Victoria University Professional and Executive Development
Level 2, Rutherford House, 23 Lambton Quay, Wellington City
Full Day 9:00am - 4.30pm
$675.00 Early Bird Discount available until 28 days prior to the course start date $607.50 excl GST
This one-day course is designed to extend the practical strategy skills and knowledge of analysts. It is intended for those who have taken the Level One Strategic Thinking course, or who are experienced practitioners looking to update their knowledge of recent developments in the practice of strategic thinking and in the strategy literature.
Who Should Attend: This course is aimed at middle to senior level strategic analysts and policy advisors. It is also particularly suitable for public service managers who are seeking insights into why strategic thinking and strategic analysis are considered to be increasingly essential to an outcome perspective, particularly in government.
Learning Objectives: * Refresh understandings of the vocabulary and concepts used in strategic thinking Examine the models and frameworks used by leading edge strategic thinking organisations * Apply the Liedtka Model to either a private or a public sector organisation * Learn how to run a strategy diagnostic across your team or organization and improve its strategy performance * Discuss how to avoid the more common strategy pitfalls
Course Outline: Session One - Introduction and refresher * Vocabulary and concepts * Strategic thinking, strategic planning and strategic management * Relationship between strategy and policy. An example of strategic thinking * Models and frameworks * An introduction to the Liedtka model of strategic thinking * Group discussion
Session Two - Developing your understanding of the Liedtka Model * Individual elements of the model outlined * Applying the Liedtka model * Group work, report back and discussion
Session Three - Strategy diagnostic * What strategic shape are you in? * Running a strategy diagnostic across your organization * Practical steps to improve the strategy performance of your team * Group exercise, discussion and summary of main points
Session Four - Avoiding the most common strategic pitfalls * Asking the right questions at the outset * Distinguishing between symptoms and problems * Getting into the opportunity space * Strategic fallacies including the fallacy of the straight line projection * Wild cards, black swans and other inconvenient phenomena * Concluding points * Group discussion and overall review
Course Format: The course presenters will use a variety of practical examples to demonstrate the models and frameworks discussed as well as the strategy diagnostic. Participants will have an opportunity to explore the Liedtka Model in a group exercise and to report back on their learning. Selected readings and reference materials will be provided.
Dr Lance Beath is a Senior Lecturer in Victoria University's School of Government postgraduate degree programme in strategic studies. He teaches a number of the individual papers within the programme including papers on strategic thinking and strategic analysis.
Greg Claridge is a public sector consultant specialising in advice on high level strategy, baseline reviews and thinking about outcomes.