Competitive Strategy

Illinois Institute of Technology via Coursera

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

1 day 9 hours 35 minutes
Sessions

On-Demand
Subtitles

English

Found in

Part of

Strategy & Economic Analysis

Overview

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“Why do some companies outperform others?” That question is particularly important to ask in industries which are fiercely competitive like the tech sector. Companies competing in these industries find it difficult to achieve competitive advantage and sustain it over the longer run. In this course, you will learn about 21st century competition, the forces driving it, and the challenges it poses for companies. Using that as the backdrop, you will learn how to analyze a company's external and internal environments and develop powerful strategies that allow companies to gain a sustainable competitive advantage even in fast-cycle markets. The course will describe companies that have successfully outperformed their competitors even in the fiercely competitive markets of the 21st century. After completing this course, you will be able to: - Describe what a competitive strategy is and how it is formulated. - Analyze the macro-environmental factors and identify opportunities and threats. - Analyze industry forces and draw conclusions about the industry’s profitability. - Describe the concept of competitive advantage and its importance. - Describe the circumstances under which competitive advantage is sustainable. - Analyze the value chain and understand its contribution to competitive advantage. - Explain how companies compete on price using a cost leadership strategy. - Describe how companies compete on their unique features using a differentiation strategy. - Explain how companies can offer both low prices and unique features simultaneously. - Describe how to choose a value-creating competitive strategy. Software Requirements: None

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Competitive Strategy

Module 1 lays the intellectual foundation for everything that follows in this course by introducing the core logic of competitive strategy in a fast-changing world. We begin with the fundamental building blocks of strategy—value creation, value capture, competitive advantage, and sustainable competitive advantage—clarifying not only what these concepts mean but how they interconnect to drive superior performance. We then move to a clear, practical understanding of what competitive strategy really is, exploring different strategic approaches through concrete examples that bring theory to life. Finally, we situate strategy in its modern context: a 21st-century environment defined by rapid technological disruption, shifting customer expectations, and global volatility—where only firms with strong dynamic capabilities can continuously sense change, adapt, and sustain advantage. Together, these three lessons establish the conceptual clarity and strategic mindset required to compete—and win—in today’s turbulent landscape.

Module 2: Strategic Analysis

Module 2 moves from defining strategy to rigorously analyzing the foundations on which superior strategy is built. We begin with external analysis, using the PESTEL framework to examine macro-environmental forces and then applying industry analysis to understand the structural drivers of profitability and relative industry attractiveness. We then turn inward to internal analysis, exploring how firms create and capture value through their value chain activities and how sustainable competitive advantage emerges from carefully developed and deployed strategic resources. Finally, we integrate both perspectives through SWOT analysis, not as a descriptive checklist, but as a powerful synthesis tool that generates actionable strategic insights about where to compete, how to compete, and the true source of competitive advantage. By the end of this module, students will possess a structured analytical toolkit to diagnose strategic position and make disciplined, evidence-based strategic choices.

Module 3: Formulating Competitive Strategy

Module 3 shifts from analysis to action by guiding students through the disciplined process of formulating competitive strategy. Building on the strategic insights generated through SWOT and prior analysis, we develop and rigorously evaluate an optimal competitive strategy that aligns with the firm’s external realities and internal strengths. We then deepen the discussion through the concept of strategic fit, examining how firms must continuously align their strategy with rapidly evolving environments in order to compete effectively in the 21st century. The module concludes with a hard truth: competitive advantage erodes quickly in dynamic markets, and only firms that embrace continuous innovation and adaptation can sustain superior performance over time. Together, these lessons equip students not just to design strategy—but to design strategy that endures.

Summative Course Assessment

This module contains the summative course assessment that has been designed to evaluate your understanding of the course material and assess your ability to apply the knowledge you have acquired throughout the course. Be sure to review the course material thoroughly before taking the assessment.