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Which HBS Online Strategy Course Is Right for You?

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

Business strategy is the bridge between organizational 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 six courses to help you gain critical strategic skills: Economics for Managers, Global Business, Business Strategy, Disruptive Strategy, Sustainable Business Strategy, and Strategy Execution. 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 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.

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

Selecting the Best Strategy Course

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

Also consider your schedule, budget, and which course features you value most. All HBS Online courses feature engaging, interactive content taught by world-class faculty, real-world examples facing business leaders, and a community of professionals you can network and learn from.

No matter which strategy course 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.

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?

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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?

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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. Written English proficiency should suffice.

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

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

How do I enroll in a course?

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All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, 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 applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

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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?

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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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