Corporate Strategy

with Valentina Bogdanova
4.8/5
(255)

Build a winning corporate strategy: Master the art of competitive positioning and strategic decision-making

2 hours of content 1622 students

Please note that this course is available only to subscribers who have reached level 7

What you get:

  • 2 hours of content
  • 2 Downloadable resources
  • World-class instructor
  • Closed captions
  • Q&A support
  • Future course updates
  • Course exam
  • Certificate of achievement

Corporate Strategy

Please note that this course is available only to subscribers who have reached level 7

What you get:

  • 2 hours of content
  • 2 Downloadable resources
  • World-class instructor
  • Closed captions
  • Q&A support
  • Future course updates
  • Course exam
  • Certificate of achievement

Please note that this course is available only to subscribers who have reached level 7

What you get:

  • 2 hours of content
  • 2 Downloadable resources
  • World-class instructor
  • Closed captions
  • Q&A support
  • Future course updates
  • Course exam
  • Certificate of achievement

What You Learn

  • Identify and select the optimal strategic positioning for your business
  • Avoid the risk of an incoherent corporate strategy
  • Analyse the competitive dynamics in your industry and position your business model for success
  • Protect your business from competitors by building a sustainable competitive advantage
  • Gain insights into management’s strategic choices and contribute to strategic discussions
  • Strengthen your business acumen with essential business leadership skills

Top Choice of Leading Companies Worldwide

Industry leaders and professionals globally rely on this top-rated course to enhance their skills.

Course Description

Developing a corporate and business strategy is key to success. It helps align the efforts of decision makers, middle management, and other employees, making sure they work in the same direction In this Business and Corporate Strategy course, you will learn how to a create a clear outline of an organization’s goals and plan to achieve them. It covers several key topics: corporate strategy vs. business strategy, the industry life cycle model (describing the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline stages), Michael Porter’s five forces model, game theory, the concept of competitive advantage, the types of growth strategies (organic vs. inorganic, horizontal vs. vertical, etc.), and so on. By the end of the lessons, you will be able to distinguish between businesses that are well-positioned from a strategic perspective and those with an incoherent corporate and business strategy. This course does not require an MBA or a business degree. It teaches you the fundamental skills you need to become a successful executive.

Curriculum

  • 1. What does the course cover
    1 Lesson 1 Min

    Introduction to the course and what you will learn in the lessons to come.

    What does the course cover
    1 min
  • 2. Why companies need a Strategy and how a Strategy helps firms
    3 Lessons 15 Min

    The term “strategy” refers to the ways companies achieve their goals. In this section, you will learn why companies need strategy and how to distinguish between corporate and business strategy. We also discuss the importance of the mission, vision, and values statements.

    Why companies need a Strategy
    5 min
    Distinguishing Corporate and Business Strategy
    4 min
    The Misssion, Goals, and Values statements
    6 min
  • 3. The industry life cycle model
    6 Lessons 19 Min

    Just like everything else in life, most industries have a lifecycle too. The four stages of the Industry Lifecycle model are Introduction, Growth, Maturity, and Decline. This section describes how product demand and business health looks like during each one of them.

    Introducing the industry life cycle model
    3 min
    Here is why you need to know about the industry lifecycle model
    2 min
    The introduction stage
    5 min
    The growth stage
    3 min
    The maturity stage
    3 min
    The decline stage
    3 min
  • 4. The five forces model
    7 Lessons 27 Min

    The 5 Forces Model is one of the most widely used corporate strategy frameworks. It helps analyse the competitive environment in a given industry. The section goes into more detail about the 5 forces influencing the level of competition: the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitute products, the rivalry among existing firms, the bargaining power of buyers, and the bargaining power of suppliers.

    The five forces model - An invaluable tool for practitioners
    2 min
    The threat of new entrants
    5 min
    The threat of substitute goods
    3 min
    Competitor analysis
    2 min
    The bargaining power of suppliers
    3 min
    The bargaining power of buyers
    4 min
    Porter's five forces in practice
    8 min
  • 5. Game theory applied in a corporate context
    4 Lessons 9 Min

    Michael Porter’s 5 Forces framework provides a holistic view and considers multiple layers of an industry’s dynamics. However, it has one major drawback – it is static. Game theory, on the other hand, considers the interactions among competitor companies. We discuss this alternative framework in more detail.

    The essence of zero-sum games
    2 min
    Game theory and why it is useful in strategy
    2 min
    Understanding the Prisoner's dilemma and its implications in the business world
    3 min
    Gametheory shown in practice
    2 min
  • 6. Understanding the concept of competitive advantage
    6 Lessons 18 Min

    This section introduces a company’s internal decision-making process. This is one of key factors determining the success of a business. This part of the Business and Corporate Strategy course examines how to use internal processes to gain a competitive advantage.

    Internal decision making
    1 min
    Introducing the company life cycle model
    6 min
    What is a competitive advantage and why companies need it
    3 min
    Acquiring a sustainable competitive advantage
    3 min
    The fundamental role of resources and capabilities
    3 min
    Acquiring a competitive advantage
    2 min
  • 7. Competing with the other companies in the industry
    5 Lessons 18 Min

    This part of the course focuses on Porter’s competitive strategies theory. According to it, every company must choose between one of three fundamental strategies: cost leadership, differentiation, and niche positioning. The best way to set up a business is to settle on one from the very beginning.

    Focusing on competitive strategy
    2 min
    The cost leadership strategy - sell cheap
    7 min
    Differentiation - be better and different
    3 min
    Niche strategies - serve a specific sub-segment of people in the best way
    3 min
    Hybrid strategies and why they can be dangerous
    3 min
  • 8. The types of growth strategies used by companies
    5 Lessons 16 Min

    The two drivers that create value for a business owner are revenue growth and profitability. This section describes the difference between organic and inorganic and horizontal and vertical growth.

    The main types of growth strategies
    2 min
    Organic growth - building a solid foundation and growing from the inside
    5 min
    Inorganic growth - Using the potential of M&A to acquire third party companies
    2 min
    Growing horizontally
    3 min
    Growing vertically
    4 min
  • 9. The SWOT framework
    2 Lessons 7 Min

    The SWOT framework allows us to combine internal and external analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths and Weaknesses are related to a firm’s internal environment, while Opportunities and Threats refer to the external environment.

    SWOT analysis - a useful framework for strategic analysis
    3 min
    SWOT analysis in practice - analyzing Starbucks
    4 min

Topics

Business fundamentalsTheoryCorporate Strategy

Tools & Technologies

theory

Course Requirements

  • No prior experience or knowledge is required. We will start from the basics and gradually build your understanding. Everything you need is included in the course

Who Should Take This Course?

Level of difficulty: Beginner

  • Aspiring and existing entrepreneurs
  • Business executives
  • Individuals who want to differentiate their professional profile and build up their business skills

Exams and Certification

A 365 Data Science Course Certificate is an excellent addition to your LinkedIn profile—demonstrating your expertise and willingness to go the extra mile to accomplish your goals.

Exams and certification

Meet Your Instructor

Valentina Bogdanova

Valentina Bogdanova

Ex-CEO at

5 Courses

659 Reviews

3723 Students

Valentina started her career as a sales expert in the telecom industry. She gradually climbed the ladder becoming first, Head of Sales, then, Marketing and Sales Director, and finally, CEO and Chairperson of the Management Board at GPS Bulgaria. Now, she is the Sales Director at Viasat Technology. Valentina holds an Executive MBA from the American University in Bulgaria. Her business acumen and strong leadership skills have allowed her to establish herself as an expert in the telecom industry.

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