Business Strategy and Strategic Planning

Objectives:  By the end of this course, participants will learn how to complete a business plan.

The program will provide instruction in how to:

• Apply the theory of business strategy through analysis, application and discussion of a range of case studies

• Implement a range of tools for developing business strategies through practice with management models and templates drawn from successful businesses

• Analyze business scenarios using a formalized strategic planning framework in order to make better strategic choices in situations

• Understand how to assess alternative growth strategies for business

Who should attend: Managers who influence or control businesses/ business units.

Duration: Two-day instructor-led classroom program with six hours of pre-work. 
 
Program Format: Each participant will identify a business to bring into class and use as a practice field for applying the program concepts. With the aid of the guided workbook, “Questions to Ask in Writing a Business Strategy,” each person will come prepared to present a 10-minute overview of a potential strategy for a business. The strategy for this business will be developed and refined in the program. The program starts with highlights of the key business strategy concepts, analyses and discusses several short case studies, and ends with honing of individual strategies using strategic planning tools.

Topics: The critical sections of a business plan are covered: 

• Business Environment Assessment and Competitive Advantage

• Target Customer Analysis and Product Positioning

• Organizational Structure, Systems and Succession Planning

• Culture, Climate and Implementation Barriers

• Financial Analysis and Profit Maximization