Course Introduction

This online training course on “Strategy and Strategic Planning” will enable you to make a major contribution to creating tomorrow’s organisation out of today’s organisation.  Strategy and strategic planning are the vital activities that enable all managers to (a) anticipate major change in the structure and potential of their business and, (b) make a significant personal contribution to the processes of business development.

All managers need to understand and deal with the major changes that are taking place in markets, technologies, competition, business models and risk management - plus the overarching influence of globalisation. To achieve this strategic planning team must take into account how to use all available resources in order to chart a course that will enable an organisation to develop strongly and deliver outstanding financial and other results, often in rapidly changing business conditions.

This Oxford Management Centre online training course will highlight the following:

• Learning how to apply leading-edge thinking in strategic analysis and planning
• Evaluating the choices faced by an organisation in planning for the future
• Preparing a strategic plan that serves as a road map for action
• Understanding best practice in implementing strategic programmes and projects
• Designing an effective linkage between strategic and operational management

Objectives

At the end of this online training program, you will learn to:

• Leverage the value of strategy and strategic planning
• Design a strategic planning process for your organisation
• Analyse options and make robust choices in setting goals and objectives
• Take full advantage of the opportunities of globalisation
• Lead effective strategic change within your part of your organisation

Training Methodology

This online training course will utilize a variety of proven online learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension, retention of the information presented. The training course is conducted Online via an Advanced Virtual Learning Platform in the comfort of any location of your choice.

Organisational Impact

By sending delegates to this OXFORD virtual training course, the organisation will gain the following benefits:

• Better decision-making and time/resource allocation - leading to improved organisational performance
• Introduction of strategic thinking into all levels of the organisation
• Top management having more confidence in the decisions of its staff
• An improved approach to planning at strategic and operational levels
• Sharply focused views on the extent and direction of change required for success
• More effective programme and project implementation by managers

Personal Impact

By attending this virtual course, delegates will acquire the following benefits, skills and competencies:

• Improved career flexibility and prospects
• Accelerated thinking speed and problem resolution
• Detailed understanding of the strategic impact of different specialisms
• Improved leadership and teamworking capabilities
• Innovative approaches in ensuring the most effective impact of individual specialisms
• Understanding and applying best practice in strategic planning

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for senior experienced staff from any industry and any functional specialisation who wish to gain a broader appreciation of the dynamics of business development and develop their personal roles in setting the direction for their organisation to create its future.

This virtual training program is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Specialists in marketing and business development
• Experienced Managers / Leaders in finance and accounting
• Specialists in production and operations management
• Scientists in research and development
• Logistics and Distribution Specialists
• Human Resource and Organisational Development Staff

Course Outline

DAY 1

Strategic Thinking and External Analysis

• Definitions of Strategy and Strategic Planning
• Why are Strategy and Strategic Planning important?
• Understanding the Main Frameworks for Strategic Analysis
• Private and Public Sector Strategies – Similarities and Differences
• External Analysis - Understanding and Analysing Business Attractiveness
• Analysing Customers and Benchmarking your own Strategic Position
• How Attractive is the Game that we have chosen to Play?

DAY 2

Internal Analysis and Fusion into Strategic Choice

• The Interface and Balance of External and Internal Analysis
• Internal Analysis: Financial
• Internal Analysis: Non-financial
• The Concept and Practicalities of the “Balanced Scorecard”
• Diagnosing and Analysing Strategic Problems and Opportunities
• Fusion of Analysis into Strategic choices - SWOT and The Strategy Matrix
• How well are we playing the game that we have chosen to play?

DAY 3

Strategic Plans and the Relevance of Alliances and Joint Ventures

• Review of The Tools Used So Far
• The Content of a Strategy: Avoiding “Paralysis by Analysis”
• Putting a Strategic Plan together – The 5-Page Framework
• Strategies for Alliances and Joint Ventures
• Management of Alliances and Joint Ventures

DAY 4

Global Strategy, Team Building and the Management of Internal Communication

• The Essence of Globalisation and Global Strategy
• Globalisation – The Strategic Dimension
• Globalisation – The Organisational Dimension
• Globalisation – The Human Dimension
• How to Build and Manage a Strategic Planning Team
• Communicating Strategy through the Organisation
• Gaining Your Team’s Commitment and Buy-in to the Strategy

DAY 5

Strategic Implementation and Getting the Value out of Strategy

• Alignment of Strategy, Culture, Structure and People
• Effective Execution - Converting Strategic Analysis and Planning into Action
• Aligning and Linking Strategy with Operational Objectives
• Implementation – Getting Practical Things Done
• Creating Tomorrow’s Organisation out of Today’s Organisation
• Strategic Planning at a Personal Level
• Overview: The Complete Strategy Process
• Summary and Conclusions - The Corporate and Individual value of Strategic Planning