About this programme.
This comprehensive 7-week programme prepares you for the rigour of an MBA by building a solid foundation across the core business disciplines. You will develop analytical frameworks for strategic thinking, master essential quantitative tools, sharpen your communication and leadership skills, and learn to navigate organisational dynamics. Whether you are planning to apply to a top business school or simply want to accelerate your career with MBA-level thinking, this course gives you the confidence and competence to succeed.
Designed by experienced business educators, each week combines short lectures, real-world case discussions, curated academic readings, and hands-on assignments that mirror the MBA classroom experience. You will emerge with a portfolio of work that demonstrates your readiness for advanced business study.
Your instructor
Dr. Sarah Chen
Harvard MBA graduate and former McKinsey consultant with 15 years of experience in strategic management and business education.
Curriculum — 7 weeks.
1
Strategic Thinking & Business Models
Understand how firms create, deliver, and capture value. Learn to analyse business models using the Business Model Canvas and apply Porter's Five Forces to assess competitive environments.
Tutorial
Introduction to Strategic Analysis
This tutorial walks you through the Business Model Canvas framework and shows you how to deconstruct any company's strategy into its component parts. We then layer on Porter's Five Forces to evaluate industry attractiveness and competitive positioning.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Porter, M.E. (2008). The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy. *Harvard Business Review*, 86(1), 78–93. DOI: 10.1225/R0801E
2. Osterwalder, A. & Pigneur, Y. (2010). *Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers*. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-0470876411
3. Magretta, J. (2002). Why Business Models Matter. *Harvard Business Review*, 80(5), 86–92.
? **Supplementary:**
4. Teece, D.J. (2010). Business Models, Business Strategy and Innovation. *Long Range Planning*, 43(2–3), 172–194. DOI: 10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
5. Christensen, C.M. (1997). *The Innovator's Dilemma*. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. ISBN: 978-0875845852
1. Porter, M.E. (2008). The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy. *Harvard Business Review*, 86(1), 78–93. DOI: 10.1225/R0801E
2. Osterwalder, A. & Pigneur, Y. (2010). *Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers*. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-0470876411
3. Magretta, J. (2002). Why Business Models Matter. *Harvard Business Review*, 80(5), 86–92.
? **Supplementary:**
4. Teece, D.J. (2010). Business Models, Business Strategy and Innovation. *Long Range Planning*, 43(2–3), 172–194. DOI: 10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
5. Christensen, C.M. (1997). *The Innovator's Dilemma*. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. ISBN: 978-0875845852
Assignment · 100.00 pts
Business Model Deconstruction
Select a publicly traded company of your choice. Using the Business Model Canvas framework, map out all nine building blocks of the company's business model. Then apply Porter's Five Forces to analyse the competitive environment of the industry in which the company operates. Write a 1,500-word analysis that concludes with your assessment of the company's strategic positioning and one recommendation for strengthening its competitive advantage. Include at least three references from the assigned readings.
2
Quantitative Foundations: Data & Decision-Making
Develop fluency with the quantitative tools used across all MBA disciplines. Cover descriptive statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, and regression fundamentals — all applied to business scenarios.
Tutorial
Statistics for Business Decisions
This tutorial introduces the essential statistical toolkit for business analysis. We cover measures of central tendency and spread, probability distributions, confidence intervals, and simple linear regression, with every concept anchored to a real business decision.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Wheelan, C. (2013). *Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data*. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN: 978-0393347777
2. Davenport, T.H. (2006). Competing on Analytics. *Harvard Business Review*, 84(1), 98–107.
3. Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow* (Chapters 10–14: Heuristics and Biases). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 978-0374533557
? **Supplementary:**
4. Silver, N. (2012). *The Signal and the Noise*. New York: Penguin. ISBN: 978-0143125082
5. Anderson, D.R., Sweeney, D.J. & Williams, T.A. (2020). *Statistics for Business and Economics* (14th ed.). Cengage. ISBN: 978-0357045022
1. Wheelan, C. (2013). *Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data*. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN: 978-0393347777
2. Davenport, T.H. (2006). Competing on Analytics. *Harvard Business Review*, 84(1), 98–107.
3. Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow* (Chapters 10–14: Heuristics and Biases). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 978-0374533557
? **Supplementary:**
4. Silver, N. (2012). *The Signal and the Noise*. New York: Penguin. ISBN: 978-0143125082
5. Anderson, D.R., Sweeney, D.J. & Williams, T.A. (2020). *Statistics for Business and Economics* (14th ed.). Cengage. ISBN: 978-0357045022
Assignment · 100.00 pts
Data-Driven Decision Memo
You are a marketing manager presented with two datasets: customer survey results (n=500) and quarterly sales figures by region. Using descriptive statistics and at least one hypothesis test, analyse the data provided (downloadable CSV in the course resources) and write a 1,200-word decision memo to your VP recommending which of three proposed marketing strategies the company should pursue. Include appropriate visualisations (charts/tables) and clearly state your assumptions, confidence level, and limitations.
3
Accounting & Financial Statements
Learn to read and interpret the three core financial statements. Understand how accounting principles translate business activities into numbers that drive decisions.
Tutorial
Reading Financial Statements Like an MBA
This tutorial demystifies the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. You will learn to calculate and interpret key ratios for profitability, liquidity, and solvency, and understand how accounting choices affect reported numbers.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Ittelson, T.R. (2020). *Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports* (3rd ed.). Career Press. ISBN: 978-1632651754
2. Palepu, K.G. & Healy, P.M. (2013). *Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements* (5th ed.). Cengage. ISBN: 978-1111972301
3. Penman, S.H. (2010). Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation (4th ed., Chapter 3). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0073379661
? **Supplementary:**
4. Warren Buffett's Shareholder Letters (selected years), available at berkshirehathaway.com
5. Fridson, M.S. & Alvarez, F. (2011). *Financial Statement Analysis: A Practitioner's Guide* (4th ed.). Wiley. ISBN: 978-0470635605
1. Ittelson, T.R. (2020). *Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports* (3rd ed.). Career Press. ISBN: 978-1632651754
2. Palepu, K.G. & Healy, P.M. (2013). *Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements* (5th ed.). Cengage. ISBN: 978-1111972301
3. Penman, S.H. (2010). Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation (4th ed., Chapter 3). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0073379661
? **Supplementary:**
4. Warren Buffett's Shareholder Letters (selected years), available at berkshirehathaway.com
5. Fridson, M.S. & Alvarez, F. (2011). *Financial Statement Analysis: A Practitioner's Guide* (4th ed.). Wiley. ISBN: 978-0470635605
Assignment · 100.00 pts
Financial Statement Analysis Report
Obtain the most recent annual report (10-K) for a Fortune 500 company. Prepare a 2,000-word financial analysis covering: (a) a vertical and horizontal analysis of the income statement over three years, (b) calculation and interpretation of at least eight key financial ratios across profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and leverage categories, (c) an analysis of the cash flow statement with particular attention to the quality of earnings. Conclude with your assessment of the company's financial health and one area of concern for investors.
4
Marketing Strategy & Consumer Behaviour
Explore how firms identify target markets, position their offerings, and build brands. Understand the psychological drivers behind consumer decision-making.
Tutorial
The Marketing Strategy Framework
This tutorial covers the STP process (Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning), the extended marketing mix (7Ps), and key models of consumer behaviour. We examine real brand case studies to show how theory translates to market success.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Kotler, P. & Keller, K.L. (2016). *Marketing Management* (15th ed., Chapters 2, 8, 10). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0133856460
2. Levitt, T. (1960). Marketing Myopia. *Harvard Business Review*, 38(4), 45–56. DOI: 10.1225/R0407L
3. Ariely, D. (2008). *Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions* (Chapters 1–5). HarperCollins. ISBN: 978-0061353246
? **Supplementary:**
4. Sharp, B. (2010). *How Brands Grow*. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0195573565
5. Cialdini, R.B. (2006). *Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion* (Revised ed.). HarperBusiness. ISBN: 978-0061241895
1. Kotler, P. & Keller, K.L. (2016). *Marketing Management* (15th ed., Chapters 2, 8, 10). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0133856460
2. Levitt, T. (1960). Marketing Myopia. *Harvard Business Review*, 38(4), 45–56. DOI: 10.1225/R0407L
3. Ariely, D. (2008). *Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions* (Chapters 1–5). HarperCollins. ISBN: 978-0061353246
? **Supplementary:**
4. Sharp, B. (2010). *How Brands Grow*. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0195573565
5. Cialdini, R.B. (2006). *Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion* (Revised ed.). HarperBusiness. ISBN: 978-0061241895
Assignment · 100.00 pts
Marketing Plan Proposal
Choose a real product or service that you believe is underperforming in its market. Develop a 2,000-word marketing strategy proposal that includes: (a) a market analysis using the STP framework, (b) a repositioning strategy with a clear value proposition, (c) a tactical plan across at least four elements of the marketing mix, and (d) two consumer behaviour insights from the readings that inform your approach. Support your recommendations with data or evidence wherever possible.
5
Organisational Behaviour & Leadership
Understand how individuals and teams function within organisations. Explore leadership theories, motivation frameworks, and the dynamics of organisational culture and change.
Tutorial
Leading People and Organisations
This tutorial covers Herzberg's two-factor theory, transformational vs. transactional leadership, psychological safety in teams, and Kotter's model for leading change. We use case studies from companies that navigated major cultural transformations.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Robbins, S.P. & Judge, T.A. (2019). *Organizational Behavior* (18th ed., Chapters 5, 12, 16). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134729329
2. Kotter, J.P. (1995). Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. *Harvard Business Review*, 73(2), 59–67.
3. Edmondson, A.C. (2019). *The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace*. Hoboken: Wiley. ISBN: 978-1119477242
? **Supplementary:**
4. Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership That Gets Results. *Harvard Business Review*, 78(2), 78–90.
5. Sinek, S. (2009). *Start with Why*. Portfolio/Penguin. ISBN: 978-1591846444
1. Robbins, S.P. & Judge, T.A. (2019). *Organizational Behavior* (18th ed., Chapters 5, 12, 16). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134729329
2. Kotter, J.P. (1995). Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. *Harvard Business Review*, 73(2), 59–67.
3. Edmondson, A.C. (2019). *The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace*. Hoboken: Wiley. ISBN: 978-1119477242
? **Supplementary:**
4. Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership That Gets Results. *Harvard Business Review*, 78(2), 78–90.
5. Sinek, S. (2009). *Start with Why*. Portfolio/Penguin. ISBN: 978-1591846444
Assignment · 100.00 pts
Leadership Case Analysis
Read the provided case study on a company undergoing a major organisational transformation (case PDF available in course resources). Write a 1,500-word analysis that: (a) diagnoses the leadership challenges using at least two frameworks from the readings, (b) evaluates the effectiveness of the leadership approach taken, (c) identifies what you would have done differently and why, citing specific theories or evidence. Include a short reflection (300 words) on your own leadership style and one area you want to develop.
6
Operations & Supply Chain Essentials
Learn how companies design and manage the processes that produce and deliver products and services. Cover lean principles, capacity planning, quality management, and supply chain resilience.
Tutorial
Operations Management for Competitive Advantage
This tutorial introduces process analysis, bottleneck identification, inventory management (EOQ), lean and Six Sigma principles, and modern supply chain risk management. We walk through the Toyota Production System and examine recent supply chain disruptions.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Heizer, J., Render, B. & Munson, C. (2020). *Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management* (13th ed., Chapters 1, 6, 7). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0135225769
2. Womack, J.P. & Jones, D.T. (2003). *Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation* (Revised ed., Chapters 1–3). Free Press. ISBN: 978-0743249270
3. Chopra, S. (2019). *Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation* (7th ed., Chapter 1). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134731889
? **Supplementary:**
4. Goldratt, E.M. (1984). *The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement*. North River Press. ISBN: 978-0884271956
5. Sheffi, Y. (2015). *The Power of Resilience*. MIT Press. ISBN: 978-0262533638
1. Heizer, J., Render, B. & Munson, C. (2020). *Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management* (13th ed., Chapters 1, 6, 7). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0135225769
2. Womack, J.P. & Jones, D.T. (2003). *Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation* (Revised ed., Chapters 1–3). Free Press. ISBN: 978-0743249270
3. Chopra, S. (2019). *Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation* (7th ed., Chapter 1). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134731889
? **Supplementary:**
4. Goldratt, E.M. (1984). *The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement*. North River Press. ISBN: 978-0884271956
5. Sheffi, Y. (2015). *The Power of Resilience*. MIT Press. ISBN: 978-0262533638
Assignment · 100.00 pts
Process Improvement Proposal
Identify a process in an organisation you are familiar with (your workplace, a local business, or a well-documented public case). Map the current process using a process flow diagram. Identify at least two bottlenecks or sources of waste using lean principles. Write a 1,500-word proposal that: (a) documents the current state, (b) proposes specific improvements with expected impact, (c) addresses implementation risks and a timeline. Include your process flow diagrams as appendices.
7
Integrative Strategy & MBA Readiness
Bring everything together in a capstone week. Conduct a full strategic analysis, present your findings, and reflect on your readiness for the MBA journey.
Tutorial
Capstone: Putting It All Together
This final tutorial integrates all six preceding disciplines into a comprehensive strategic analysis framework. We walk through how to conduct a full company analysis using SWOT, PESTEL, value chain analysis, and financial modelling, then present it coherently — exactly as you would in an MBA programme.
Reading list
? **Required Reading:**
1. Rumelt, R. (2011). *Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters* (Chapters 1–5). Crown Business. ISBN: 978-0307886231
2. Lafley, A.G. & Martin, R.L. (2013). *Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works*. Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN: 978-142218739
3. Mintzberg, H. (2004). *Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development* (Chapter 1). Berrett-Koehler. ISBN: 978-1576752753
? **Supplementary:**
4. Collins, J. (2001). *Good to Great*. HarperBusiness. ISBN: 978-0066620992
5. Kim, W.C. & Mauborgne, R. (2015). *Blue Ocean Strategy* (Expanded ed.). Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN: 978-1625274496
1. Rumelt, R. (2011). *Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters* (Chapters 1–5). Crown Business. ISBN: 978-0307886231
2. Lafley, A.G. & Martin, R.L. (2013). *Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works*. Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN: 978-142218739
3. Mintzberg, H. (2004). *Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development* (Chapter 1). Berrett-Koehler. ISBN: 978-1576752753
? **Supplementary:**
4. Collins, J. (2001). *Good to Great*. HarperBusiness. ISBN: 978-0066620992
5. Kim, W.C. & Mauborgne, R. (2015). *Blue Ocean Strategy* (Expanded ed.). Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN: 978-1625274496
Assignment · 200.00 pts
Capstone Strategic Analysis & Presentation
Conduct a comprehensive strategic analysis of a company of your choice. This capstone deliverable has two parts:
**Part A — Written Report (3,000 words):** Perform a full external analysis (PESTEL, Five Forces), internal analysis (value chain, resources and capabilities), financial health assessment (key ratios from the annual report), and synthesise into a SWOT matrix. Conclude with two strategic recommendations supported by evidence and frameworks from the course.
**Part B — Presentation Deck (10–12 slides):** Prepare a professional slide deck summarising your analysis as if presenting to the company's board. Upload both the written report and the slide deck.
$397
$49720% OFF
Create account to enrol
Already have an account? Log in
- 7 weeks of structured content
- 28 video lessons & tutorials
- Curated academic reading lists
- Weekly assignments with feedback
- Live Google Meet sessions
- Discussion forums & peer network
- Certificate of completion
- Lifetime access to materials