysis
Business Strategy: Value Proposition Essentials

Business Strategy: Value Proposition Essentials

Course 5, 3 hours

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

Category: Business Strategy
Category: Value Propositions
Category: Communication Strategies
Category: Strategic Communication
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Product Knowledge
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Communication
Research and Draft a Competitive Analysis

Research and Draft a Competitive Analysis

Course 6, 5 hours

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

Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Market Data
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Report Writing
Category: Research Reports
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Benchmarking
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Competitive Intelligence
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Market Research
Category: Business Writing
Category: Business Communication
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Business Research
Category: Marketing
Category: Market Intelligence
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Business Innovation: Prototyping, Markets, Strategy

Business Innovation: Prototyping, Markets, Strategy

Course 7, 2 hours

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

Category: Innovation
Category: Resource Management
Category: Resource Allocation
Category: Business Research
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Entrepreneurship
Category: New Business Development
Category: Ideation
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: New Product Development
Category: Product Development
Introduction to KPIs: Measuring Success in Business

Introduction to KPIs: Measuring Success in Business

Course 8, 4 hours

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

Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Performance Improvement
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Business Process Improvement
Category: Process Improvement
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Operational Performance Management
Category: Performance Reporting
Category: Performance Analysis
Category: Performance Metric

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

Category: Qualitative Research
Category: Interviewing Skills
Category: Data Collection
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Case Studies
Category: Focus Group
Category: Discussion Facilitation
Category: Research
Category: Research and Design
Category: Analysis
Category: Research Design
Create Compelling Business Cases

Create Compelling Business Cases

Course 10, 4 hours

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Business Writing
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Risk Management
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Risk Analysis
Category: Proposal Development
Category: Decision Making
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Risk Mitigation
Category: Storytelling
Category: Business Ethics
Category: Stakeholder Analysis
Category: Data Storytelling
Category: Ethical Standards And Conduct
Category: Proposal Writing
How to Identify Your Target Audience

How to Identify Your Target Audience

Course 11, 4 hours

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

Category: Persona Development
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Target Audience
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Customer Analysis
Category: Data-Driven Marketing
Category: User Feedback
Category: Business Ethics
Category: Driving engagement
Category: Market Research
Category: Customer Retention
Category: Customer Engagement
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Quantitative Research Methods: Tools for Data Analysis

Quantitative Research Methods: Tools for Data Analysis

Course 12, 3 hours

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

Category: Data Analysis
Category: R (Software)
Category: Statistical Analysis
Category: Microsoft Excel
Category: Data Collection
Category: Data Ethics
Category: Descriptive Statistics
Category: Statistical Methods
Category: Statistics
Category: Research Reports
Category: Statistical Reporting
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Descriptive Analytics
Category: Research
Category: Correlation Analysis
Category: Research Design
Category: R Programming
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera
1 Course4,154 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses45,414 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses19,440 learners

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