Advanced Strategic Management

3 days

Driving Sustainable Business Results

Introduction

One of the key roles of senior managers is setting the strategic direction for the organisation. Managers must develop and assess strategic options; they must be confident in the decision-making process which determines the organisation‰Ûªs future plans. Strategy development requires a sound understanding of organisational capabilities; horizon scanning and monitoring external change; and agreeing the timeframe for planning. Weather the key drivers are growth, profitability or sustainability, aligning internal competence with external factors is crucial for success. The fast pace of change resulting from new technologies, emerging markets, social and environmental impact creates significant challenges for top managers having to assess what‰Ûªs important and ensure that the right people have access to the right information. Organisational structures, sound business processes, appropriate systems and procedures all have to be fit for purpose to support strategy formulation and implementation. They also have to be changed and improved over time, to respond to the changing pressures. This course will help you to become aware of the ‰Û÷big picture‰Ûª, develop your skills and confidence to boost your performance and prepare your organisation to sustain performance in the future. This course is available for in-house delivery and the content can be customised to address your specific requirements.

About the course

Delegates attending the course will gain; strategic management skills, an understanding of factors influencing decisions at strategic level, greater self-awareness of their leadership strengths and weaknesses, an understanding of how they can influence organisational culture and how to produce strategic, operational and detailed plans that are aligned to overall corporate objectives. The course will cover the following key subjects:

• Strategy Development & Execution: learning how to assess internal capabilities and what it means to align them with fast paced external change over the short, medium and longer term. Creating and sharing a Vision for the future of the organisation.
• Managing diverse interests: managing the different perspectives and expectations of stakeholders both within and outside the organisation and how they impact on chosen strategies.
• Strategic Leadership & Culture: developing personal leadership skills to motivate and develop groups and team‰Ûªs skills and abilities to be greater than the sum of their individual talents.
• Systems Thinking: using the language and approach of systems to describe processes, how they interact, and how they impact performance.
• Formulating Tactics and Plans: Converting over-arching strategies to tactics and plans; matching resources to service delivery; evaluating & reporting; learning, changing and improving on the journey.

Course Objectives

• Gain a better understanding of the complexities of choosing the right strategies and the psychological influences on the decision process
• Develop your ability as an influential leader and build a stronger, committed leadership team
• Develop and broaden your perspectives, challenge and stretch your thinking
• Understand and keep ahead of the pace of change
• Focus both on building your own capabilities and those of your organisation

Method and Approach

This programme will involve the use of slides, handout material, work manual with all instructor notes and slides, examples of best practice and appropriate video material. The use of flip-charts, syndicate workshops and reporting back sessions will encourage a fully participative and enjoyable event. Delegates will be encouraged to participate actively in relating previous work experiences.

Duration

3 days

Who should attend?

The course is intended for managers, team leaders and supervisors taking on additional strategic leadership responsibilities, who are looking to sharpen their analytical skills and strategic leadership effectiveness. It is also useful for middle managers wanting to contribute to the strategic development and execution in their organisation.

THE PROGRAMME CONTENT

The Strategising Process

• Why strategise?
• 21st Century Changes and Challenges
• Psychological aspects of decision making
• Strategic thinking ‰ÛÒ who, how, when & why
• The functions and capabilities of a strategic manager
• Turning strategic ideas into operational initiatives
• Examples of strategy success and failure

The Strategic Process

• Impact of external change: competitive positioning, technology, regulation
• Assessing internal capabilities
• Blue v Red Ocean Strategies
• Team and organisation perspectives on strategic choice
• From strategy to implementation
• The Strategy Hierarchy
• Turning Strategies into Plans
• Applying lessons learned to your organisation

Strategic Management Skills

• Attributes of Strategic Leaders
• Self-Analysis
• Strategic Skills: generic or context specific
• Identifying disruptive competition
• Visioning, Communicating & Framing
• Managing information
• Competitive positioning
• Leading others through the Strategic Process

Managing the Culture

• The Significance of the Corporate Culture
• Cultural Web
• Challenges of Mergers & Acquisitions
• Managing in multi-cultural corporations
• The Leaders role in Establishing the Culture
• Impact of culture on strategy roll out
• Over-coming resistance to change

Tactics and Plans

• Owning and implementing plans
• Corporate or Business Units plans
• Strategic Execution: Budgeting, Forecasting & Adjusting to Reality
• Aligning corporate to individual objectives
• Concluding Case Study

To discuss your training requirements and how this course can work for you, please contact us.