The Executive Certificates:

Business Strategy — Achieving Competitive Advantage

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Create a Winning Position

Create and sustain competitive advantage and pave the way for profitability and growth. Learn how to make sense of the competitive world around you and identify the core strengths that will help you position your company for innovation and industry leadership.

Get ready to start

Applications open soon

Coming soon

duration 3-4 months

class composition Independent Study

effort 2-5 hours / week

career stage Early-Late Career

format Self-paced Curriculum

tuition $1500 USD

Our Method

Smartly is a pioneer in technology-driven instructional design. Our award-winning interactive software represents the core of this Executive Certificate curriculum. Our team of writers, editors and developers work with leading professors from top business schools to bring a traditional course of study to life, with bite-size lessons and individualized feedback every 8 seconds.

More About Our Method

The Curriculum

The Business Strategy curriculum is comprised of 12 required courses culminating in a final graded project.

Leverage the core principles of strategic analysis to evaluate a business's competitors, indus...

Leverage the core principles of strategic analysis to evaluate a business's competitors, industry, and resources.

What is Strategy?
Porter's Five Forces Model
Applying Porter's Five Forces: Threats and Rivalry
Applying Porter's Five Forces: Customers and Suppliers
PEST Analysis
The Resource-Based View
Cost Leadership
Differentiation and Focus Strategies
Fight or Flight! SMARTCASE

Evaluate important economic indicators and assess why the economy fluctuates....

Evaluate important economic indicators and assess why the economy fluctuates.

The Business Cycle
Economic Indicators
Calculating GDP
Building Aggregate Demand
Building Aggregate Supply
Markets
Unemployment
Inflation
Working for the BLS SMARTCASE

Analyze the characteristics of an effective company philosophy and create a company vision....

Analyze the characteristics of an effective company philosophy and create a company vision.

The Mission Statement
The Vision Statement
Developing Your Organization’s Values
The Spin Doctors are In SMARTCASE

Examine how firms use corporate-level strategy to gain competitive advantage in multiple busin...

Examine how firms use corporate-level strategy to gain competitive advantage in multiple businesses.

Value Chain Analysis
Vertical Integration
What is Diversification?
The Value of Diversification
Strategic Alliances
Mergers and Acquisitions
Make Corporate-Level Strategy Great Again SMARTCASE

Understand how and why firms pursue vertical integration as a growth strategy....

Understand how and why firms pursue vertical integration as a growth strategy.

Transaction and Administrative Costs
Finding Value in Vertical Integration
Choosing the Right Vertical Relationship
You're Steel the One SMARTCASE

Survey the systems and relationships through which an organization is controlled and directed....

Survey the systems and relationships through which an organization is controlled and directed.

The Purpose of Corporate Governance
The Agency Problem
Self-Interested Behaviors
Gadgets and Gizmos Aplenty SMARTCASE
Structure of the Board of Directors
Selection, Compensation, and Evaluation of the Board
Procedures and Duties of the Board
CEO Compensation and Succession
Checks on Corporate Governance
International Corporate Governance
Whoosits and Whatsits Galore SMARTCASE

Explore the fundamental concepts and processes of mergers and acquisitions, from what an acqui...

Explore the fundamental concepts and processes of mergers and acquisitions, from what an acquisition is to preventing hostile takeovers.

Introduction to Mergers and Acquisitions
Historical Trends in M&A Performance
The Stakeholders in M&A
The Cost of Acquisition
Types of Takeovers
Takeover Strategies
Pre-offer Defenses
Post-Offer Defenses
The Trials of Takeoveria SMARTCASE

Put M&A theory into practice: walk through the process of carrying out a merger or acquisition...

Put M&A theory into practice: walk through the process of carrying out a merger or acquisition, from choosing a target to closing the deal.

Developing an Acquisition Plan
Target Selection
The Negotiation Phase
Financing M&As
The Definitive Purchase Agreement
Closing the Deal
Post-Merger Integration
Flower Power SMARTCASE

Discover how firms use cooperative strategy to realize shared objectives by forming and managi...

Discover how firms use cooperative strategy to realize shared objectives by forming and managing alliances.

To Ally or Acquire?
Types of Alliances
Choosing an Alliance Partner
Alliance Design
Managing Strategic Alliances
How to Win Allies and Influence Smartly SMARTCASE

Determine how companies gain competitive advantage when expanding internationally....

Determine how companies gain competitive advantage when expanding internationally.

The Global Business Environment
CAGE Distance Framework
AAA Framework of Global Strategy
Entry Mode Strategies: Exporting
Entry Mode Strategies: Licensing
Entry Mode Strategies: Strategic Alliances
Entry Mode Strategies: Foreign Direct Investment
Ni Hui Shuo Fashion Ma? SMARTCASE

Master the elements of innovation, from identifying sources of innovation to determining the o...

Master the elements of innovation, from identifying sources of innovation to determining the optimal time to enter the market.

Why Innovate?
Sources of Innovation
Types of Innovation
Why are Dominant Designs Selected?
The Value of Dominant Design
Timing of Entry
Warming Up to Innovation SMARTCASE

Create, implement, and track a successful business strategy using the Balanced Scorecard metho...

Create, implement, and track a successful business strategy using the Balanced Scorecard method.

The Balanced Scorecard
Strategy Map
Key Performance Indicators and Targets
Strategic Initiatives
Retail Retool SMARTCASE

Projects

In addition to completing the interactive online curriculum, enrolled students submit a final graded project at the conclusion of the program.

Diploma

The Business Strategy Certificate is awarded by Smartly's School of Professional Education, licensed by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) of Washington, DC.

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The Smartly Network

Beyond the award-winning education, our network of exceptional alumni and corporate partners will expand your career options. We're selective both in admissions and in our career network, offering our students the best personal connections and professional opportunities.

Get ready to start

Applications open soon

Coming soon

duration 3-4 months

class composition Independent Study

effort 2-5 hours / week

career stage Early-Late Career

format Self-paced Curriculum

tuition $1500 USD

Students & Alumni

While a student, you’ll have the option to meet fellow students at social gatherings at international cities around the world. Even prior to completing the certificate, you’ll get the full power of our alumni network, connecting with thousands of the brightest minds who have joined us since our inception.

Smartly Talent

Our career network flips the model of traditional education. Instead of high tuition fees for students, we charge companies when they recruit and hire our exceptional students and graduates. Welcome to the business school of the future.

More About Smartly Talent

Admission Decisions

We evaluate candidates on their academic background, career accomplishments and the thoughtfulness and candor within their application. Ultimately, we look for driven professionals and entrepreneurs with business and management potential.

Get ready to start

Applications open soon

Coming soon

duration 3-4 months

class composition Independent Study

effort 2-5 hours / week

career stage Early-Late Career

format Self-paced Curriculum

tuition $1500 USD

Admission Criteria

The Business Strategy Certificate is open to professionals from a diverse set of industry backgrounds, and is highly selective. It values, but does not assume, prior business experience, and has the following minimum requirements:

Undergraduate / bachelor’s degree*
Minimum 2 years industry experience
English language proficiency

*with exceptional career achievements, this requirement may be waived.

Enrollment

Once admitted, you may begin study at your convenience. The program is self-paced, typically completed in a 3-4 month timeframe.

Tuition Fees

Tuition for the Business Strategy Certificate is $1500 USD. Our fees are more affordable than traditional programs thanks to our innovative model that charges companies to hire students in our optional career network.

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What people are saying

Yash Jain

University of Pensiylvania

Booz Allen Hamilton, Business Development

“Coming from taking finance courses at Wharton, I found the content of the courses to be of similar caliber.”

Jennifer Argote

Dartmouth College

“I would highly recommend Smartly to anyone looking to improve their skills in finance, accounting, marketing and management.”

The Executive Certificates:

Business Strategy — Achieving Competitive Advantage

Get ready to start

Our Method

The Curriculum

Leverage the core principles of strategic analysis to evaluate a business's competitors, indus...

Leverage the core principles of strategic analysis to evaluate a business's competitors, industry, and resources.

Evaluate important economic indicators and assess why the economy fluctuates....

Evaluate important economic indicators and assess why the economy fluctuates.

Analyze the characteristics of an effective company philosophy and create a company vision....

Analyze the characteristics of an effective company philosophy and create a company vision.

Examine how firms use corporate-level strategy to gain competitive advantage in multiple busin...

Examine how firms use corporate-level strategy to gain competitive advantage in multiple businesses.

Understand how and why firms pursue vertical integration as a growth strategy....

Understand how and why firms pursue vertical integration as a growth strategy.

Survey the systems and relationships through which an organization is controlled and directed....

Survey the systems and relationships through which an organization is controlled and directed.

Explore the fundamental concepts and processes of mergers and acquisitions, from what an acqui...

Explore the fundamental concepts and processes of mergers and acquisitions, from what an acquisition is to preventing hostile takeovers.

Put M&A theory into practice: walk through the process of carrying out a merger or acquisition...

Put M&A theory into practice: walk through the process of carrying out a merger or acquisition, from choosing a target to closing the deal.

Discover how firms use cooperative strategy to realize shared objectives by forming and managi...

Discover how firms use cooperative strategy to realize shared objectives by forming and managing alliances.

Determine how companies gain competitive advantage when expanding internationally....

Determine how companies gain competitive advantage when expanding internationally.

Master the elements of innovation, from identifying sources of innovation to determining the o...

Master the elements of innovation, from identifying sources of innovation to determining the optimal time to enter the market.

Create, implement, and track a successful business strategy using the Balanced Scorecard metho...

Create, implement, and track a successful business strategy using the Balanced Scorecard method.

Get ready to start

Get ready to start

Yash Jain

University of Pensiylvania

Booz Allen Hamilton, Business Development

Jennifer Argote

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

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career network

smartly

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