Frequently Asked Questions

What is strategic planning? Strategic planning is a framework that equips organisations with the ability to develop, adapt and align organisational vision, mission and goals to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. What is this course about? In this course, you gain the knowledge needed to formulate, execute and monitor strategic planning initiatives for your organisation based on proven analytical techniques and models. What background do I need? A general understanding of business practices is helpful. No prior knowledge of strategic planning is assumed. Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for all managers, senior executives, business analysts and anyone involved in planning or implementing strategic initiatives at an organisational or business unit level. I am only involved in the execution of strategies in my organization. Will this course benefit me? Yes! This course helps you to see your role in the context of your entire organisation. It is designed to provide an understanding of the inter-working relationship and elements of strategic planning at all levels. I do not have strong analytical or finance skills. Will I still benefit from this course? Yes! This course is based on identifying and valuing information, not on complex financial tools. No prior knowledge of finance is assumed. Will this course help me write a strategic plan? Yes. In this course, you are provided with an end-to-end process for the analysis, planning, execution, and monitoring of strategies. Strategic plans at different organisational levels are discussed. What specific tools and techniques are discussed in this class? SWOT analysis Porter's five forces model for analysing industry factors Value chain analysis Balanced scorecard Low cost leadership strategy Differentiation and specialization strategies Other strategies well suited to specific circumstances I am not responsible for preparing strategic plans in my organization. Will I benefit from this course? Yes! If you are responsible for preparing or executing on planning initiatives such as new products, new services, or new markets for your organisation, you will benefit from the creative and multi-disciplinary approach to strategic planning that this course provides. You learn to make meaningful contributions to your organisation and tailor products that are aligned to your company's strategy. You also gain insight into the implementation of strategy by senior management. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Fundamentals of strategic planning 2.0 Detecting opportunities and threats 2.0 Recognising strengths and weaknesses 2.0 Identifying strategic options 2.0 Formulating your strategic plan 2.0 Executing your strategy for success 2.0 Monitoring and controlling implementation 2.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How does strategic planning differ from other types of planning such as project planning, budgeting, etc.? This course outlines a broad set of organizational issues and applies specific tools to develop strategic plans for long term competitive advantage in the marketplace. Strategic plan horizons are typically longer than project plans and budgeting cycles. I have an advanced business degree/MBA. Will this course be of any benefit? This course will demonstrate timely, real-world examples and apply the current thinking and theories of strategic planning tools. It will serve as a good refresher course and update your skills to coincide with current practices in the area of strategic planning. What kind of workshops does this course offer? Approximately 60 percent of this course is spent on interactive workshops to provide practical experience in strategic planning. These workshops include: Determining mission, vision and core competencies Identifying opportunities and threats through SWOT analysis Assessing strengths and weaknesses of your internal environment Establishing differentiators to position your strategy Formulating an effective strategy for competitive advantage Crafting an action plan to implement strategy Designing dashboard metrics to monitor progress Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 17 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? The following courses can help you expand your skills as a strategic planner: 247, MBA Essentials: Enhancing Organisational Performance , provides you with the fundamental skills and proven management tools typically taught in MBA programs 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving , provides the skills needed to foster innovation in the workplace, systematically analyse problems and transform creativity into practical business solutions 288, Change Management: People and Process , supplies the knowledge and skills to guide people in your workplace through the process of change 196, Introduction to Statistics: Making Better Business Decisions , provides participants with the techniques to support your business decisions using well-established quantitative methods Learning Tree also offers courses in the following related areas: Project Management Management and Leadership Skills Communication and Time Management Business Analysis

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