For any employee understanding of the key issues involved in planning, developing, communicating and implementing organizational strategy is an essential skill to have.

The strategy pursued by an organisation has a major influence on the day-to-day working lives of its employees and the contribution they make to achieving their organisation’s goals and objectives. This is true irrespective of the sector, type of organisation and the level at which an individual works. Therefore, an understanding of the key issues involved in planning, developing, communicating and implementing organisational strategy is essential.  

Using a broad range of contemporary management models and theories, this 3-day course aims to provide an overview of these issues. After addressing the question ‘What exactly do we mean by strategy’ the course will then go on to examine the practice of strategic management along three broad lines:

Join us to learn and address your questions on:

The strategic analysis process and position

• How to perform a macro-environment analysis
• Understand the industry and sectors we operate in.
• What are the resources and capabilities we have?
• Who are the stakeholders and how is the governance of the firm?
• What about our history and culture!

How to make strategic choices

• Which tools are available for business strategy formulation
• Should we use diversification?
• How different is strategy versus international strategy?
• But what about entrepreneurship and innovation?
• Mergers, acquisitions and alliances, do they work?

How do we put strategy into action?

• How do we evaluate the organisational performance?
• Is the strategy suitable, feasible or acceptable?
• Is strategy always planned or can it be emergent?
• What are the effects on organisational structure and culture.
• The practice of strategy

Recommended Background

This course is suitable for middle and senior-level managers responsible for developing and implementing organizational strategy, irrespective of their industry and sector. The course is also suitable for junior managers either aspiring to more senior-level management roles and needing an introduction to the key models, theories and concepts involved, or those simply wishing to gain a better understanding of their own organization’s strategy and the role they, their team, department or division play in it.  

Course format

• Practice-based learning and critical engagement is a key theme through all our courses allowing delegates to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills immediately in their own working environments.
• After enrolment, a number of case studies which will be used for illustrative purposes during the course will be made available on the FinanceXplained website. To get the most out of the ‘Understanding Startegy’ it will be beneficial if participants review these prior to the session. 
• In addition to the case studies, a comprehensive set of materials will be provided on the day including all presentation materials used by the course facilitator.
• The course is based on the concepts and the very successful “Exploring Strategy” textbook and courses of by Johnson, Whittington, Scholes et. al.

• Quite a wonderful experience to learn and improve skills. I am glad I took the course, I strongly recommend to colleagues or just anyone in business or corporate management. Thank you.
• This Course provides an excellent overview of the development of strategy from its origins to today and explains how the world has changed and how the strategy has evolved from SWOT to Strategic Planning, to the BCG Matrix and the Experience Curve, to Porter and to Mintzberg
• The course is clear and helps you understand how to look at the problem in a long term vision and not effect your own existing moments/growth/plan.
• Excellent course which allowed to broaden my knowledge and skills regarding the essence of strategy, strategic planning and implementation processes as well as its evaluation.