What is strategic management?

Strategic management is the process business leaders use when creating goals and planning how to allocate resources to achieve those goals for their organization. It involves exploring both internal processes from within the organization and external factors, such as the role competition plays in the success or failure of a company. This type of management is a holistic approach that combines classic top-level managerial thinking with the application of modern theories and processes. It's a growing specialty field, with the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) expecting the field to grow at about 11% per year through 2029 , which is much faster than average.

What does learning strategic management enable me to do next?

Learning strategic management creates a number of career options for you. If you want to start your own business, it provides you with an understanding of how to gain insights that can help your business succeed. If you want to use your expertise to move up at a job you already have, you can present your certifications and show your new skills to your boss by sharing insights based on strategic management principles. If entering a new field is your goal, learning about this type of management ensures you have the know-how and skills to succeed on the job.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn strategic management?

Taking online courses on Coursera can help you learn strategic management by providing you with the opportunity to engage in planning and decision-making sessions through case studies and regular coursework. When you engage in strategy sessions and learn to use tools, such as SWOT analysis, to explore a company's competitive advantage and weaknesses, you gain insights about how a company might make changes in order to increase success. Then, you build on early learning from your courses to learn how to increase decision-making skills and how to develop a growth strategy.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn strategic management?

Before starting to learn strategic management, you need to have strong reading and math skills due to the information you need to understand throughout the course. You need analytical skills to process the information and turn it into something you can apply to each course assignment. You also need to have at least introductory-level leadership skills to build on throughout the time you're studying, while you learn how to manage and inspire others to apply the goals you set and the decisions you make.

What are the benefits of taking an online Strategic Management course?

Online Strategic Management courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Strategic Management skills. Choose from a wide range of Strategic Management courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Strategic Management courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Strategic Management, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Strategic Management Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Strategic Management Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Copenhagen Business School
Strategic Management
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Business Strategies, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Planning, Strategic Leadership, Business Transformation, Technology Strategies, Competitive Analysis, Global Marketing, Market Share
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Copenhagen Business School
Strategic Management and Innovation
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Business Planning, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Goal Setting, Resource Management, Organizational Strategy, Peer Review, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Organizational Structure, Project Implementation, Strategic Planning, Market Analysis, Culture Transformation, Change Management, Business Strategies, Business, Global Marketing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Strategic Leadership and Management
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Organizational Change, Stakeholder Management, Organizational Structure, Corporate Strategy, Governance, Conflict Management, Organizational Strategy, Trustworthiness, Team Building, Strategic Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Business Management, Organizational Effectiveness, Business Ethics, Team Management, Team Motivation, Leadership Development, Leadership, Negotiation
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of London
Corporate Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Corporate Strategy, Business Strategy, Resource Allocation, Strategic Decision-Making, Organizational Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Growth Strategies, New Business Development, Business Valuation, Analysis, Market Opportunities
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IE Business School
Foundations of Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Competitive Analysis, Business Strategy, Economics, Market Dynamics, Business Economics, Strategic Thinking, Market Analysis, Strategic Planning, Strategic Marketing, Resource Management, Business Process
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
190 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IIMA - IIM Ahmedabad
Strategy and Game Theory for Management
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Game Theory, Behavioral Economics, Business Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Complex Problem Solving, Problem Solving, Business Leadership, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Market Dynamics, Organizational Change, Economics, Digital Media Strategy, Market Opportunities, Negotiation, Risk Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Advertising, Innovation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
106 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Ethics, Peer Review, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Governance, Stakeholder Management, New Business Development, Business Research, Analysis, Project Management, Innovation, Market Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: New AI skills
Google
Google Project Management:
Skills you'll gain: Quality Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Sprint Retrospectives, Project Scoping, Project Closure, Milestones (Project Management), Project Management, Project Planning, Agile Project Management, Continuous Improvement Process, Project Controls, Backlogs, Requirements Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Quality Assessment, Team Management, Project Documentation, Change Management, Interviewing Skills, Applicant Tracking Systems
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
130K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Dartmouth College
Strategic Leadership: Impact, Change, and Decision-Making
Skills you'll gain: Decision Making, Creativity, Talent Management, Communication, Innovation, Strategic Decision-Making, Personal Development, Curiosity, People Development, Professional Networking, Collaboration, Leadership Development, Productivity, Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership and Management, Self-Awareness, Strategic Leadership, Business Leadership, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
614 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Strategic Planning and Execution
Skills you'll gain: Plan Execution, Organizational Strategy, Business Strategy, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Governance, Analysis, Corporate Strategy, Business Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Innovation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
839 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Product Manager
Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, New Product Development, Product Management, Product Lifecycle Management, Agile Software Development, Product Development, Innovation, Product Roadmaps, Agile Methodology, Kanban Principles, Product Planning, Product Strategy, Product Testing, Project Management Life Cycle, Agile Project Management, User Story, Stakeholder Engagement, Sprint Retrospectives, Agile Product Development, Leadership
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
New York Institute of Finance
Risk Management
Skills you'll gain: Credit Risk, Operational Risk, Risk Management, Risk Management Framework, Business Risk Management, Risk Modeling, Risk Mitigation, Financial Market, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Risk Appetite, Risk Control, Derivatives, Governance, Portfolio Management, Risk Analysis, Capital Markets, Investment Management, Financial Analysis, Market Data, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months