Maximise your competitive advantage with a forward-thinking business strategy
10 weeks, excluding
orientation
7–10 hours per week,
entirely online
Weekly modules,
flexible learning
1
The tools to develop a business strategy plan, as well as an implementation plan.
2
A comprehensive understanding of your market and its micro-economic and macro-environmental factors.
3
The ability to conduct business analyses using the SWOT and STEEPLE analysis, Porter’s five force model and the SELECT framework.
4
An understanding of your unique competitive advantage, and validation of your management skills in the form of a certificate of completion from Africa’s leading university.1
1QS Top Universities (2023).
David Priilaid
Associate Professor, School of Management Studies, UCT
With 20 years of experience teaching business innovation and entrepreneurship, Dr Priilaid is regarded as one of South Africa's experts in consumer behaviour. As a teacher and researcher, he brings specific skills to the overlapping disciplines of wine management, consumer behaviour, entrepreneurship, and strategy. He teaches in start-up strategy and creativity in business, and also convenes the postgraduate diploma in entrepreneurship. He has a PhD in non-linear econometrics, and publishes in the field of wine and economic psychology.
Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:
Module 1 Introduction to Strategic Management
Learn about strategic business management and the role it plays in the business environment.
Module 2 Theory and Evolution of Strategic Business Management
Learn about the ancient roots of contemporary strategy as a field of study.
Module 3 Organisational Goals and Values
How do the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of a business align to enable the execution of a successful strategy?
Module 4 Environmental Analysis
Learn about the macro-environment and the impact this has on strategic business management.
Module 5 Internal and SWOT Analyses
Learn about the micro-environment and how this affects strategic business management.
Module 6 Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA)
What is sustainable competitive advantage and why is it important to identify?
Module 7 The Formulation of Forward-Thinking Strategy
Explore the formulation of strategy.
Module 8 Strategy Implementation
Examine the importance of implementation for ensuring successful strategic business management.
Module 9 Evaluation and Control
Explore the dynamic nature of strategic business management.
Module 10 Strategic Alignment and Ensuring Sustainability
Why is strategic alignment important for ensuring sustainability?
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.
"I have already been able to apply the concepts and skills I learned from the very first week. I understand my work much better now. Because of this, I can truly say that the course is making a difference to me."
This UCT online short course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter, part of edX. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:
Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time.
Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.