Coursera Instructor Network
Foundations of Business Strategy and Research Specialization

Discover new skills with 30% off courses from industry experts. Save now.

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
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

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

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English
Recently updated!

August 2025

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

 logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Advance your subject-matter expertise

  • Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
  • Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
  • 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

Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Budgeting
Category: Financial Forecasting
Category: Organizational Leadership
Category: Resource Management
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Team Performance Management
Category: Management Accounting
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Team Leadership
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Financial Management
Category: Business Planning
Category: Organizational Change

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

Category: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG)
Category: Corporate Sustainability
Category: Sustainability Reporting
Category: Business Operations
Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Business Management
Category: Environmental Management Systems
Category: Business Reporting
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Governance
Category: Risk Mitigation
Category: Supply Chain
Category: Supplier Performance Management
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Business Transformation

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

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

Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Market Trend
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Business
Category: Sales Strategy
Category: Business 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

Category: Business Strategy
Category: Value Propositions
Category: Strategic Communication
Category: Business Marketing
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Product Knowledge
Category: Customer Analysis
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Communication
Category: Business Modeling
Category: Innovation

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

Category: Benchmarking
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Market Analysis
Category: Market Intelligence
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Business Writing
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Market Research
Category: Market Dynamics
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Business Communication
Category: Report Writing
Category: Marketing

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

Category: Brainstorming
Category: Innovation
Category: Resource Allocation
Category: Resource Management
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: Product Development
Category: Ideation
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Business Strategies
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Entrepreneurship
Category: Prioritization
Category: Business Research
Category: New Product Development
Category: Business Solutions

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

Category: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Category: Benchmarking
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Performance Reporting
Category: Performance Analysis
Category: Business Process Improvement
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Goal Setting

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

Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Data Collection
Category: Qualitative Research
Category: Interviewing Skills
Category: Healthcare Ethics
Category: Research Design
Category: Business Research
Category: Analysis
Category: Focus Group
Category: Research
Category: Surveys

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Business Ethics
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Risk Management
Category: Business Writing
Category: Business Planning
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Analysis
Category: Proposal Writing
Category: Business Research

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

Category: Customer Insights
Category: Target Audience
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Persona Development
Category: New Business Development
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Market Research
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Marketing Strategies
Category: Customer experience improvement
Category: Ethical Standards And Conduct
Category: Business Development
Category: Customer Engagement
Category: User Feedback
Category: Data Analysis

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

Category: Data Analysis
Category: Data Ethics
Category: Correlation Analysis
Category: Microsoft Excel
Category: R Programming
Category: Quantitative Research
Category: Data Collection
Category: Research Design
Category: Descriptive Statistics
Category: Research
Category: Data Presentation
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Research Methodologies
Category: Statistics
Category: Data Literacy
Category: Statistical Analysis

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Joe Cooke
Coursera Instructor Network
1 Course3,257 learners
Marta Sotto-Mayor
8 Courses31,395 learners
João Freitas
5 Courses15,564 learners

Offered by

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Coursera Plus

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions