About this course: In this course you will learn how organizations create, capture, and maintain value, and how it is fundamental for sustainable competitive advantage. You will be able to better understand value creation and capture, and learn the tools to analyze both competition and cooperation from a variety of perspectives, including the industry level (e.g., five forces analysis), and the firm level (e.g., business models and strategic positioning). • Understand how managers coordinate different functional areas, resources, and systems inside a company and align them with the external environment to enhance overall performance • Knowledge of strategic management tools and frameworks, and apply them to real business contexts Process diverse business and industry information to diagnose strategic issues, evaluate strategic alternatives, and formulate a coherent and actionable strategic plan • How to think like a CEO, entrepreneur, or general manager. This course is part of the iMBA offered by the University of Illinois, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.
Created by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Taught by: Deepak Somaya, Professor of Business Administration
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Business Department of Business Administration
| Basic Info | Course 5 of 7 in the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Orientation
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.
1 video, 6 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Course Welcome and Orientation
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: About the Discussion Forums
- Reading: Glossary
- Reading: Description of Organizations and Brands
- Practice Quiz: Orientation Quiz
- Reading: Updating Your Profile
- Reading: Social Media
- Discussion Prompt: Getting to Know Your Classmates
Module 1: Leading Strategically
The Leading Strategically module will lay the foundation of business strategy course. You will learn about mission, vision and values and their role in overall strategy landscape. You will learn about the VARS framework for analyzing business models and SWOT framework for understanding the fit and coherence of business strategy.
12 videos, 4 readings
- Reading: Module 1 Overview
- Video: Module 1 Overview Lecture
- Reading: Module 1 Readings
- Video: 1-1.1: Mission, Vision & Values
- Video: Executive Expert Introductions
- Video: Executive Expertise: Mission and Values
- Video: 1-2.1: Introduction to Business Models
- Video: 1-2.2: The V.A.R.S. Framework, Part 1
- Video: 1-2.3: The V.A.R.S. Framework, Part 2
- Video: Executive Expertise: Business Models
- Video: 1-3.1: Coherence, Fit and SWOT
- Video: Case Introduction – Uber
- Reading: Instructions for Case Study Analysis – Uber
- Video: Uber Case Study Summary
- Reading: Module 1 Discussions
- Video: Like this course? Learn more with the iMBA! (optional)
Graded: Module 1 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
Module 2: External Analysis
The Environmental Analysis module will focus on a key aspect of business strategy – analyzing and understanding the external environment of a firm. You will learn about the macro-environment of firms and the PESTEL framework for macro-environmental analysis. You will also learn about firms’ industry environment and understand how to predict industry profitability by using the 5-forces framework.
9 videos, 4 readings
- Reading: Module 2 Overview
- Video: Module 2 Overview Lecture
- Reading: Module 2 Readings
- Video: 2-1.1 The PESTEL Framework
- Video: Executive Expertise: The External Environment
- Video: 2-2.1 Structure, Conduct and Performance
- Video: 2-2.2 Introducing the 5 Forces Framework
- Video: 2-2.3 Applying the 5 Forces Framework
- Video: 2-3.1 Dynamic Industry Analysis
- Video: Case Introduction – The Soft Drink Industry
- Reading: Instructions for Case Study Analysis – The Soft Drink Industry
- Video: The Soft Drink Industry Case Study Summary
- Reading: Module 2 Discussions
Graded: Module 2 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Module 3: Internal Analysis and Competitive Advantage
The module on Internal Analysis and Competitive Advantage will provide an in-depth understanding of the origins of unique company strengths and how they can produce a competitive advantage. You will learn about the origins and consequences of fundamental internal differences among firms using the analytical viewpoints of activities, resources, and capabilities. You will be introduced to the strategic tools of value chains, value networks, and the V-R-I framework to help you analyze the implications of these within-firm differences for (sustained) competitive advantage.
8 videos, 4 readings
- Reading: Module 3 Overview
- Video: Module 3 Overview Lecture
- Reading: Module 3 Readings
- Video: 3-1.1 Competitive Advantage & Firm Performance
- Video: 3-2.1 Activities of the Firm
- Video: 3-2.2 Resources and Capabilities
- Video: 3-3.1 Sustained Competitive Advantage
- Video: Executive Expertise: Competitive Advantage
- Video: Case Introduction – Starbucks Corporation
- Reading: Instructions for Case Study Analysis – Starbucks
- Video: Starbucks Case Study Summary
- Reading: Module 3 Discussions
Graded: Module 3 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Module 4: Strategic Positioning and Strategic Renewal
The Strategic Positioning and Strategic Renewal module brings together the internal and external aspects of strategic analysis to formulate an overall strategy for the firm. You will learn about the two main “generic strategies” that businesses can pursue, which can be complemented by broad or narrow scope to yield four key types of strategic positioning. You will also learn about “dual” strategies and why and how a firm's strategy must be adapted to strategically renew its positioning.
9 videos, 4 readings
- Reading: Module 4 Overview
- Video: Module 4 Introduction
- Reading: Module 4 Readings
- Video: 4-1.1 Generic Business Strategies
- Video: Executive Expertise: Strategic Positioning
- Video: 4-2.1 Dual Strategies
- Video: 4-3.1 Strategic Renewal
- Video: Executive Expertise: Strategic Renewal
- Video: Case Introduction – Lego Group
- Reading: Instructions for Case Study Analysis – Lego
- Video: Lego Case Study Summary
- Reading: Module 4 Discussions
- Video: Course Conclusion
Graded: Module 4 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 4 Quiz
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
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Creators
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
Excellent cathedra.
I learned quite a bit from this module. I highly recommend the entire course!
Although the professor did a good job of bringing in examples and real-world business strategists, it would have been great to encourage more women into business by including female entrepreneurs or bosses in his interviews and examples. I understand that there are far more men than women in the highest levels of corporate leadership, but professors have a unique opportunity to change that by amplifying their voices and encouraging the next generation of business students to include women in leadership.
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EM
Highly recommended course for anyone looking for foundational and advanced knowledge of strategy. Prof. Somaya did an excellent job. I really enjoyed the peer review assignments as it helped to grasp and deepen knowledge gained after each module.