Start Date: 14 November 2024 
See Course Schedule for the full timetable. 

** Only 3 places remaining **

*** Enquire Now or email training@greentechskillnet.com for registration details *** 

Course Overview 

Central to the long-term success of any organisation, strategy defines direction and creates scope to gain competitive advantage. It is what elevates truly extraordinary leaders above merely ordinary ones by enabling them to develop and implement effective business strategies while maintaining motivation, innovation and vision in their people. Knowledge gained, skills learned and relationships made on the programme will enhance career potential and directly benefit the organisations that participants work with, both now and in the future.

The programme provides participants with the insight and understanding needed to lead organisations in a complex global business environment. The focus on Strategy Development and Innovation provides the knowledge and skills required to reach the highest level, whether that is in a commercial or public sector context. It offers business managers and directors with a versatile, strategic toolkit to bring coherence and direction to the actions and decisions of the organisation. 

Course Content 

Module 1: Strategic Leadership

• Address the role of the participant in strategy development and innovation; 
• Develop a personal action plan that draws on foundational skills and cross-functional knowledge to create a strategy statement; 
• Gain an understanding of organisation culture and sub-cultures; 
• Develop self-awareness and critical assessment of key strengths and development needs as strategic leaders.

Module 2: Strategy in a Turbulent Environment: The New Normal

• Review ways in which global economic shifts and rapid technological changes are transforming the business landscape; 
• Understand the traditional concepts of competitive advantage, value creation and strategy; 
• Develop an appreciation of the “megatrends” influencing the context for strategy over the next 5-10 years; 
• Develop an ability to construct and employ scenario thinking in the development of strategy; 
• Gain an informed perspective on the importance and costs of building strategic flexibility in the organisation. 

Module 3: Market Position and Competitive Advantage

• Equip participants with a sound understanding of the principles of positioning and competitive advantage; 
• Design and evaluate an organisation’s market position; 
• Review and critique an organisation’s competitive strategy and evaluate the ability to provide a sustainable advantage;
• Develop competitive strategy into a well-articulated and presented business plan. 

Module 4: Business Model Innovation

• Examine the nature of strategic decisions and how these differentiate from other forms of decisions; 
• Design and evaluate a business model; 
• Utilise real option reasoning in evaluating investment alternatives, which is a key component in decisions involving the adoption of new technologies, amongst other applications. 

Module 5: Leading Innovation and Change

• Develop insight and personal competence in leading an organisation through a transition to a more
  innovative organisation; 
• Explore why innovation is so critical in an organisation’s future and how to make it happen; 
• Understand change management processes and approaches to enable innovation in an evolving marketplace; 
• Strengthen leadership effectiveness and identify the barriers to and enablers of innovation in an organisation. 

Module 6: Top Management Teams and Strategic Decision Making

• Explore the skills required to evaluate the top management team’s ability and competence in making and implementing strategic decisions;
• Acquire individual contributions to top management team decisions;
• Gain insight into biases that adversely affect strategic decisions and apply techniques to overcome these biases.

Structure

This programme is delivered over a series of 6 two-day workshops within a 10–month period. Workshops are held on Fridays and Saturdays to minimise interference with busy work schedules. 

100% attendance is required.

Assessments and Workload

Participants are assessed on a module by module basis through a variety of practical assignments. The emphasis throughout the programme is on the practical application of knowledge to benefit the participant, their team and their organisation.

Accreditation

On successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded the Professional Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation by UCD Smurfit Executive Development (30 ECTS at NFQ Level 9). This diploma forms part of the MSc in Business (Leadership and Management Practice) Pathway.

Who is it for?

• Individuals with at least 5 years managerial experience, seeking to enhance their skills in strategy; 
• Senior executives seeking to enhance their skills in contributing to strategy development and innovation; 
• Managers involved in strategic planning, implementation or change management; 
• Individual contributors who are tasked with managing the strategy process; 
• Advisors and Management Consultants

Key Benefits

Participants develop their capabilities in making and executing effective strategic decisions and acquire deep insight into how to manage innovation and lead change. 

Specifically, the programme will:

• Equip the participant with the tools to assess and address the strategic challenges that face their organisation; 
• Provide learning strategies for turning resistance into co-operation and for extracting maximum benefit from new opportunities; 
• Improve strategic decision-making capability in addition to the ability to re-think strategy in the light of new economic and business realities; 
• Build an in-depth understanding of the strategic decisions that individuals need to make, to support and apply innovation. 

Entry Requirements 

Participants should hold a primary degree or equivalent professional qualification. Consideration will be given to applicants who do not hold a primary degree but their depth of industry and organisational experience qualifies them as suitable participants. 

Please note - 100% attendance is required at all modules. Should you miss a module due to unexpected circumstances, there is no longer an option to take that module with another intake of the programme.

Course Schedule 

Smurfit Executive Development 

As part of Ireland’s leading business school, Smurfit Executive Development programmes are designed to provide the business leaders of today and tomorrow with a transformational experience. We are one of an elite group of schools worldwide to hold triple accreditation from AACSB (US), EQUIS (Europe) and AMBA (UK) and are the only Irish member of the leading international business school alliances CEMS, GNAM and PIM. 

UCD Smurfit Executive Development is a member of UNICON, an invitation-only alliance of the world’s leading university based executive education providers. UCD Smurfit Executive Development has been ranked 1st in Ireland, 21st in the EU and 35th in the world for its Open Enrolment programmes according to the prestigious 2023 Financial Times Executive Education Rankings. By offering a world-class range of customised, diploma and open enrolment programmes, Smurfit Executive Development helps executives and their organisations create new opportunities to drive growth and create value. 

Our dedicated team of faculty are widely recognised as skilled educators, ground-breaking researchers and accomplished authors. Through publishing, consulting and teaching they leverage their business expertise and field-based research to deliver programmes, encourage participants to develop new ways of thinking, widen their perspectives and to understand their own challenges and capabilities. The faculty present topics in a range of engaging methods such as ‘action learning’ projects, case studies, role plays, individual assessment and one-on-one coaching, so as to deliver a unique and lasting learning experience.