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Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization

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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
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

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

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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 Forecasting
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Budgeting
Category: Team Performance Management
Category: Organizational Change
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Management Accounting
Category: Organizational Leadership
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Business Planning
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Team Leadership
Category: Financial Management
Category: Resource Management

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: Sustainability Reporting
Category: Business Operations
Category: Supply Chain
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Governance
Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Business Reporting
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Supplier Performance Management
Category: Business Management
Category: Business Transformation
Category: Risk Mitigation
Category: Environmental Management Systems
Category: Business Strategies

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Market Research
Category: Data Collection
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Business Research
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Market Trend
Category: Marketing
Category: Trend Analysis
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Analytical Skills
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

Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Business
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Market Trend
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Sales Strategy
Category: Business Leadership

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: Product Knowledge
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Innovation
Category: Customer Analysis
Category: Communication
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Business Modeling
Category: Strategic Communication

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: Benchmarking
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Report Writing
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Marketing
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Market Intelligence
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Business Communication
Category: Business Writing
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Market Research

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: Brainstorming
Category: Innovation
Category: Resource Management
Category: New Product Development
Category: Resource Allocation
Category: Prioritization
Category: Business Research
Category: Product Development
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Entrepreneurship
Category: Ideation
Category: Business Solutions
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Critical Thinking

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 Metrics
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Benchmarking
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Business Process Improvement
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Performance Reporting
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Goal Setting
Category: Performance Analysis

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: Research Methodologies
Category: Data Collection
Category: Focus Group
Category: Business Research
Category: Surveys
Category: Research
Category: Analysis
Category: Research Design
Category: Healthcare Ethics

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Business Ethics
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Analysis
Category: Business Planning
Category: Business Writing
Category: Risk Management
Category: Proposal Writing
Category: Business Research
Category: Business Analysis

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: Target Audience
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Customer Engagement
Category: Market Research
Category: Ethical Standards And Conduct
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: User Feedback
Category: Business Development
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Customer experience improvement
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: New Business Development

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: R Programming
Category: Data Ethics
Category: Microsoft Excel
Category: Data Analysis
Category: Correlation Analysis
Category: Statistics
Category: Descriptive Statistics
Category: Research Design
Category: Data Literacy
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Data Presentation
Category: Research
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Data Collection
Category: Statistical Analysis
Category: Quantitative Research

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,248 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses31,212 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses15,505 learners

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