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    Which HBS Online Strategy Program Is Right for You?

    Businesswoman taking online strategy course
    • 01 Sep 2022
    Catherine Cote Author Staff
    tag
    • Business Strategy
    • CLIMB
    • Disruptive Strategy
    • Economics for Managers
    • Global Business
    • Strategy
    • Strategy Execution
    • Sustainable Business Strategy

    Business strategy is the bridge between your business’s goals and success. Yet, a strategy is only as strong as the skills of those who formulate and execute it.

    Whether launching your own venture, leading teams, or preparing to enter the business world, developing a strategic mindset is crucial for success.

    Harvard Business School Online offers seven certificate and credential programs to help you gain critical strategic skills: Economics for Managers, Global Business, Business Strategy, Disruptive Strategy, Sustainable Business Strategy, Strategy Execution, and the Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB). Here’s an introduction to each so you can decide which best fits your goals.


    Free E-Book: How to Formulate a Successful Business Strategy

    Access your free e-book today.

    DOWNLOAD NOW

    Which Strategy Course Is Right for You?

    If You Want to Learn Foundational Concepts and Develop a Strategic Mindset

    Economics for Managers is an eight-week course that will enable you to drive strategic business decisions. HBS Professor Bharat Anand will teach you about pricing strategy, relative cost analysis, demand creation, and how to identify a competitive advantage in the market so you can build an effective strategy for your organization.

    This course is right for you if you aim to gain a foundational understanding of economics and apply it to strategy formulation.

    If you’re interested in the dynamics that shape international business strategies, explore Global Business. This four-week course, taught by HBS Professor Forest Reinhardt, will equip you with a fundamental knowledge of macroeconomics to compare business decisions’ impact across geographic locations.

    You’ll also learn how to assess the potential impact of social and political indicators, interest rates, inflation, and trade, and how to use frameworks to craft strategies in a global business environment.

    Business Strategy is the right fit if you’re searching for a simplified, framework-based approach to strategy. Over seven weeks, HBS Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee will teach you how to use the value stick framework to assess business opportunities and craft effective strategies through the lens of value creation. This course will also delve into how to compete in a saturated market by creating value for customers, employees, and suppliers and how to implement strategies for sustained success.

    Related: 4 Ways to Develop Your Strategic Thinking Skills

    If You Want to Anticipate What’s on the Horizon to Shape Strategy

    One aspect of creating and implementing strong strategies is anticipating what’s to come and communicating its importance to your organization. HBS Online offers two courses that cater directly to these skills.

    Disruptive Strategy is a six-week course taught by HBS professors Rory McDonald and Clayton Christensen that outlines Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation, jobs to be done, and techniques for executive-level strategy formulation.

    After taking this course, you’ll feel comfortable assessing your industry for disruptive threats and opportunities and crafting strategies while maintaining a disruptive scope.

    Sustainable Business Strategy also enables you to assess what’s on the horizon, specifically regarding your organization's impact on society. This three-week course, taught by HBS Professor Rebecca Henderson, will equip you with the tools and skills to develop a business strategy guided by purpose.

    You’ll learn to articulate the financial value of corporate social responsibility to key stakeholders, determine how your organization can be a catalyst for system-level change, and craft a personal plan for how to become a purpose-driven leader.

    Related: Making the Business Case for Sustainability

    If You Want to Lead Strategic Decision-Making and Implementation

    In addition to suiting those who want to build foundational skills and anticipate disruption, Business Strategy and Disruptive Strategy offer insights for implementing strategies and making decisions.

    Business Strategy will equip you with the tools to transition from strategy formulation to execution and prioritize initiatives, while Disruptive Strategy will explain the difference between deliberate and emergent strategies and how to lead your team to innovate.

    Finally, if you’re searching for a course that dives deep into the final step of the strategy process, Strategy Execution is right for you. This eight-week course, taught by HBS Professor Robert Simons, is a fit for mid-level and aspiring managers who want to gain the skills to measure, track, and evaluate strategic initiatives’ effectiveness and create environments conducive to success.

    If You Want to Grow as a Strategic, Forward-Thinking Business Leader

    If you’re a new or experienced leader who’s ready to ignite your career with vital business skills, self reflection, and a diverse global network, consider enrolling in HBS Online’s Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB).

    Combining strategy, leadership, finance, and skills for the cutting-edge professional, CLIMB can help you:

    • Practice effective teamwork and implement strategies of high-performing teams in your workplace
    • Explore digital tools and data-informed leadership to work smarter
    • Identify what makes a successful personal brand

    Unlike a certificate course, CLIMB is divided into two learning paths—New and Experienced Leaders—so the curriculum is tailored to where you are in your career. You’ll take seven courses over one year and apply your knowledge and skills in a capstone project.

    Which HBS Online Strategy Course is Right for You? | Download Your Free Flowchart

    Selecting the Best Strategy Course

    With an understanding of each program’s content and learning objectives, reflect on your goals. Which program will provide the skill set needed to reach them?

    Also consider your schedule, budget, and which features you value most. All HBS Online courses feature:

    • World-class faculty
    • Self-paced online coursework with deadlines
    • Engaging, interactive content
    • Social interaction with fellow learners
    • Real examples of business challenges faced by experts
    • The HBS Online Community, a global network of business professionals
    • Career growth and a positive return on investment

    7 Characteristics of the HBS Online Learning Experience

    No matter which strategy program aligns with your goals, you can gain the knowledge and skills to craft and execute impactful strategies for your organization.

    If you still aren't sure which HBS Online strategy course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals. If multiple programs interest you, consider pursuing a Learning Track, which enables you to take three courses within the strategy subject area.

    This post was updated on December 22, 2023. It was originally published on September 1, 2022.

    About the Author

    Catherine Cote is a marketing coordinator at Harvard Business School Online. Prior to joining HBS Online, she worked at an early-stage SaaS startup where she found her passion for writing content, and at a digital consulting agency, where she specialized in SEO. Catherine holds a B.A. from Holy Cross, where she studied psychology, education, and Mandarin Chinese. When not at work, you can find her hiking, performing or watching theatre, or hunting for the best burger in Boston.
     
    All FAQs

    Top FAQs

    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

    +–

    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

    +–

    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

    +–

    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

    +–

    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

    +–

    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

    +–

    We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

    We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

    +–

    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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