Business strategy : definition and training options

The notion of corporate strategy consists in defining the development axes of a company through precise objectives and a priority allocation of resources. A business school provides a practical approach and a precise methodology adapted to real company cases to train in corporate strategy. The objective is to know the main dimensions of strategic analysis in order to develop, deploy and monitor the implementation of the strategy.

What is business strategy?

Corporate strategy is a means of taking a global view of the issues and identifying the problems of companies through strategic analysis. The deployment of a corporate strategy is carried out in three stages: strategic diagnosis, choice of strategic plan and deployment. Many tools are available to managers to carry out a strategic diagnosis, such as the SWOT, the PESTEL analysis or the BCG matrix.

These tools make it possible to determine the opportunities and threats of the environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the company, in order to defend its competitive advantages. Depending on the tools, resources and decisions a company adopts, it will be able to determine the key success factors and implement the appropriate strategy.

When talking about strategy, the notion of constraints comes into play. When developing a strategy, it is necessary to use the right levers to enable the company to develop and defend itself in a competitive environment.

What are the different types of business strategies?

There are various business strategies for distinguishing oneself from competitors and gaining competitive advantages. In a cost leadership strategy, the company acts on its costs by reducing them as much as possible in order to offer lower prices than those charged by the competition.

The strategy of innovation and technological development enables a company to gain a competitive advantage through technological innovations or to position itself in a new market. This is compatible with the differentiation strategy, which consists of proposing a unique offer for a product or service on the market. In this case, customers are able to perceive the value creation provided by the company.

These different strategies of cost dominance, focus and differentiation are derived from Porter's theory, but many other business strategies exist. Another type of strategy is cooperation with competitors. Competing companies cooperate so that each specialises in one activity and can benefit from it. This cooperation can be done through subcontracting, licensing, franchising, etc.

Why train in business strategy?

Corporate strategy is crucial for the future of an organisation. It assesses the company's chances of being favourably positioned in its sector of activity in the long term. In order to make strategic choices and define an action plan in line with the challenges facing an organisation, it is important to receive training in business strategy.

A training course in corporate strategy enables you to understand all the analysis tools that are useful to a company director (or chief executive officer) in order to adopt a good strategic approach. These tools include the SWOT, BCG and McKinsey matrices, the PESTEL method, Porter's 5 forces and the value chain. They are used to identifying possible strategies for a product or service launch, or the development of an existing business. The purpose of these strategic analyses is to assist in the reflection process in order to establish a strategic diagnosis.

The company manager must be able to welcome change as an opportunity to move a company in the right direction. Training in business strategy includes the notion of transformation management. It is essential to know how to manage change within a company, whether it be at the level of resources, methods, organisation, product or service.

Courses for training in business strategy

There are many programmes for training in corporate strategy in business, management and marketing schools. It is possible to enter the field of strategy thanks to diplomas ranging from Bac +2 to Bac +5 levels.

The BTS in International Commerce or MCO (Operational Commercial Management) gives access to various bachelor's degrees and bachelors. The bachelors offer numerous specialisations related to management, international trade and business strategy.

Then, a MBA or a master's degree in strategy allows students to be operational in their field thanks to a deepening of their skills in corporate strategy.

What opportunities are there after a course in business strategy?

There are many opportunities after a business school in the field of strategy. After a course in business strategy, a wide range of jobs are available in different sectors of activity such as digital, commerce, communication, marketing, human resources and business management.

Graduates of a business strategy course have the opportunity to enter various professions within large companies and SMEs as consultants, marketing managers, digital project managers, traffic managers, business managers, sales project managers, and many others.

In a competitive market, the tools of business strategy are essential to make strategic decisions that are favourable to the growth of a company. Today, the new digital technologies are imposing themselves and are changing the strategies of companies. This digital transformation is a real development lever for companies.