Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-smart-growth-strategy-1

Introduction

### Course Review: Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I If you are an entrepreneur, a business owner, or someone interested in the inner workings of private business growth, look no further than "Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I" on Coursera. This course, developed by the esteemed Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, and instructed by top-ranked faculty, serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the complex challenges faced by private businesses when seeking substantial growth. #### Overview “Grow to Greatness” takes a meticulous approach to business growth, emphasizing that traditional strategies may not always be sufficient. It is designed to address the unique hurdles that established businesses encounter—differing from startup challenges—and recontextualizes growth within the frameworks of strategy, entrepreneurship, and business values. #### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Course Overview**: The introductory module sets a clear intention for the course, laying a strong foundation for participants eager to explore the dynamics of business growth. 2. **The Truth About Growth**: This module debunks common myths surrounding business expansion. A required reading by Edward D. Hess prompts critical thinking about how strategy intersects with entrepreneurial vision. The case study on Eyebobs Eyewear serves as a fantastic practical example, challenging students to analyze real-world applications of business theory. 3. **Fellers Gourmet Workshop**: Here, students confront a series of questions designed to gauge their readiness for growth. The required case study reading about 3 Fellers Bakery offers insights into readiness assessments and considerations crucial before embarking on growth initiatives. 4. **The 4 P's**: This pivotal module introduces the four P's: planning, prioritization, pace, and processes. Through case studies like "Defender Direct, Inc.," students learn actionable strategies for effective growth management, encompassing innovations, improvements, scaling, and strategic acquisitions. 5. **Four Ways to Grow a Business**: The content delves deeper into the growth methodologies, supported by readings like “Enchanting Travels.” The integration of these case studies provides a robust framework for understanding diverse growth pathways. 6. **Creating a Growth Plan**: Perhaps the most engaging and practical module of the course, participants take the learnings from previous sections and apply them to a real business case: C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc. Students create a comprehensive growth plan, utilizing all analytical tools at their disposal, including functional business perspectives like product design and customer service, thereby cementing their understanding of theoretical concepts through applied practice. 7. **Final Exam**: The course concludes with an evaluative component that tests comprehension and application of the course content. #### Why You Should Take This Course - **Expert Instruction**: The course is grounded in the expertise of renowned faculty from a prestigious institution, ensuring a high-quality education experience. - **Practical Framework**: It combines theory with case studies, offering a practical perspective that students can relate to their own business endeavors. - **Self-Paced Learning**: Online accessibility allows busy professionals to learn at their leisure, making it easy to fit into any schedule. - **Actionable Insights**: Each module encourages critical thinking and real-world application, culminating in the creation of a personalized growth plan, which is invaluable for any business owner facing stagnation or seeking new avenues for expansion. #### Conclusion “Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I” is not only a course; it's a toolkit for success that empowers participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive sustainable growth in a competitive landscape. Whether you own a small bakery or are involved in a larger enterprise, this course provides the underlying principles and actionable strategies to forge a path toward meaningful growth. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from exceptional faculty and apply these lessons to your business dynamics—enroll in this transformative course and start your journey toward greatness today!

Syllabus

Course Overview

This module introduces the course.

This module presents an overview of growth in business with common myths and truths. There is a required reading: Edward D. Hess, "Growth is the Dynamic Confluence of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Values." An option case study reading on Eyebobs Eyeware, Inc is also available. Please visit the Eyebobs website at https://www.eyebobs.com and think about whether Julie's vision and customer value proposition connects with you. What do you like about the site? What do you dislike? Why is her website so important to her business? What should Julie do to keep her website "fresh"?

This module presents a series of questions to discover if you are ready for growth. The required reading is by Edward D. Hess, 3 Fellers Bakery, Case Study.

This module presents the four P's of growing a business: planning, prioritization, pace and processes. The four ways to grow your business are improvements, innovations, scaling, and strategic acquisitions. The required reading is Edward D. Hess, "Defender Direct, Inc.: A Business of Growing Leaders," Case Study.

This module reviews the four ways to grow a business. The required reading is Edward D. Hess, Sanju Jacob and Monidipa Mukherjee,"Enchanting Travels," Case Study. Enchanting travels can be found at http://www.enchantingtravels.com.

This module dives into the logistics of creating a growth plan for Barger & Sons, Inc. The required reading is Edward D. Hess, "C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc.," Case Study. Eric Barger faces a big growth challenge. His primary product is concrete septic tanks. His product does not differ from his competitor's products. His business is not well known. He does not sell to the end user. His customers buy based primarily on price. His business has stopped growing and is not that profitable. His father has said the business must grow or it will be closed. Your assignment is to use the concepts you learned in the previous modules to create a growth plan for this business. For this assignment, please list all the growth ideas you can create for him to consider. Do not narrow his choices, but be realistic with your ideas. It will help you to think about growth options using the four ways to grow a business: improvements, innovation, scaling, and strategic acquisitions. A second way to think about his growth options is in functional business terms: product design; supply of raw materials; product manufacturing; product pricing and terms; product sales; delivery; customer service; technology; and marketing. Your end work should be a list of realistic growth ideas.

This is the final exam.