Strategic Decisions

What does this programme cover?
In most businesses, a few decisions make the difference between superior performance and ordinary results. But strategic decisions are seldom easy. They call for high quality analysis and strategic thinking, in order to select the right decision from amongst the many possible options. They also depend on skills in managing the decision process, including sequencing activities, defining roles, effective teamwork and handling the people side. This practical and highly interactive programme will help you improve the quality of your strategic decision making, providing practical tools for addressing both the analytic and process management challenges.

What will I learn?

• The difference between strategic and operational thinking.
• Practical tools for developing strategy.
• Techniques for managing the decision making process.
• Tips and pitfalls in making strategic decisions, based on the tutors' 40+ years of combined experience working in large organisations.

Who’s it for?
Senior managers involved in making strategic decisions, either in a general management position or a functional role, who want to understand both the theory and the practice of making good decisions. You may be in transition from the operational to a more strategic role, needing to have a better understanding of strategies you have to implement or actually shaping strategic direction.

How will my company or organisation benefit?
In order to succeed an organisation needs strategic thinkers. Your increased understanding will raise the quality of your strategic thought process. This will be reflected in the outcome of your future decisions.

What makes this programme different?

• The combination of tools for developing strategy and managing the decision making process.
• The emphasis on experiential learning - the final role-play, based on a real business decision, pulls all the elements together in a situation reflecting the complexities and uncertainties of real life.
• The calibre of the participants.
• The ability to take the course either in a single five-day session in May or November, or in two modules, of two and three days. See the sidebar on the right of this webpage for further details.
• The opportunity to stay in touch with the tutors and other participants through the use of our post-course website forum.

Programme Content

The programme focuses both on the strategic tools required to evaluate options and on the process of decision making. A film about the Cuban missile crisis, when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear holocaust, brings the issues into sharp focus.

The programme also involves a role play exercise in which two teams compete to launch a new coffee product. Delegates are given the chance to use everything they have learned to improve their decision.

You will cover:

Strategic Appraisal

• Analysing industry attractiveness and profitability
• The sources of competitive advantage
• Cost and differentiation drivers
• Core resources and competences
• Value chain analysis
• Identifying new strategic options.

The Decision Process

• Framing decisions properly
• Characteristics of a good decision-making process
• Typical problems that occur in decision-making
• The roles that managers play in the decision-making process
• Generating realistic options, dealing with uncertainty and identifying the best solution.

Programme Structure

Pre programme - three weeks prior to the programme we will provide you with some pre-course recommended reading.

Programme - a five day course involving theory and analysis combined with interactive simulations and role play to bring the theory to life.

Post programme - you automatically become a member of the Ashridge Alumni for the current year, enabling you to keep in touch with latest thinking.