
Digital Course
Strategy Analysis
Overview
Develop your ability to think strategically, analyze your firm’s positioning, develop competitive advantage and recommend your firm’s value proposition.
This course is part of the three-course series to earn your Strategy Essentials Specialization.
Intended For
Focus
Available Dates
Location
Cost
Length
Led by strategy thought leaders Jared Harris and Michael Lenox, this six-week online course delves into the proven theories and strategic frameworks that provide the foundations of a successful business strategy.
To earn your Strategy Essentials Specialization, you will also need to complete these two courses:
While it is not required that you take these courses in a specific order, it is strongly recommended that you start with Strategy Analysis, as it will provide foundational building blocks that will assist you in the other two courses.
Course Overview
Through analysis, practice with strategy tools, forum discussions and peer review, you'll develop a clear understanding of the competitive environment and your organization's position.
You'll get hands-on practice using different analysis tools and exercises, including SWOT/Competitor/Environmental Analysis, Five Forces, Capabilities Analyses, and Strategy Maps.
Topics include:
- Introduction to Strategic Analysis
- Analyzing Industry Structure
- Analyzing Firm Capabilities
- Determining Competitive Position
- Stakeholder Strategy
- International Strategy
Impact & Outcomes
- Perform SWOT, competitor, and environmental analysis
- Complete a capabilities analysis
- Use various analyses to guide decision making
- Assess an industry's structure and how the competitive dynamics in an industry affect profitability
- Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of four generic competitive positions
Participants
- Executives and managers looking for a refresher to help tackle strategic challenges at their organizations
- Emerging leaders looking to improve their ability to articulate and understand strategy and position themselves for advancement
Faculty

Jared D. Harris
Samuel L. Slover Research Chair and Associate Professor of Business Administration

Michael Lenox
Tayloe Murphy Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer
FAQ
How do I register?
You can register for this program by completing a registration form linked from the “Register now” button on this page. Payment is due upon registration. We accept payment online from American Express, MasterCard and Visa. You'll receive a confirmation email after we receive your registration.
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes, we do. Our participants report that they learn and sustain change better when enrolling in a Darden course with others from their organizations. We support team learning with a 10% tuition reduction for groups of ten (10) or more. Submit your request for group pricing through the inquiry form on this page.