Advance techniques in Strategic Thinking and Planning #251005

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate Strategic Thinking from Planning: Understand the cognitive and procedural differences and the value of each.

• Challenge Mental Models & Biases: Identify and overcome cognitive biases and organizational paradigms that limit strategic perspective.

• Apply Advanced Analytical Frameworks: Utilize powerful tools from top-tier consultancies and military strategists to analyze industries, competitors, and internal capabilities.

• Anticipate Uncertainty & Disruption: Employ scenario planning and systems thinking to prepare for multiple potential futures and identify emerging threats and opportunities.

• Formulate Innovative Strategy: Synthesize analysis into coherent, innovative, and actionable strategic options for competitive advantage.

• Translate Strategy into Action: Bridge the gap from formulation to execution by designing strategic initiatives, aligning resources, and establishing adaptive feedback loops.

This course is designed for experienced leaders and professionals who are responsible for shaping the direction and future of their organizations.

• Senior Executives & C-Suite Leaders: (CEO, COO, CFO, CSO) responsible for setting overall organizational direction.

• Vice Presidents, Directors, and Senior Managers: leading business units, departments, or key functions (e.g., Strategy, Business Development, Marketing, Operations).

• Strategic Planners & Corporate Development Officers: tasked with facilitating the strategic planning process.

• Entrepreneurs & Founders: of scaling businesses who need to formalize and advance their strategic approach.

• High-Potential Managers: being groomed for senior leadership roles that require a strategic mindset.

• Consultants & Advisors: who want to enhance their strategic toolkit and advisory capabilities.

• Pre-assessment
• Live group instruction
• Use of real-world examples, case studies and exercises
• Interactive participation and discussion
• Power point presentation, LCD and flip chart
• Group activities and tests
• Each participant receives a binder containing a copy of the presentation
• slides and handouts
• Post-assessment

Day 1: The Foundation – From Planning to Strategic Thinking

• Morning:

  • Module 1: The Strategic Imperative: Introduction to the course and the critical need for advanced strategic thinking in the modern era.

  • Module 2: Thinking vs. Planning: Distinguishing between the mindset of a strategic thinker and the process of a strategic planner.

• Afternoon:

  • Module 3: The Strategist’s Mindset: Overcoming cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias, anchoring) and challenging entrenched mental models.

  • Workshop: Reframing the Problem: Practical exercises to break away from conventional thinking and identify the real strategic issue.

  • Day 1 Recap: Key insights and reflections.

Day 2: Advanced Environmental & Competitive Analysis

• Morning:

  • Module 4: Beyond SWOT: Advanced frameworks for external analysis:

    • PESTEL Analysis: Deep-dive into macro-environmental factors.

    • Industry Attractiveness: Applying Porter’s Five Forces dynamically.

• Afternoon:

  • Module 5: Analyzing Competitors & Capabilities:

    • Competitor Profiling: Moving beyond features to understand goals, assumptions, and capabilities.

    • Internal Analysis: Using the VRIO Framework to identify sustainable competitive advantages.

  • Case Study: Deconstructing an Industry: Teams analyze a real industry using the frameworks taught.

  • Day 2 Recap: Synthesizing the strategic landscape.

Day 3: Designing Strategy for Uncertainty & Advantage

• Morning:

  • Module 6: Scenario Planning: A practical guide to creating and using multiple, plausible future scenarios to stress-test strategies.

  • Module 7: Systems Thinking: Understanding complex interrelationships and feedback loops within an organization and its market.

• Afternoon:

  • Module 8: Value Innovation & Blue Ocean Strategy: Techniques for creating new market space and making competition irrelevant.

  • Workshop: Strategy Canvas: Teams apply the Blue Ocean toolkit to a current market to discover new strategic paths.

  • Day 3 Recap: From analysis to innovative options.

Day 4: Business Model Innovation & Strategic Choice

• Morning:

  • Module 9: Business Model Dynamics: Introduction to the Business Model Canvas as a tool for visualizing and innovating how you create, deliver, and capture value.

  • Module 10: Disruptive Innovation: Understanding how disruptions occur and how to respond, both as an incumbent and a disruptor.

• Afternoon:

  • Module 11: Strategic Trade-offs & Choice: Using frameworks like the Strategy Palette or Horizons Model to choose the right strategy for the right context.

  • Simulation: The Strategic Decision: Teams are presented with a complex business case and must choose and defend a strategic direction.

  • Day 4 Recap: Making deliberate strategic choices.

Day 5: From Formulation to Execution & Adaptive Learning

• Morning:

  • Module 12: Translating Strategy into Action: Linking strategy to objectives (OKRs), initiatives, budgets, and culture. The role of the Balanced Scorecard.

  • Module 13: Leading Strategic Change: Communicating strategy effectively and managing the human and organizational barriers to execution.

• Afternoon:

  • Module 14: Adaptive Management: Building feedback loops, leading strategic reviews, and knowing when to pivot or persevere.

  • Capstone Activity: My Strategic Initiative: Participants develop a concrete strategic action plan for a real challenge or opportunity within their own organization.

  • Course Review, Final Q&A, and Awarding of Certificates.