Management and Leadership

Seeing the Vision: How to Think Strategically

• Traditional Classroom: 1/2-day
• Virtual Instructor-led: One 3-hour session or Two 90-minute sessions

Strategic thinking is a cornerstone of effective leadership. It enables leaders to chart a course for their organization, make informed decisions, adapt to change, and create a competitive advantage. In this session we will develop an understanding of the strategic thinking mindset, discover how organizational and personal biases can influence and distort the ability to think strategically, and learn how to apply strategic thinking skills within an organization. At the end of this session you will be able to define strategic thinking; differentiate between strategic planning, strategy development, and strategy management; and contribute to a vision for changing your business.

Target Audience

This course is designed for project managers, mid-level managers, leaders, and:

• Anyone who works on teams and wants to refine their problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Anyone who wishes to grow their ability to think strategically to deliver value and results

Learning Objectives

• Define strategic thinking.
• Describe the influence that organizational culture exerts on the ability to think strategically.
• Identify various cognitive biases that distort perceptions.
• Differentiate between strategic planning, strategy development, and strategy management.
• Apply strategic thinking skills in a fictionalized case study.

Course Outline

What Is Strategic Thinking?

• Strategic Thinking Defined
• Characteristics and Successful Practices of Strategic Thinkers
• Ambiguity as a Source of Opportunity and Competitive Advantage

Types of Organizational Cultures

• Closed
• Open
• Random
• Synchronous
• Your Cultural Preference

Cognitive Biases that Distort Perceptions

• Recognizing Biases
• Emptying the Mind of Preconceptions

The Connection Between Creativity and Strategy

• Creativity Defined
• What Is Strategy?
• Strategic Planning Model

It’s All About the Questions

• Betterment Technique
• Value Mapping
• SWOT Analysis

Applying Strategic Thinking: Case Study

Summary and Next Steps

MDV1593b-3 Course Code