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Course summary

Strategic planning is about getting your team, department or organisation where it needs to go. Starting from knowing where you are and moving to where you want to get to, this course takes you right through the strategic planning process with helpful tools, techniques and ideas for every stage to enhance your strategic thinking skills.

Course outline

Strategic planning and thinking skills training course in London

Over the two days you will cover:

• defining what "strategic" means
  
• using the strategic planning process to help you make choices about the future nature and direction of your organisation
  
• assessing the benefits and risks of strategic planning
  
• preparing for the planning process including developing a project plan, identifying your stakeholders
  
• the value of stakeholder involvement at every phase
  
• undertaking a strategic review to determine ‘where are we now?' including stakeholder research, collaborator/competitor analysis and understanding when and how to use analytical tools such as SWOT, PEST and the Boston Consulting Group matrix to understand your organisation and its environment
  
• thinking about the relationship between outputs, outcomes and impact
  
• identifying strategic direction
  
• taking a fresh look at what your organisation is, what it does, and why

o clarifying mission, vision, values and direction of travel
o recognising the relationship between organisation strategy and brand identity, and aligning the two
o recognising how the findings of the review will impact on the organisation's strategic direction

• setting strategic objectives

o establishing success criteria
o listing priority areas for action and developing objectives
o applying SMART strategic thinking skills
o using outcomes-based tools

• implementing the strategy

o understanding the key factors involved in implementing strategy
o using action planning tools such as logical frameworking, action planning grids and planning wheels
o communicating your strategic plan

• undertaking effective monitoring and evaluation

o understanding the difference between monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment
o identifying the indicators, and how to measure their achievement
o recognising emergent approaches to monitoring and evaluation such as participatory, real-time, balanced scorecard
 

"I was a bit scared of coming on this course as first because I thought it would be quite "corporate". But it was relaxed, friendly and fun and I learned a lot."  AK, Balik Arts

"The course was well facilitated, with excellent handouts. Use of creative approaches to think strategically was excellent."  MG, 409 Projects Ltd

"I am very pleased with the course.  I really enjoyed it - the group discussion was very useful. All the tools used were clear - and excellently put together."  MD, Southwark Council

"Extremely informative and comprehensive.  Course handouts contain really useful info and they are easy to read."  PA Grenfell Housing Association

 

This course takes place at the Centre's central London training suite. It can also be held in-company at your organisation for a group of your staff, no matter where you are based. Call Sally on 020 7490 3030 for more information on in-company training.

Did you know you could get funding to take this course through a Government funded Leadership and Management Grant? See here for more details.

Are you a solicitor? If so, you can claim 10 hours of CPD points for this course through the Solicitors Regulation Authority, using reference DZA/CFSC. See here for more information.

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for managers with strategic planning responsibility. Although the emphasis is on corporate or organisation-wide planning, the tools and techniques covered will have value for business unit or departmental managers.

This is a stand-alone strategic planning training course, and is also part of our Certificate in Leadership and Management Programme (University of London). If you are looking for a shorter course in the area of strategy, then consider our introductory level course Strategy: an introduction which is a one day course offering an introduction to strategic thinking and an all round overview of the topic.

The Centre works with people from all sectors including the public sector, voluntary sector, corporate sector and private sector.

What will this course help me do: learning outcomes?

By the end of the strategic planning training course, you will be confident in differentiating strategic from business planning. You will recognise the importance and value of detailed analysis and have experience in using a variety of tools and techniques. You will have an appreciation of the relationship between your organisation’s vision and mission and its future, and will have applied this thinking to your own organisation. You will also have a clear understanding of monitoring and evaluation, and will have improved your strategic thinking skills.

Other courses to consider

This training course can be booked as a stand alone course, and it is also part of the CERTIFICATE IN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT programme. The Centre offers a wide programme of other management courses, including SUPERVISION SKILLS, FINANCE FOR NON FINANCIAL MANAGERS and PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

If you are looking for a shorter course in the area of strategy, then consider our introductory level course Strategy: an introduction which is a one day course offering an introduction to strategic thinking and an all round overview of the topic.

Course dates

27 February, 2012 – 28 February, 2012
16 May, 2012 – 17 May, 2012

This course starts at 10am and will finish by 4.30pm. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

Course fee

• £590 plus VAT small charity price (applies to registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £3m)
• £790 plus VAT not-for-profit price (applies to all other charities and all other not-for-profit organisations, including public sector and housing)
• £890 plus VAT standard price (applies to all other organisations)