Business Strategy Consulting Mastery: Mini MBA Course

Business Strategy is an outline of the actions and decisions a company plans to take to reach its business goals and objectives

Easy to say…what does this mean?  That is what we explore in this lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

At the heart of every firm there needs to be a vision of the future and this vision should be communicated through the Mission Statement. We discuss the three components of the Mission Statement in this lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture

Strategy is formulated at three different levels within a firm and each level has its own characteristics which we discuss in this lecture. We also briefly introduce Michael Porter's Generic Strategies and Five Forces Model.  We discuss examples relating to Apple and Food Retailing.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This section focuses on the process of designing a business strategy rather than the models uses for strategy analysis as a goal in its own right.

What is the right way, what are the key steps to the strategy formulation process.  The three models we cover in this section will address this critical issue.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

The Business Model Canvas is an excellent tool for designing a business from scratch or for challenging the design of an existing business. The nine parts of the model challenge you to think through the major parts of your business, what they do, how they contribute to your success and how they inter-relate to one another.

By setting out these "building blocks" you are given a framework on which you can assemble the individual parts of your business and make strategic choices about what they are and how they are going to contribute to the whole.

A CheckList and a PDF of the Slide Deck are available to download from the resources section of this lecture.

I have provided a template of the Business Model Canvas which you can download and print out very easily so that you can work with your colleagues on your own Business Model design.

A PDF of the Template may be downloaded from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This model poses five questions to help you formulate your strategy and design your business model.  We discuss the five questions in detail and show where you can tie them into other strategy models we are discussing in this course.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This model steps us through the key processes for designing your business strategy.  Elements of it are recognisable in other models and these should be used to help add depth and complexity to the answers to each of the stages in this model.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This brief introduction explains the main characteristics of the Life Cycle Model and how it can be deployed to examine a range of scenarios and also at different business scales, both of which we will examine in this section.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is the highest level of the Life Cycle model and we focus on the Revenue, Profits and Cash generation industry wide and look at the behaviours of groups of businesses.  As we go on to look at levels below this our focus will change.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

We are now going to take a look at the Life Cycle Model at the level of the individual Firm.  We discuss how the business is affected through the different stages of its lifecycle and this throws into focus a closer examination of revenues, profits and cash flows.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Now our focus moves to the individual product to see how the four stages of the Life Cycle model affect revenues, profits and cash.  This enables us to focus more closely on the challenges faced by a single product and we can explore some of the factors which affect the timing of the Life Cycle in much greater detail.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this scenario we change the vertical access from Revenues, Profits and Cash to Business Risk and look at the impact of the Life Cycle Model on Debt capacity and the ability of the company to fund itself. This demonstrates the flexibility of the model and the value of using the Life Cycle model to examine different factors and different challenges faced by a firm.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is a brief introduction to the analysis of a firms external environment using Broad Factors Analysis.  The two models we are going to evaluate. PEST and PESTEL, are introduced and the overlap and tie-in with SWOT and TOWS alluded to.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is a critical framework for evaluating the external environment of a firm. The PEST stands for:

• Policital

• Economic

• Socio-Demographic

• Technological

We examine each of these in turn in this lecture and discuss some of the strategic implications which need to be taken into consideration when evaluating business strategy.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

PESTEL analysis takes PEST analysis further by looking at two additional factors: Environmental and Legal and we discuss these in detail in this lecture.  The Impact of BREXIT in the UK has particularly impacted the "L" factor as we will show.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

I have provided you with a Template of the PESTEL analysis which you can use to conduct your own analysis of your firm.  Clearly with PESTEL, we also cover the PEST analysis.

The Template can be downloaded as a PDF from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is an exercise for you to complete using the PESTEL Template I have provided. Before you watch the next lecture, just think through the six factors and make a note of your PESTEL analysis of Starbucks. You can then watch my video and download my "solution" slide deck in the next lecture.

This is my solution to the Starbucks PESTEL Analysis. Remember there is no right or wrong answer here but I hope my "solution" helps you to consider your points and to get a better understanding of how these case studies help an understanding of the application of the model.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this exercise I want you to consider the external environment of the Global Aviation Industry using the PESTEL framework. I have produced my own PESTEL analysis on this topic for you in the next lecture but I encourage you to use the PESTEL Template I have provided and do the exercise before watching my analysis.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is my analysis of the Global Aviation Industry using PESTEL. I hope this helps you to see how the framework can be applied. How does this compare to your analysis?

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This section focuses on the formulation of strategies from a combination of Internal and External analysis of the environment of the firm.  We review three models:

• SWOT Analysis

• TOWS Matrix Analysis

• SOAR Analysis

to show how this can be done.  We also explore how using the models in conjunction with one another increases their effectiveness.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is one of the best known and most widely used business strategy models but it is important not to forget some of the detail which helps you to focus on getting the most out of the model.  In this detailed discussion we also consider how SWOT overlaps with other business models.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

The implementation of a SWOT analysis invites you to challenge accepted ideas and received wisdom within your organisation.  I also suggest how you can overlay other frameworks such as PESTEL and Porter's Five Forces to help you to delve more deeply in your exploration of the strategic challenges facing your organisation.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This lecture provides you with an easy to download template which you can print out and use to conduct your own SWOT analysis with your colleagues.  I have included some notes to guide you but the main out puts from this should be identifying strategies that you can create for your business which will lead to sustainable competitive advantage for your firm.

The Template can be downloaded as a PDF from the Resources Section of this lecture.

As we discover in this lecture, TOWS Matrix analysis approximates to a second stage SWOT analysis which is why these are being considered in the same section in this course.  By combining the four factors from SWOT we can use them to devise strategic options as I explain.  It also works well in combination with other models and I make two specific recommendations in this lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This template which is provided in the Resources Section of this lecture will enable you to conduct a TOWS analysis with your colleagues.  What strategies are you going to derive for your firm?

The Template can be downloaded as a PDF from the Resources Section of this lecture.

SOAR analysis is a further extension of the Internal-External framework again with a close focus on the formulation of business strategy.  We explain how the model works and how to implement it in this lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Here I have provided you with a PDF Template which you can use to conduct your own SOAR analysis for your business. I recommend that you do this with an appropriate group of colleagues so that you can get the most out of the model.

The Template can be downloaded as a PDF from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this exercise I want you to conduct a SWOT analysis of Amazon using the template I have provided. In the next lecture you can watch my SWOT analysis of the company and compare it to the points you have identified

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is my brief case study of a SWOT analysis of Amazon. In such a complex business its difficult to do it justice but the purpose of this case study is to illustrate the methodology and how to use the model in a practical sense. What SWOT factors did you identify for Amazon?

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this section we are going to cover three of Michael Porter's most important business strategy models.

• Competitive Forces Model

• Generic Strategies Model

• Value Chain Analysis

I explain in this introductory lecture how these three link together and why its particularly effective to use them in conjunction with one another

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

So far our Industry Analysis has been focused on SWOT and PEST/PESTEL (Broad Factors) analysis.  This has given us an initial understanding of Industry Analysis.  Now we move to the third major Industry Analysis model and introduce its author Michael Porter. 

Harvard Business Professor, Michael Porter is probably the father of modern Business Strategy which is why we are going to spend some time discussing his models and frameworks, starting with his Five Forces model which we introduce in this lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This is a deep dive into the factors that affect each of Porter's Five Forces. By understanding these factors, and some affect more than one of the Five Forces, you are better able to understand and apply this model.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

I thought it would be helpful to provide you with a full list of Porter's Five Forces factors to help with your strategic analysis. Both the Slide Deck and an easy to print PDF of the list are available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This lecture provides you with a Template which you can download and use to conduct your own Five Forces Analysis of your business or a product line within your firm.

The PDF may be downloaded from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this Case Study Exercise, I want you to consider how Porter's Five Forces analysis can be applied to the competitive forces in the Global Aviation industry. I have provided my own solution to this case study in the next lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Here we consider an industry analysis of the Global Airline Industry using Porter's Five Forces model. The more you look in to each factor, the more strategic issues come into focus which shows the power of these frameworks. What factors did you identify?

The PDF may be downloaded from the Resources Section of this lecture.

We have seen how firms are challenged by Porter's Five Forces.  Now we move on to examine the strategic response to these challenges, Porter's Generic Strategies. These are examined in detail and we show how the Generic Strategies can be combined with the Five Forces in a strategy analysis.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Porters Value Chain Analysis was introduced by Michael Porter in the 1980s to help firms identify strategies within their organisation to create competitive advantage.  We discuss how the model works and how it can be implemented in this lecture.  The following lecture contains a template which you can use to download for conducting your own Value Chain Analysis on your firm.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

We briefly explain how you can use the PDF Template attached to this lecture to conduct your own Value Chain Analysis

A PDF of the Slide Deck and a Template is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture

This framework helps you to decide how to prioritise which products or business units you should invest in to secure the future growth of your firm. The four quadrant model looks at relative market share and market growth rate and enables you to position your products or business units in one of the four quadrant based on these criteria.  We discuss the BCG matrix, how to use it and some of its limitations

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

These two models are closely inter-related as we show in this lecture. It is always helpful to understand how you can exploit the characteristics of more than one framework to deepen and enhance your analysis.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

I want to invite you to take a brief critical look at the BCG Matrix model and understand its advantages and disadvantages. Because these frameworks simplify reality in order to make explaining complex situations easily, there are inevitable limitations to the scope and depth of the models.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this lecture I share two examples of how you can adapt the BCG Matrix to your own strategic analysis purposes. This is done by redefining the axes on which the model is based to measure different business factors.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

The PDF included with this lecture is a template with notes which you can download from the Resources Section and use to conduct your own BCG Matrix analysis for your Products / Business units. Use the Slide Deck from the previous lecture if you want additional notes to share with your colleagues when you are doing this.

In this Case Study Exercise I want you to think about Facebook and apply the BCG Matrix template provided in this section to an analysis of some of Facebook's businesses. Remember there is no right answer and I have provided my solution to this exercise in the next lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this Case Study we review four of Facebook's applications and use the BCG Matrix to evaluate their relative positions. 

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this Case Study Exercise I want you to think about Apple and apply the BCG Matrix template provided in this section to an analysis of some of Apple's businesses. Remember there is no right answer and I have provided my solution to this exercise in the next lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Here we examine five of Apple's core products in the context of the BCG Matrix.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this Case Study Exercise I want you to think about Unilever and apply the BCG Matrix template provided in this section to an analysis of some of Unilever's businesses. Remember there is no right answer and I have provided my solution to this exercise in the next lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Here we are using four of Unilever's 400+ brands to illustrate how you can understand a business and its product portfolio even in a complex business like Unilever.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Sustainable Competitive Advantage derives from the internal resources and capability of the firm.

This Resource Based View - RBV- of competitive advantage contrasts to the study of the externalities of a firm as exemplified by Porters Five Forces.

More related to Porter's Value Chain analysis

If we are to identify successful strategies we need to be able to focus them around the strategic capabilities of the firm where it has definable and identifiable sustainable competitive advantage

Start with an understanding of Core Competency - how resources can be turned in to capabilities which can enable a firm to create core competency

Use VRIO analysis to identify which capabilities are core competencies through defining whether or not they create sustainable competitive advantage for the firm

Apple Case study to illustrate capabilities which are core competencies and some which although still valuable do not meet all the VRIO criteria and therefore are not

The Unique Selling Proposition enables us to define the key characteristics of our products that are mose important to our customers and ensure that these become the focus of our marketing message as well as our growth strategy

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Our starting point for understanding how to build sustainable competitive advantage starts with the Core Competency model of Prahlad and Hamel (1990). We explore what Core Competency means and how internal resources and capabilities can be used by the firm to create it.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In order to take our understanding further, we introduce the VRIO analysis which is a core framework of the Resource Based View of corporate strategy. This contrasts to much of the external factors we have examined in previous sections. We use the VRIO criteria to test whether a resource or capability is a source of sustained competitive advantage

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This case study invites you to conduct your own Core Competency and VRIO analysis on on Apple to try to evaluate how they create sustainable competitive advantage and those unique factors that comprise their Core Competencies.

You can watch my "solution" to the case study in the next lecture.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture

Understanding is always enabled with specific examples so we look at some of the characteristics of Apple and discuss which are sources of core competency and provide an example of some which are not.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

Defining the Unique Selling Proposition of your firm enables you to bring into focus those criteria which are most important to your customers and which you can communicate to them through your marketing to ensure that your retain your competitive position in the market place.  This builds on Core Competency and VRIO analysis and helps to define the marketing message to customers.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

This model combines the Product/Business Life Cycle with an assessment of a firms competitive position in the market. This helps the business to evaluate their strategy to at least maintain if not improve their market position.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

I have prepared this easy to download and print Template to enable you to conduct your own ADL Matrix analysis for your business. Plot the position of your business units or products on the grid and then use the metrix to devise appropriate strategies to enable them to maintain or improve their market postion.

The Template is available in PDF format to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

The Ansoff Product Market Matrix defines the four strategies available to a firm that is seeking to grow its business.  It helps you to focus on the most appropriate strategy but also highlights the increase in business risk as you move further away from your existing products and markets.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

When considering growth strategies, then its worth considering the options of organic vs inorganic growth.  These are explained in this lecture, how they fit into the Ansoff Matrix and some of the downsides of both approaches.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this lecture we are taking the Ansoff Matrix and the dimension of Internal (organic) and External (inorganic) growth and combining them to deepen the discussion.  We see that the strategic growth options expand considerably beyond simply the four strategies defined by Ansoff and we gain a better insight into the strategic growth options open to the firm.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.

In this Case Study Exercise I want you to consider Amazon's Growth Strategy and for this I want you to use more than one framework. I make some suggestions as to how you might go about this in the lecture but its entirely up to you. I will share my analysis with you in the next lecture. How many factors have you identified that I did not?

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture

Amazon is an excellent subject for a case study as its scale makes the main differentiators of its business easy to indentify.  In this lecture we discuss some of the main factors surrounding Amazon's strategy and relate its market position to some of the frameworks discussed in this course.

A PDF of the Slide Deck is available to download from the Resources Section of this lecture.