What is strategic management?

Strategic management is the process business leaders use when creating goals and planning how to allocate resources to achieve those goals for their organization. It involves exploring both internal processes from within the organization and external factors, such as the role competition plays in the success or failure of a company. This type of management is a holistic approach that combines classic top-level managerial thinking with the application of modern theories and processes. It's a growing specialty field, with the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) expecting the field to grow at about 11% per year through 2029 , which is much faster than average.

What does learning strategic management enable me to do next?

Learning strategic management creates a number of career options for you. If you want to start your own business, it provides you with an understanding of how to gain insights that can help your business succeed. If you want to use your expertise to move up at a job you already have, you can present your certifications and show your new skills to your boss by sharing insights based on strategic management principles. If entering a new field is your goal, learning about this type of management ensures you have the know-how and skills to succeed on the job.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn strategic management?

Taking online courses on Coursera can help you learn strategic management by providing you with the opportunity to engage in planning and decision-making sessions through case studies and regular coursework. When you engage in strategy sessions and learn to use tools, such as SWOT analysis, to explore a company's competitive advantage and weaknesses, you gain insights about how a company might make changes in order to increase success. Then, you build on early learning from your courses to learn how to increase decision-making skills and how to develop a growth strategy.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn strategic management?

Before starting to learn strategic management, you need to have strong reading and math skills due to the information you need to understand throughout the course. You need analytical skills to process the information and turn it into something you can apply to each course assignment. You also need to have at least introductory-level leadership skills to build on throughout the time you're studying, while you learn how to manage and inspire others to apply the goals you set and the decisions you make.

What are the benefits of taking an online Strategic Management course?

Online Strategic Management courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Strategic Management skills. Choose from a wide range of Strategic Management courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Strategic Management courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Strategic Management, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Strategic Management Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Strategic Management Course Catalog

Copenhagen Business School
Strategic Management
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Business Strategies, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Leadership, Business Transformation, Technology Strategies, Competitive Analysis, Global Marketing, Market Share
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Copenhagen Business School
Strategic Management and Innovation
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Business Planning, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Goal Setting, Organizational Strategy, Resource Management, Peer Review, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Organizational Structure, Project Implementation, Market Analysis, Culture Transformation, Change Management, Business Strategies, Global Marketing, Strategic Communication, Strategic Leadership
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Strategic Leadership and Management
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Organizational Change, Stakeholder Management, Organizational Structure, Corporate Strategy, Governance, Organizational Strategy, Team Building, Strategic Leadership, Conflict Management, Leadership Development, Organizational Leadership, Business Management, Trustworthiness, Organizational Effectiveness, Business Ethics, Team Management, Team Motivation, Change Management, Decision Making
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
9.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
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Status: Free
University of London
Corporate Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Corporate Strategy, Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Growth Strategies, New Business Development, Business Valuation, Resource Allocation, Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
IE Business School
Foundations of Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Competitive Analysis, Business Strategy, Economics, Market Dynamics, Business Economics, Strategic Thinking, Market Analysis, Strategic Marketing, Resource Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
179 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: New AI skills
Google
Google Project Management:
Skills you'll gain: Quality Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Project Scoping, Project Closure, Project Management, Project Planning, Continuous Improvement Process, Agile Project Management, Project Controls, Backlogs, Quality Assessment, Team Management, Project Documentation, Agile Methodology, Communication Planning, Project Schedules, Change Management, Milestones (Project Management), Organizational Structure, Data Storytelling
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
128K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Google
Agile Project Management
Skills you'll gain: Agile Project Management, Backlogs, Agile Methodology, User Story, Sprint Planning, Agile Product Development, Product Roadmaps, Sprint Retrospectives, Employee Coaching, Team Management, Prioritization, Professional Networking, Estimation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
14K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Virginia
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Ethics, Peer Review, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Governance, Stakeholder Management, New Business Development, Business Research, Analysis, Project Management, Innovation, Market Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Dartmouth College
Strategic Leadership: Impact, Change, and Decision-Making
Skills you'll gain: Decision Making, Creativity, Talent Management, Communication, Innovation, Strategic Decision-Making, Personal Development, Curiosity, Professional Networking, Collaboration, Team Motivation, People Management, Self-Awareness, Crisis Management, Strategic Leadership, Business Leadership, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Organizational Leadership, Critical Thinking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
604 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IIMA - IIM Ahmedabad
Strategy and Game Theory for Management
Skills you'll gain: Game Theory, Behavioral Economics, Business Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Complex Problem Solving, Business Leadership, Market Dynamics, Organizational Change, Economics, Digital Media Strategy, Market Opportunities, Mergers & Acquisitions, Advertising, Innovation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
99 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Virginia
Strategic Planning and Execution
Skills you'll gain: Plan Execution, Organizational Strategy, Business Strategy, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Governance, Analysis, Corporate Strategy, Business Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Innovation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
823 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Vanderbilt University
ChatGPT for Project Management - Leveraging AI for Success
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Large Language Modeling, Productivity, Project Planning, Generative AI, Risk Analysis, Milestones (Project Management), Timelines, Project Risk Management, Project Schedules, Project Management, Artificial Intelligence, Workflow Management, Project Implementation, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Project Documentation, Taking Meeting Minutes, Business Metrics, Creative Thinking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months