A Guide to Strategic Thinking:Principles, Teachings and Tools

18th March 2010

6th July 2010

An examination of the best tools and techniques available to develop strategic thinking skills, and apply them in a policy context

Learning Objectives

What is Strategic Thinking and how can it help your organisation
Learn how to deploy a range of techniques and tools for effective strategic thinking
learn to shape and set long-term vision and direction
develop the ability to think about policy in the longer term
develop problem solving and analytical thinking skills
learn how to develop and encourage creative and innovative thinking
understand the wider context and institutional constraints
understand the significance of employee stakeholder engagement

9:15	Registration
9:45	Welcome and Introduction to the Day Tess Thompson MBA, MCIPD, Training and Organisational Development Consultant, TMT associates (confirmed)
10:00	Principles of Strategic thinking purpose, values, behaviour standards leading to strategy choice Understanding of vision, mission, value and behaviours Their correlation in supporting strategy This will include an exercise specific to mission statements
11:15	Coffee
11:30	The difficulties in the public sector in achieving strategy cohesiveness Strategy conflict Understanding who owns strategy in the Public sector Difference between policy and strategy Cross departmental working This will include group work
12:00	Building competencies and links to the PSG What is the current internal competency Identifying competencies How we build competency Current behaviours that conflict with strategy How you manage change Understanding SMART behavioural objectives Individual and group work
12:45	Lunch
13:45	Strategy creation and planning Brainstorming Mind mapping Swot Step/steepve/steeple Internal v’s external factors strategy planning
14:45	Tea
15:00	Internal communication 'winning hearts and minds' of large and varied staff Potential impact of strategy Employee engagement Employee communication, what who and how
16:00	Discussion and Questions
	Close

Please note that the programme is subject to change without notice

“Well organized and sufficiently interactive.”

Joyce Connell, Ministry of Justice

“Really good course to raise awareness of strategy development.”

Mark Richardson, Generic Distribution System