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

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

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

Sustainable Business, Corporate Sustainability, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Development, Sustainability Reporting, Supply Chain Planning, Environmental Management Systems, Risk Analysis, Corporate Strategy, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Business Operations, Sustainability Standards, Operational Efficiency, and Business Ethics

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Data Collection, Market Research, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Trend Analysis, Market Analysis, Analytical Skills, Quantitative Research, Marketing, Strategic Decision-Making, Market Trend, Consumer Behaviour, Customer Insights, Data Analysis, Competitive Analysis, and Business Research
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, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Thinking, Market Trend, Business Metrics, Business Acumen, Business Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Financial Analysis, Business, Sales, Business Strategy, Market Dynamics, Market Analysis, Business Management, Marketing, Sales Strategy, Financial Acumen, and Leadership

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

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

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

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

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Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,445 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses34,771 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses16,801 learners

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