Critical Business Skills for Success

What do we mean when we talk about business strategy? Start thinking more smartly about strategy with this introductory look at four key facts about competition and the two drivers of profitability: industry structure and competitive advantage.

Five essential forces shape any business strategy, and together, they create a framework that can help you better make key strategic choices. Central to this discussion of these five strategic forces: Apple's meteoric rise to the top of the market.

Professor Roberto introduces you to the three paths that lead to competitive advantage and four basic competitive strategies. Then, using case studies including JC Penney, IBM, and Dell, he explains both the dangers of straddling between competitive positions.

Passionate customers, tremendous profits, happy employees - the Trader Joe's grocery chain is a powerful business success story. Discover how their secret for success lies in their use of trade-offs to make it hard for imitators and to mitigate the negative effects of the industry.

Discover the strengths - and drawbacks - of being a first mover who establishes a market position and fast followers, who can learn from first movers' mistakes. Along the way, you'll consider relevant examples from industries including video game systems and social media networks.

Netflix's ultimate domination of the video rental market is a classic example of disruptive innovation: a serious threat to traditional business - and often the hardest to respond to.