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Training Course Summary:

This practical, hands-on programme helps middle and senior managers use tried and tested formal planning processes and strategy development techniques either to assess their current business strategy or plan new ones for the future. Formal analysis techniques will be introduced for assessing internal business environments, the external market place in which they operate and corporate missions, objectives and strategy. Some pre-work or access to strategic level information will be necessary, as participants will be expected to apply business techniques during this programme.

Who Should Attend:

Middle and senior managers wishing to develop new techniques to provide a focus for strategic business planning and management within their organisation.

Training Course Overview/Content:

Introduction & Objectives

Mission, objectives, strategy and tactics
• What they are and how they relate to each other
• Creating a formal mission statement
• Entrepreneurship and leadership input to planning
• Using strategy and tactics with planning and operations

External analysis
• Applying analytical techniques
• PESTLE analysis and its applications
• Competitor analysis and benchmarking
• Market analysis
• Benchmarking – what it is and how to use it
• Porter’s 5-Forces model and how to use it
• Market segmentation and differentiation methods

Internal analysis
• Exploring ways of analysing the business
• Financial techniques and measures
• Porter’s Value Chain as an analytical technique
• McKinsey’s 7-S model and review
• Product portfolio analysis and marketing analysis
• Identifying the skills shortfall in your business
Generic strategies and models
• Michael Porter’s generic strategies model
• Ansoff’s Growth Vector Matrix and interpretation
• Product market matrices in developing a strategy
• Creating a niche and a USP
• Sustainable advantages and how to create them
• The BCG Matrix

Pulling it all together
• Creating a SWOT matrix – the current strategic position
• Scenario planning and alternatives – “what ifs”
• Strategy versus Planning
• Options and implementation

Strategic leadership and entrepreneurship
• Leaders and entrepreneurs
• Vision
• Issues in strategic leadership
• Managing human resources
• The impact of the internet

Review of Programme