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

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

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

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

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

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

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

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

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,449 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses34,964 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses16,850 learners

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