Business Acumen Master Class - (Transformative Learning of How the Business Makes Money )

This programme can run as an online or classroom training (Available also for Customised Training by Duration, Venue and Fee)

Business Acumen is all about seeing the big picture and recognizing that all decisions no matter how small can influence the bottom line. Therefore, the focus of this course is to prepare employees to:

• Acquire a culture of owner/entrepreneur thinking

• Keep in sight significant business basics

• Use Business Drivers to understand how companies make money

• Get into the habit of making informed decisions

• Know how departmental initiatives (HR, finance, engineering, sales, etc.) must align with business imperatives

• Deliver clear and measurable business results.

Course Contents

Day One

Business Acumen Overview – Product/Market Fit

• The Fundamentals of Successful Business

• Customer value and expectations
• Distribution and Growth
• Cash and cash flow
• Gross margin: variable costs

• A Manager’s Business Acumen – Performance

• Generating Demand

• New Business Development, Marketing, Sales

• Fulfilling Demand

• Procurement, Production, Distribution

• Strategic Supports

• Finance, Human Resources, Administration, Technology

Understand and Speak Business Language

• The discipline of business

• Critical financial terminology everyone should know and understand

Understand Strategy

• The Seven Questions that give meaning to Strategy

• The importance and benefits of strategic management

• Elements of the strategic thinking and planning

• Why and how strategy fails

• Internal and External Environment Analysis

Day Two

Business Tools

• Balanced scorecard approach

• Key Performance Indicators

• SWOT issues

• Michael Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

Effective Decision Making and Problem-Solving Techniques

• Leadership and Employee Maturity Levels

• Blanchard’s model of situational leadership
• Supporting, Coaching, Delegating and Directing

• What is appropriate and when

• Basic Problem Solving and Decision Steps

Day Three

Recognize and Seize Growth Opportunities

• Revenue Generation – Recognise what makes the business Money

• Evaluate constraints that could significantly affect future prospects

• Measure Profit and Profitability

• Manage risk better

• Innovation – identify your blind spots.