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Mastering Strategic PlanningMastering Strategic Planning

Face to face / Online public schedule & onsite training. Restaurant lunch included at STL venues.

From £495 List price £650

Who is this course for?

This one-day course is ideal for managers, business owners, executives, and professionals responsible for strategic planning or implementing strategic initiatives.

It is also highly beneficial for those aspiring to leadership roles or seeking to enhance their strategic thinking capabilities within their organisation. Participants should have a basic understanding of management principles and a desire to drive organisational success through effective strategy formulation and execution.

Mastering Strategic Planning

Benefits

Attending this course will equip you with the essential skills to develop and implement robust strategic plans, ensuring your organisation's long-term success.

You'll gain practical insights into setting and achieving ambitious goals and effectively mobilising resources. Additionally, the course will enhance your leadership abilities, enabling you to inspire your team to align with strategic objectives and drive sustainable growth.

Course Syllabus

Strategic Planning Fundamentals​

Importance of strategic planning in business management.​
Common terminology and definitions

Strategic Planning Models​

Introduction to a simple strategic planning models (e.g., SWOT, PESTLE).​
Case studies demonstrating successful strategic plans

Creating a Strategic Vision​

Developing a compelling and clear strategic vision​
Aligning the vision with organisational values and mission

Setting Strategic Objectives

​Methods for setting SMART objectives.​
Examples and exercises in goal-setting

Developing Action Plans​

Translating strategic objectives into actionable plans​
Templates and tools for effective action planning​

Mobilising Resources

​Identifying and allocating necessary resources​
Techniques for efficient resource management

Measuring Success​

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other metrics.​
Methods for tracking progress and adjusting strategies

"What do I get on the day?"

Arguably, the most experienced and highest motivated trainers.

Face-to-face training

lunch

Training is held in our modern, comfortable, air-conditioned suites.

Lunch, breaks and timing

A hot lunch is provided at local restaurants near our venues:

  • Bloomsbury
  • Limehouse

Courses start at 9:30am.

Please aim to be with us for 9:15am.

Browse the sample menus and view joining information (how to get to our venues).

Refreshments

Available throughout the day:

  • Hot beverages
  • Clean, filtered water
  • Biscuits

Online training

online training (virtual)

Regular breaks throughout the day.

Learning tools

in-course handbook

In-course handbook

Contains unit objectives, exercises and space to write notes

24 months access to trainers

Your questions answered on our support forum.

What to expect when training

Training Formats & Services

  • On a public schedule at one of our
    London training venues.
  • On-site at your company office UK wide
  • Near-site, at a location close to you
  • Tailored courses to your requirements
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  • Rollout
  • TNA
  • Upgrade
  • Case studies

Public schedule dates

Next date Location Price
Wed 24 DecOnline£495
Wed 7 JanLimehouse £495
Fri 23 JanOnline£495
Fri 6 FebBloomsbury £495
Tue 24 FebOnline£495
Tue 10 MarLimehouse £495

And 24 more dates...

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Training manual sample

Below are some extracts from our Mastering Strategic Planning manual.

Mastering Strategic Planning

Introduction

Strategic planning is the process by which organizations define their long-term vision, set goals, and create a roadmap to achieve those goals. It involves analyzing the internal and external environment, making informed decisions, and aligning resources effectively. Here’s what you need to know:

Understanding Strategic Planning

Strategic planning goes beyond day-to-day operations. It’s about thinking strategically, anticipating changes, and positioning the organization for success. Key aspects include:

  • Vision and Mission: Organizations start by defining their purpose (mission) and the desired future state (vision). The mission guides daily activities, while the vision inspires long-term efforts.
  • SWOT Analysis: Conducting a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) helps identify internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats.
  • Environmental Scanning: Organizations analyze the business environment—market trends, competitors, regulatory changes, and technological advancements—to inform their strategy.

Importance of Strategic Planning in Business Success

Strategic planning is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Direction and Focus: It provides clarity on where the organization is headed and ensures everyone works toward common goals.
  2. Resource Allocation: Efficiently allocating resources (financial, human, and technological) is essential. Strategic planning helps prioritize investments.
  3. Adaptability: In a dynamic business landscape, strategic planning enables organizations to adapt to changes proactively.

Establishing Business Priorities

Identifying Key Business Activities

  • Core Activities: Identify the fundamental activities that drive your business. For a retail company, this might include inventory management, sales, and customer service.
  • Supporting Activities: These are essential but not directly revenue-generating. Examples include IT infrastructure maintenance or HR processes.

Ensuring Measurability

  • KPIs (Key Performance Indicators): Define measurable indicators for each activity. KPIs help track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Developing Measurements and Targets

Setting Aligned Targets

  • SMART Goals: Make sure your targets are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For instance, increasing sales by 10% within the next fiscal year.
  • Cascade Goals: Align individual and team goals with overall organizational objectives.

Understanding How Targets Will Be Achieved

  • Action Plans: Break down high-level goals into actionable steps. Who will do what, by when?

Matching Resources to Targets

Ensuring Adequate Resources

  • Financial Resources: Budgets must align with strategic priorities. Allocate funds wisely.
  • Human Resources: Ensure you have the right talent and skills to execute the strategy.

Understanding Resource Security

  • Risk Management: Consider potential risks (financial, operational, or external) and develop contingency plans.

Remember, strategic planning is an ongoing process. Regular reviews and adjustments are essential to stay on track.

 

Implementing the Measurement Process

Developing a System for Measurement Implementation

Implementing a robust measurement system is essential for tracking progress and ensuring alignment with strategic goals. Here’s how to go about it:

  1. Select Relevant Metrics: Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that directly relate to your strategic objectives. These could include financial metrics (e.g., revenue growth, profit margins), operational metrics (e.g., production efficiency, customer satisfaction), or other relevant measures.
  2. Data Collection and Reporting: Establish processes to collect accurate data. Leverage technology (such as data analytics tools) to automate data collection where possible. Regularly report on KPIs to relevant stakeholders.
  3. Ownership and Accountability: Assign responsibility for each metric. Ensure that teams or individuals understand their role in gathering and analyzing data.

Ensuring Measurements Are Integrated into the Business Process

  • Cascade Metrics: Align individual and team goals with the overall strategic objectives. When employees see how their work contributes to the bigger picture, they are more likely to take ownership of measurements.
  • Incorporate Metrics into Performance Reviews: Tie KPIs to performance evaluations. This reinforces the importance of measurement and encourages consistent tracking.

Setting Up the Monitoring Process

Understanding the Importance of Performance Monitoring

  • Real-Time Insights: Monitoring allows you to catch deviations early. If a KPI starts trending in the wrong direction, you can take corrective action promptly.
  • Adaptability: A dynamic business environment requires agility. Monitoring helps you adjust strategies as needed.

How to Set Up an Effective Monitoring Process

  1. Define Thresholds: Determine acceptable ranges for each KPI. When a metric falls outside these bounds, trigger alerts for investigation.
  2. Automate Alerts: Use automated systems (such as email notifications or dashboards) to alert relevant stakeholders when KPIs deviate significantly.
  3. Regular Review Meetings: Schedule periodic reviews to discuss performance data. Use these meetings to identify trends, share insights, and make informed decisions.

Summary and Action Plans

Reviewing What We’ve Learned

  • Strategic planning involves setting a clear vision, conducting SWOT analyses, and adapting to the business environment.
  • Prioritize key business activities and ensure they are measurable.
  • Set SMART goals and cascade them throughout the organization.

Developing Action Plans

  • Create a roadmap for implementing measurement systems.
  • Integrate KPIs into daily operations.
  • Establish a robust monitoring process.

 

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