Developing and Delivering Effective Strategy

Dates:

• 9 - 13 June 2025 - London (£2,850)
• 15 - 19 September 2025 - London (£2,850)

Course Outline

The aim of this course is to equip executives, board members and senior managers with the knowledge and skills required to lead or contribute to the development and implementation of effective strategy in complex and ever-changing environments. The course comprises a mix of presentations, small group exercises, seminars and whole group plenary discussions.

Most strategies fail, particularly in the public sector. This course explores why this is the case and introduces delegates to the tools, techniques and frameworks they can apply to increase the likelihood that their strategies will succeed, even in the most volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) of environments.

Learning Objectives

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

• Explain what strategy is and describe the relationship between policy, strategy and planning
• Differentiate between a strategy that is likely to fail and one that is likely to succeed.
• Apply different tools, techniques and frameworks to help develop effective strategy
• Understand how innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help develop more effective strategy
• Recognise the importance of staff and stakeholder engagement in managing strategic change
• Lead or contribute to the development and delivery of successful strategy in their own organisation

Topics covered include:

• Different descriptions of strategy
• The nature of problems and Strategic Thinking

• Critical thinking and the role of constructive challenge
• Developing options - exploit opportunities to achieve strategic objectives
• Technology-driven versus business-driven strategy
• Performance metrics, and strategy review
• Leading the development and implementation of strategy
• Stakeholder mapping to identify opportunities and threats
• Managing people’s response to change
• Championing and leading the strategic change