How do your decisions at the functional level relate to corporate objectives? What internal and external factors do strategic thinkers consider when evaluating possible courses of action?

This course challenges you to approach your work strategically, and it offers many of the skills you need to rise to that challenge. It’s about how to think vs. what to think, which is a skill you will take with you throughout your professional life

• Why Adopt a Strategic Approach?
• What Does That Mean, Anyway, and What’s in it for You?
• Seeing the Big Picture
• How objectives drive planning, coordination, control
• Linking objectives for success
• Why strategies at different levels must align
• Managing/accomplishing by objectives
• Strategic Communication Skills
• Bi-directional communication with your manager
• Setting objectives and strategy collaboratively
• SMART goals and key questions … what, where, when, why and who
• Using objectives to achieve . . .
• Understanding
• Agreement
• Commitment
• Negotiating for a successful outcome
• Strategic Planning Process
• External environment analysis via gap and environmental models
• Assessing company strengths and weaknesses
• Using the planning process: objectives, strategies, tactics, monitors, schedule, and cost
• Mitigating risks
• Testing for strategic fit
• Selecting the right strategy
• Implementation control
• Project leader responsibilities
• Sponsor responsibilities
• Monitors and controls for midcourse corrections

1. Create a project objective statement using the SMART model.
2. Identify the higher-level objectives your project supports.
3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses to consider when selecting the project’s strategy for success.
4. Identify possible strategies for the successful completion of the project.
5. Select the best strategic approach to the project.
6. Identify the monitors you will use to manage project progress and timely completion.
7. Create the project’s schedule.
8. Manage the project’s budget.