Business Strategy

Business development is the process by which organizations pursue opportunities to create greater value. Just like people, organizations must grow and change over time to thrive, and successful ones engage in development planning guided by strategic thinking and the pursuit of long-term goals. However, while business development is important to the ongoing viability of any organization, the specifics of a given growth strategy may involve entirely different processes from case to case.

For example, a multinational corporation’s business development strategy may include an analysis of their competitive position in the market, a capabilities analysis to determine areas of strength and weakness, and then a consideration of opportunities to divest from businesses that are no longer likely to be profitable. Alternatively, a company may identify new market opportunities and seek to diversify by establishing a new business unit or through mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

In contrast, for non-profit organizations, business development typically has quite a different meaning. In this context, development is usually focused on fundraising through a variety of means, including social media campaigns, grant programs, special events, one-on-one donor cultivation, and other activities.

Regardless of the types of activities pursued, business development is a core element of the lifecycle of any long-running enterprise.‎

Yes. You can start learning business development on Coursera for free in two ways:

• Preview the first module of many business development courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available).
• Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial.

If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in business development, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎

Coursera's business management courses equip learners with key managerial skills:

• Fundamentals of strategic management and business planning
• Techniques for effective leadership and team management
• Financial literacy for budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis
• Operations management for improving organizational efficiency
• Principles of marketing management and consumer engagement
• Project management skills to oversee projects from initiation to completion‎