Certificate in Business Strategy

1. Introduction to Business Strategy

• Explain the concept of business strategy
• Explain the need for having a business strategy
• Identify the essential components of a business strategy
• Describe the consequences having an inadequate business strategy
• Explain the concept of positioning
• Describe the term sustainable competitive advantage

2. Strategic Positioning and Choices 

• Identify the three strategies for creating competitive advantage
• Explain how these strategies—cost leadership, differentiation and focus—differ from each other

3. Grand Strategies and Functional Strategies

• Describe grand strategies
• Describe functional strategies
• Differentiate between grand and functional strategies
• Explain the role of functional strategies in select functions

4. Strategy Formulation

• Describe the process of developing a strategy
• Identify the stages of the strategy development process
• Explain the importance of vision and mission statements
• Describe the concept of strategic objectives

5. Strategy Formulation in Different Industries

• Identify the various categories of industries based on their developmental stage
• Describe the strategy formulation process for each category