Course details

Overview ?

Introduction

Effective strategic planning is essential to the future success of any organization. However, most strategic planning is lacking in vision. It is merely a straight-line extrapolation of the past into the future. In a world where the pace of change is greater than ever before this is at best shortsighted and at worst a prescription for disaster. Real strategic planning is about positioning the organization for a future which will be different from the past. This new seminar will focus on strategic planning as the essential management system guiding the organization into the future by setting focused goals that will establish and enhance competitiveness. Highlights of the seminar are as follows.

Presentation of the concept and significance of strategy and strategic planning
Introduction to the main approaches to strategy formulation and goal setting
Case examples of organizations formulating strategic plans
Group work on specific cases and problems
Extensive use of practical examples in which the course leader has been personally involved

Objectives

By the end of this seminar you will be able to:

Understand how to design visionary strategic plans
Work out how to translate strategic plans into action plans
Examine a model for organizational and individual assessment
Provide insights into strategic planning problems to avoid
Identify and learn from examples of strategic success and failure
Understand the nature of the organisational life cycle
Provide insights into productive contingency planning

Training Methodology

The most up to date training methods are used to present this seminar. The seminar is carefully designed to address all styles of learning and to engage participants fully. Formal presentations and discussions are supplemented by group exercises. These exercises provide opportunities for personal participation in real situations. During these exercises you discover how to apply what you are learning. This process makes the learning process enjoyable, fast-paced, challenging and empowering.

Organisational Impact

How does the organization benefit by sending employees to this seminar?

Employees are better able to relate their functional work to the overall direction of the organization
There will be greater flexibility within the organization
Employees’ capability in analyzing and building creative solutions will be enhanced
Employees will have more confidence in setting and aiming for ambitious targets
Employees will be better placed to cope with organizational change
Employees will think more rigorously about creating tomorrow’s organization out of today’s organization

Personal Impact

As a result of attending this seminar individual delegates will gain the following benefits

Will learn how to combine visionary, analytical and creative thinking
Will have a better understanding of the global business environment of the 21st century
Will learn how to make choices in making best use of finite resources
Will develop improved preparedness to deal with contingencies
Will learn how to set challenging, realistic and achievable targets
Will learn how to measure performance and manage progress

SEMINAR OUTLINE

DAY 1 : The Strategic Planning process

Introduction to the seminar – structure and content
Strategy - concept and significance
“Competitive Positioning” versus “Blue Sky” approaches
Achieving competitive advantage through flexibility and agility
The interaction of strategy, structure and business processes
Gathering information and intelligence for the SWOT analysis
Mini-cases and group discussion – “Cost versus Differentiation”
Review of Day One

DAY 2 : The Strategic Planning process

Vision and mission statements - preparing for the future
Business analysis and contingency planning
Strategic choice
Converting the SWOT analysis into the “Strategy Matrix”
Strategy formulation – programmes, projects, policies
Transforming the organization - strategy implementation and managing change
Mini-case and group discussion – major strategic re-orientation
Review of Day Two

DAY 3 : Assessing current state of the organization

Leadership and management in relation to strategy
Customer and market focus
Human resources and knowledge management
Building a strategic planning team
Effective process management to achieve business results
Monitoring and measuring business performance
Mini-case and group discussion - a market entry problem
Review of Day Three

DAY 4 : Avoiding the pitfalls of strategic planning

The strategy life-cycle and the problem of strategic drift
Getting innovative thinking into the organization
The potentially negative dimensions of success
How to avoid “paralysis by analysis”
Overcoming inability to evaluate fresh ideas, denying the truth and thinking inside the box
The critical importance of teambuilding and teamwork
Mini-case and group discussion - how and why a good organization can go bad
Review of Day Four

DAY 5 : Personal strategic planning

Applying strategic tools and techniques to the individual
Personal goal setting, creating a personal strategic plan
Implementing change – achieving progress as a strategic manager
The mix of competencies and personal skills required in 21st century business
Executing strategy – how to break it down and get it done
Developing inspiration and gathering support
Overcoming adversity by leveraging your skills and building on success
Conclusion – a personal role in the strategic planning and goal setting processes

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Training Methodology

Course name

Duration

City

Price