Coursera Instructor Network
Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization
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
Earn a Certificate
With paid plans
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
Earn a Certificate
With paid plans

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

55 practice exercises

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  • Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
  • Earn a career certificate from Coursera Instructor Network

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

Financial Statements, Budgeting, Team Leadership, Team Performance Management, Organizational Effectiveness, Business Planning, Financial Management, Financial Analysis, Resource Management, Strategic Thinking, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Strategy, Organizational Change, and Business Acumen

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

Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Corporate Sustainability, Sustainable Business, Business Reporting, Case Studies, Sustainability Reporting, Business Operations, Risk Analysis, Business Strategy, Governance, Operational Efficiency, Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainability Standards, Supply Chain Planning, and Performance Measurement

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

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

Strategic Decision-Making, Competitive Analysis, Market Trend, Marketing Strategies, Business Management, Business Marketing, Sales, Financial Analysis, Market Dynamics, Sales Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Marketing, Business Metrics, Market Analysis, Business, Business Acumen, Consumer Behaviour, Leadership, Business Strategy, and Financial Acumen

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

Value Propositions, Innovation, Business Strategy, Business Modeling, Communication, Product Knowledge, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Communication, Customer Analysis, Sales Presentation, and Business Marketing

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

Competitive Analysis, Business Communication, Market Research, Market Dynamics, Market Analysis, Report Writing, Business Metrics, Business Strategy, Benchmarking, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Strategic Decision-Making, and Market Intelligence

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

Brainstorming, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategies, Business Strategy, Ideation, Business Modeling, New Product Development, New Business Development, Resource Management, Strategic Thinking, Critical Thinking, Design Thinking, Prioritization, Market Opportunities, Business Research, Business Process, Product Development, Customer experience improvement, and Business Priorities

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

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Performance Improvement, Business Reporting, Continuous Improvement Process, Business Analysis, Performance Measurement, Smart Goals, Business Priorities, Performance Analysis, Business Metrics, Business Process Improvement, Data-Driven Decision-Making, and Operational Efficiency

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

Data Collection, Qualitative Research, Interviewing Skills, Research Methodologies, Report Writing, Focus Group, Case Studies, Analysis, Research, Research Design, and Surveys

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Financial Analysis, Business Ethics, Financial Acumen, Proposal Writing, Decision Making, Business Writing, Return On Investment, Business Research, Business Analysis, and Risk Management

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

Customer Insights, Persona Development, Target Audience, Data Ethics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Customer experience improvement, Business Development, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Data Analysis, User Feedback, Customer Analysis, Customer Engagement, Market Research, and Marketing Strategies

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

Quantitative Research, Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Microsoft Excel, R Programming, Research Design, Data Collection, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Reporting, Research Methodologies, Surveys, Statistics, Descriptive Statistics, Research, Data-Driven Decision-Making, and Data Presentation

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,428 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses34,475 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses16,695 learners

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