This course is part of the Business Strategy Specialization

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Michael Lenox +1 more instructor

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Business Strategy SpecializationUniversity of Virginia

About this Course

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Get the tools you need to analyze, evaluate and recommend specific actions organizations can take to grow their value and avoid common growth pitfalls. In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and taught by top-ranked faculty, you will learn to determine how best to build value, whether by scaling existing markets, entering established markets or creating new markets through innovation and acquisitions.

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 3 of 5 in the

Business Strategy Specialization

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

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What you will 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 will gain

Mergers And Acquisitions (M&A)
innovation strategy
Strategic Thinking
Business Strategy
growth strategy

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 3 of 5 in the

Business Strategy Specialization

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.93/5 (82 Ratings)

Michael Lenox

Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer

Darden School of Business

388,323 Learners

21 Courses

Jared Harris

Samuel L. Slover Research Chair in Business Administration

Darden School of Business

179,037 Learners

10 Courses

Offered by

University of Virginia

A premier institution of higher education, The University of Virginia offers outstanding academics, world-class faculty, and an inspiring, supportive environment. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University is guided by his vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of students from all walks of life. Through these courses, global learners have an opportunity to study with renowned scholars and thought leaders.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating96%(3,418 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Growth through Scaling

Strategic growth is intentional, proactive, and consistent with a company's purpose. Taking advantage of economies of scale--growing a business by doing more of what it's already doing--is a conceptually easy but operationally complex approach to business growth. In this module, you will learn the Scenario Planning tool to identify and evaluate opportunities to scale an organization. With this tool, you'll have an effective means to understand when and where to grow and how to get there.

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 78 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Growth Strategy5mWhy Grow?9mStrategy and Growth3mGrowth Alternatives7mGrowth Risks7mGrowth through Scaling9mScenario Planning5mScenario Planning Step 15mScenario Planning Steps 2 and 37mScenario Planning Steps 4 and 56mModule Lessons2mStrategist's Toolkit: Scenario Planning7m

4 readings

Course Overview10mCourse Requirements10mGet to Know Your Classmates10mUsing the Discussion Forums10m

1 practice exercise

Growth through Scaling40m

Week2

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Growth through Entry

Growth through entry--whether by offering new products in existing markets or offering the same products in new markets--doesn't happen in isolation. Multiple firms compete for these markets and so any discussion of growth through entry has to look at the impact of rivalry. In this module, you'll learn how to apply game theory to analyze, assess, and respond to competitors. With the payoff matrices tool, you'll be able to evaluate options and determine an effective position.

1 hour to complete

8 videos (Total 48 min)

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Growth through Acquisition

2 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 65 min)

12 videos

Growth through Acquisition6mPros and Cons of Acquisitions5mPitfalls of Growth Through Acquisition7mWhy Firms Overpay for Acquisitions5mAlternatives to Acquisition7mIdentifying Successful Acquisition Opportunities3mAcquisition Analysis5mStrategic Benefit: Value of the Target2mAvoiding Overpaying4mAcquisition Analysis: Opportunity Costs6mModule Lessons4mStrategist's Toolkit: Acquisition Analysis5m

1 practice exercise

Growth through Acquisition40m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Growth through Innovation

Introducing new ideas, processes, and products that disrupt the market is another common growth strategy. In this module, we'll unlock the keys to innovation, from building an innovative capability to appropriating value from innovation to determining an innovation strategy. Using the Real Options Analysis tool, we'll show you how to grow through innovation and good practices for doing so. The Intel Corporate Venturing case provides an opportunity for you to practice this tool and apply course concepts to a real-world scenario.

5 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

11 videos

Growing through Innovation7mInnovation Strategies3mDeveloping an Innovative Capability6mKeys to Innovation3mOrganizing for Innovation6mAppropriating Value from Innovations2mIntellectual Property Protection7mComplementary Assets4mDetermining an Innovation Strategy5mModule Lessons1mStrategist's Toolkit: Real Options Analysis2m

1 reading

Assignment Overview15m

1 practice exercise

Growth through Innovation40m

Reviews

4.7

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TOP REVIEWS FROM BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGY

by SRSep 21, 2016

Very good followup course .. Doing this course provides an order and clarity to the thought process towards growth

by TKJul 16, 2017

This is a very hands on section of the course, I really enjoyed diving into the growth strategies and analyzing my selected company

by DRJul 23, 2019

Good course, provided some good insights and strategist toolkit is the best part about these courses.

by FMDec 12, 2017

As part of my path towards analyzing business in whose stock to invest, this course is a perfect addition to my tool belt.

View all reviews

About the Business Strategy Specialization

This Specialization covers both the dynamics and the global aspects of strategic management. You'll learn how to evaluate industry evolution, build and sustain competitive advantage, formulate and assess business strategies, and align efforts to organizational strategy. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply your skills by creating a comprehensive Strategic Analysis for an existing business or a venture of your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Business Growth Strategy

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