Strategy often sounds like a lofty concept only those at the highest levels of the organization can develop. But anyone can craft it, and it doesn’t need to be that hard. Harvard Business School Online is launching a new Business Strategy course to teach you how to become a more sophisticated strategic thinker and achieve greater success for your team and organization. Business Strategy introduces a powerful framework that allows anyone to think and act strategically. Built on decades of research, the course combines analytical rigor and creativity to show you how to conceive, build, and implement a successful strategy.
In nearly every business segment and corner of the economy, the most successful companies dramatically outperform their rivals. What's their secret? As you'll learn in Business Strategy—taught by Felix Oberholzer-Gee, the Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School—the companies that outcompete their rivals almost always base their business on value creation for customers, employees, and suppliers. Surprisingly, these companies often achieve more by doing less because they assess every business opportunity through the lens of value creation. By focusing on fewer but more powerful strategic initiatives, they end up winning customers, talented employees, and sought-after investors.
“Business Strategy is a great addition to our portfolio because it introduces simple tools to help all levels of management craft strategy and aid an organization to achieve its goals,” says Executive Director of HBS Online and Executive Education Patrick Mullane. “We're fortunate to have Professor Oberholzer-Gee share his expertise with our participants and are certain they'll complete the course with a new understanding of strategy and new skills to implement it.”
In this course, you’ll learn how to:
- Think like the best strategists and apply the lessons of “value-based strategy,” an easy-to-grasp framework that features four levers to create and capture value: customer willingness to pay, price, cost, and employee willingness to sell
- Master the language and tools of business strategy to contribute meaningfully to strategic conversations and your team's success
- Create value for customers, employees, and suppliers, often in surprising ways that generate financial success
You’ll immerse yourself in a unique learning model, which encourages debate and collaboration with hundreds of peers from around the world. You’ll also solve real business problems facing industry-leading organizations, such as Best Buy, DoorDash, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
This new course is part of our strategy topic area and can be applied to the three-course requirement for earning a Certificate of Specialization.
This course is suited to all levels of management. Applications for Business Strategy will be accepted through September 5, 2022, and the course will begin on September 14, 2022.
To learn more about this six-week course and apply, visit the Business Strategy page.