Think Strategically : Seeing the Bigger Picture and Challenging Conventional Thinking

Formulating strategy is no longer seen as an occasional planning exercise but rather a way of thinking that enable managers to see the bigger picture and choose actions to address the most important issues, aligned with the organization’s strategic goals and, where appropriate, challenge conventional thinking by offering fresh, creative ideas and plans. Equally important, once a strategy has been chosen, is the ability to implement it successfully in order to deliver results. Professional managers require the skills and competencies to think and act strategically, especially in a M&A context.

This course enables delegates to:

• Develop strategic thinking skills through practising methods and techniques that enable new perspectives to be taken
• Understand the difference between strategic thinking and planning
• Learn that strategy is about choice: finding out what is key and concentrating on strategy that delivers the big goals
• Practice a systematic approach to quickly, but thoroughly developing, delivering and measuring business plans
• Identify and understand the difference between good and bad strategy

Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to understand:

• What strategy is and its role in value creation
• How to link the creation of stakeholder value with strategic positioning, organization processes and investment
• Effective strategy for competitive, non-competitive and transition environments
• Better practice frameworks and tools enabling the above
• How to cascade strategy effectively through to business plans, budgets, day to day decisions, risk mitigation and performance management